NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, May 21, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Visit Kingsport Takes Home Top Honors at 29th Annual Pinnacle Awards
Kingsport, Tenn. – Visit Kingsport received top honors in nine award categories at the 29th Annual Pinnacle Awards. The Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association honored the tourism industry’s top professionals on Thursday, May 21 at the Johnson City Country Club. The day honored the top performers who contribute to tourist related community and economic development from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Visit Kingsport’s President and Chief Tourism Officer, Frank Lett was named Tourism Leader of the Year. This award is presented to the tourism executive with significant accomplishments or leadership within the tourism or destination marketing industry. Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development Commissioner, Mark Ezell, was on hand to present the award. Lett began his tenure at Visit Kingsport in September 2005 as the Director of Sports. He has been promoted twice within the organization to Associate Executive Director and then to President and Chief Tourism Officer.
Fun Fest took home the award for Festival or Event of the Year. In 2025, Fun Fest celebrated its 45th year, featuring more than 100 events throughout its nine-day run and welcomed more than 100,000 people to Kingsport. Longtime Fun Fest champion, Bonnie Booher, was honored posthumously with the Volunteer of the Year award. Fun Fest’s partnership with Keep Kingsport Beautiful was also recognized. The Trash Barrel Paint-In event received the Sustainability Award for its contributions to the Kingsport community.
Downtown Kingsport Association received three awards for their efforts in supporting local businesses. Their Dog Approved Downtown Kingsport initiative was awarded with Best Rack Card. Small Business Saturday received the Best Social Campaign and Small Business Saturday Santa received the award for Short Video.
Continuing the win streak, Visit Kingsport was excited to nominate Victory Sports Racing for the Adventure Tourism Award. Victory Sports Racing, a locally owned business based in Blountville, Tennessee, has become a driving force in adventure tourism across the Southeast United States since 1986. As the premier promoter of motocross events in the Southeast, the organization not only brings thousands of riders and spectators to Northeast Tennessee through its home track located in Blountville, Muddy Creek Raceway, but also extends the region’s reach through events hosted across multiple states. Their work fuels significant economic impact, elevates the region’s national profile in motorsports, and delivers high-energy, outdoor experiences that define adventure tourism.
To round out the afternoon, Steve Falin (known to many as Lefty), a Kingsport Public Works employee received the Frontline Employee of the Year award. Visit Kingsport was honored to nominate him for his dedication, work ethic and commitment to serving the Kingsport community. Lefty began his career with the city of Kingsport Public Works Department in 2002. As a Parks Services Crew Leader, Steve is not only responsible for helping keep Kingsport beautiful, specifically our ball fields, but often serves as the first impression to visitors coming to our town as he picks up, polishes and protects what makes Kingsport welcoming.
