Who We Are

For more than 25 years, the Blue Plum Organization has been finding ways to bring people together, celebrate Johnson City, and invest in the heart of our community. It all began in 1999, when the organization—then known as Friends of Olde Downtowne—launched with a simple mission: bring people to Downtown Johnson City and introduce them to the arts, culture, businesses, and experiences that make downtown special. Friends of Olde Downtown started their work helping coordinate the monthly First Friday events downtown, bringing community members together to participate in art gallery showings, musical performances and retail shopping. This later turned into Friends becoming the Blue Plum Organization, launching the summer Blue Plum Festival, still on the first Friday of June. The single festival then grew into a year-round commitment to creating community through events, traditions, and experiences that gave people a reason to come downtown and stay awhile.

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Throughout its entire history, the Blue Plum Organization has been a volunteer-run nonprofit, powered by community members who have generously given their time, talent, and energy to make these experiences possible. Over the years, that work has taken many forms—from festivals and races to holiday celebrations, community events, and investments in downtown itself. Along the way, we welcomed millions of people to Downtown and our festivals and Christmas parades, supported local arts and public spaces, and helped create traditions that became part of the fabric of Johnson City. Through changing times, a growing downtown, a global pandemic, and more than a few rainy weekends, our all-volunteer team continued to show up because we believed in this community and its potential.

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Today, we look back with immense pride at how far Johnson City has come. Downtown Johnson City is filled with businesses, events, festivals, arts, music, and community celebrations that bring people together year-round. The Blue Plum Organization is proud to have helped lay part of that foundation, and we are excited to continue supporting the community in new ways.

 

Our Blue Plum story is one of music, memories, community, and a downtown that continues to grow.