Pine Mountain State Park is kicking off 2018 with some special events for the entertainment of the community.

Everyone enjoys a stunning photo — whether it be a well composed family portrait or a natural vista. On the weekend of Jan. 26-28, Pine Mountain State Park will hold a Winter Photography program hosted by professional photographer Paul Hassell. The program will offer a variety of things such as a digital photography workshops and contests, a beginners in photography session and there is even a critique session available. There are three classes in the program — Amateur, Intermediate and Accomplished along with four competition categories for each class.

“We usually have a very competitive bunch and get some world class photos from this event. We encourage anyone who wants to learn photography to join and learn from the professionals. Even as poor of a photographer as I am, I have never left one of our sessions without learning something. This is for all ages as well. We had a girl last year who was 14 or 15 that took my favorite photo of the competition,” said Program Services Supervisor Keith Bowling.

Just in time for Valentines Day, the park will host a “You Get What You Pay For,” A Detective Dinner from the Middlesboro Little Theater. The dinner is an interactive murder mystery with an eight-person cast.

Bowling said, “The detective dinner is, in my opinion, the best deal in dinner theater around. It is cheaper than anyone else’s dinner theater in the immediate area, with a better cast and more food options. Visitors will enjoy an interactive show, and a dinner of prime rib, tuna steak, or chicken alfredo, with vegetarian options available upon request. The Middlesboro Little Theater will be leading the event, and might I say I think is going to be the best show we have ever had here, and through our partnerships, we have been able to bring the ticket price down to $35.”

The dinner theater show will take place on Feb. 10 from 7-9:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Winter Photography program are $40 at the door.