Annual Events
There is something exciting going on every day here in our area; from downtown festivals to sporting events to live music to craft beer tastings, there's something for everyone. With strong community involvement for each event, guests will have an incredible experience, leaving a lasting impression.
After Dark Movies in the Park
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This summer outdoor movie series brings family-friendly features to the Dogwood Performance Pavilion in Dogwood Park each Friday in June. Admission is free. Movies begin at dusk.
Bacchanal: A Celebration of Art, Wine + Food
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Enjoy live music, bid on fine art donated by regional and nationally renowned artists during a live auction benefiting TTU arts scholarships. Feast on a gourmet cocktail buffet and sample an extensive selection of wine and beer. Take home a commemorative wine glass or pilsner.
Celebration of Craft
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An open-house event exploring the Appalachian Center for Craft facilities and grounds. A remote campus location of Tennessee Tech University, the center will host a fun, educational and entertaining day with live music, demonstrations, kids' crafts, gallery discounts, and more. Admission is free.
Cooking on the Square
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Cookeville’s historic downtown square is transformed into a Cajun culinary destination the last Friday of October with live music and more than 75 teams preparing gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice. $20 provides a handmade ceramic bowl, all you can eat lunch and funds for Putnam County Habitat for Humanity.
Dogapalooza
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Join our #ckvlcanines in Dogwood Park for a day to celebrate your fur-ever friend. Dogapalooza consists of various animal demonstrations, an off-leash play area, an agility course, vendors, activities for owners and dogs, educational areas and a Kids’ Dog Show. Admission is free.
Fall FunFest
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Experience two days of fall fun as thousands descend upon Cookeville’s historic downtown square for food, live music, art & crafts, and lots of fun activities for kids including PBS/WCTE’s Stations of Imagination.
Photo Credit: Brother O'Mara
Putnam County Fair
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Music, midway and more, this almost century-old-event is held each summer and is a favorite of many. The fair offers carnival rides, beauty pageants, a rodeo, livestock and poultry competition, western dance competitions, a strongman competition, a quarter/walking horse show, motorcycle racing, demolition derby, gospel singing and much, much more, all at low or no cost.
Date/Time: End of July-Beginning of August
Rich Froning's Mayhem for Mustard Seed Ranch
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An annual international CrossFit competition with competitors and spectators from around the world joining 4x Fittest Man on Earth Rich Froning to raise funds to build homes for Mustard Seed Ranch.
Take Flight with Tennessee Flying Machines
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Take flight with the Tippins as famed country music singer/songwriter Aaron Tippin and his family offer up unique flight experiences.
Tennessee Flying Machines provides scenic flights around the beautiful Upper Cumberland, complete with waterfalls and lake views, in restored warbird planes. Gain your pilot's license or feature planes in photos or special occasion events. TFM also serves as an aircraft maintenance and restoration facility.
TTU Sports
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With 14 NCAA Division I sports programs, Tennessee Tech is home to all the athletic action you can handle. Catch a football game inside newly renovated Tucker Stadium or big-time college basketball inside the Hooper Eblen Center. The university also fields highly competitive baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, track, and cross country teams.
WCTE's Blues & Brews Craft Beer Festival
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Cookeville’s premier outdoor music and craft beer festival with more than 80 craft beers to savor in downtown's Dogwood Park. Benefiting WCTE, the Upper Cumberland's PBS station.
Art Prowl
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Art Prowl is Cookeville, TN's annual 2 day, free, mostly walkable art tour each fall. Meet 30+ artists in studios, galleries and other locations in Historic West Side and downtown. Featuring the best art in the Upper Cumberland area, plus demonstrations, kids' activities, and ART Prowl specials at local shops, cafes and pubs. Media: Clay, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Painting/Drawing, Print making, Sculpture and Wood. ART Prowl supports local artists, businesses and art education, and integrates art into our community. Support your local artists - join us!
BlueCross Bowl
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The annual BlueCross Bowl State Football Championships, held each December at Tennessee Tech University's Tucker Stadium, feature the best-of-the-best in high school athletics competing for the state title. Fans from across the state and beyond converge to cheer on their teams and enjoy all that Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland have to offer.
Date/Time: First Thursday, Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving
Christmas in the Park
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Christmas in the Park kicks off to welcomes guests to Dogwood Park to “flip the switch” on the community Christmas tree and light display.
Date/Time: December 6, 2020-January 3, 2021 5:00p.m-9:00p.m
Cummins Falls Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K
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Select one of four scenic race routes along the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River for the Cummins Falls Marathon.
Full-Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K, and 5K raise funds to protect Cummins Falls State Park.
Fall Foliage Train Excursion
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Putnam County’s depots welcome passengers from the Nashville area throughout the month of October.
Harleys in Whoville
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Join Harleys in Whoville, a parade of motorcycles riding for a reason each holiday season.
Staging at Boswell’s Harley-Davidson.
Benefiting Cookeville Police Department charity programs.
Red, White and Boom
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A fun and festive option for families, girlfriend getaways, bro trips and couples, celebrate America with Cookeville’s Red, White & BOOM Celebration. With multi-day events, Cookeville knows how to show our country’s independence. There’s even a 1,000-ft waterslide through the middle of downtown! From Slide CKVL to cruise-ins to patriotic parades to firecracker flea markets to concerts to the 2nd largest fireworks show in Tennessee, there is something for everyone at this FREE, freedom event.
Date/Time: July 4th Weekend
StoryFest in the Park
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Lend us your ears, for tales under a tent in Dogwood Park. Storytellers from all over will be present to delight guests for this all-day event in Cookeville’s downtown. Admission is free.
Taste of the Town
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Taste of the Town is a memorable evening of food and festivities, featuring more than 25 local restaurants in appreciation of CityScape members. CityScape is an organization focusing on downtown preservation and revitalization.
Upper Cumberland Home & Garden Show
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The annual home & garden show hosted by the Home Builders Association of the Upper Cumberland showcasing builders, landscapers and home improvement ideas and trends.
Wine on the WestSide
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Wine on the WestSide is an annual event hosted by CityScape with sponsors throughout the community. The event features more than 125 wines and craft beers for attendees to sample. The wine and beer come from vineyards and microbreweries around the world. In addition to these fantastic tastings, there are also food booths from various local restaurants and caterers. The event also features live music and even a beer tasting seminar. Be sure not to miss this memorable event!
