Rutherford County Farmers' Market Fall Market & Arts Festival

HOST: Rutherford County Farmers' Market

WHEN: October 13th, 17th, and 20th 2023, 7:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Lane Agri-Park Community Center, 315 John R. Rice Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

WHAT: The 7th Annual Rutherford County Farmers’ Market Fall Market & Arts Festival will be held on Tues & Fri, through the 27th. Enjoy and be captivated with demonstrations by artisans throughout the month & during the TN STEAM Festival. Market vendors & local artisans will have a variety of handmade crafts: woodwork, leatherwork, jewelry and accessories, art work, sewn items, soaps and scrubs, fall décor & flowers, baskets, stained glass, yarn work & creative treasures. Find unique necessities & gifts while shopping & stocking up on fresh, flavorful produce in season, fall squash, meats, baked goods, jams, jellies, honey, kettle corn, freeze dried treats, & more.

AUDIENCE: All ages and abilities

COST: FREE

WEBSITE: rutherford.tennessee.edu

Trees are Terrific! Tour MTSU's Arboretum Virtually or on Campus

HOST: Middle Tennessee State University Center for Environmental Education

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th 2023, 8:30am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: MTSU, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN
Parking on campus is not available from M - F, 8AM to 6PM but plenty of parking is available in the Rutherford Blvd lot where you can walk to campus or ride the Blue Raider Shuttle.

WHAT: Did you know that trees are the largest organisms most of us will encounter in our lifetime? Come visit the MTSU campus in early fall to view representative native Tennessee trees, plus the Ginkgo. Download the Native Tree map: https://www.mtsu.edu/facserv/arboretum/ and use the QR codes on the tree label to navigate to the next tree.
In collaboration with Vanderbilt University, a virtual tour of the MTSU Arboretum on campus can be experienced via: http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/mtsu/35

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.mtsu.edu/facserv/arboretum/
https://www.mtsu.edu/mtsucee/

Growing Minds

HOST: Customs House Museum & Cultural Center

WHEN: Saturday, October 21st 2023, 10:30am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
200 S. Second St., Clarksville TN

WHAT: Join us at Customs House Museum & Cultural Center for a day of STEAM activities for all ages. Workshops will include musical instruments (3-8 years old), model trains (8-12 years old), photography (middle school), videography (high school), and printmaking (adults). Check website and event marketing for times and registration for each workshop.
Pre-registration is requested. Links for each workshop is included in event marketing. See the website or social media for the links.

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free

WEBSITE: customshousemuseum.org

Bird Walk: Late Fall Birds of the Burch Reserve

HOST: Warner Park Nature Center

WHEN: Friday, October 20th 2023, 8:30am-10:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Exact meeting location provided after registration

WHAT: With open fields and deep forest trails, the Burch Reserve offers diverse habitats perfect for late-fall migratory and early-wintering birds.
Registration is required for this event and opens on October 6th. Email wpnc@nashville.gov to register.

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/events/bird-walk-late-fall-birds-burch-reserve

Archeology in Your Backyard

HOST: Warner Park Nature Center

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18th 2023, 6:00pm-7:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 7311 Highway 100, Nashville TN 37221

WHAT: People have called Nashville home for thousands of years. Come learn about the amazing archaeological sites found in and around Warner Parks and Nashville. Adam Fracchia, archaeologist with Metro Nashville, will discuss some of the archaeology sites in and around the park and in greater Nashville. The public will have an opportunity to handle some of the artifacts recently recovered from sites in Nashville. Children will also have the chance to participate in hands-on activities after the talk.
Registration for this event is required and begins on October 4th. Email wpnc@nashville.gov to register

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/events/archeology-your-backyard

Fall Migration Bird Banding

HOST: Warner Park Nature Center

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023 8:00am-12:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 7311 Highway 100, Nashville TN 37221

WHAT: Fall migration is one of our favorite times of the year! Stop by the bird banding station to observe our federally licensed bird banders in action. This long-term bird research project has been on-going for 42 years!

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/nature-centers-and-natural-areas/warner-park-nature-center

Knot Tying

HOST: Warner Park Nature Center

WHEN: Friday, October 13th 2023, 10:00am-12:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 7311 Highway 100, Nashville TN 37221

WHAT: Participants will learn a better way to tie their shoes, how to tie a bowline and whipping, as well as practical uses for these and other simple knots. They will learn a rope trick or two and a simple decorative knot.

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/nature-centers-and-natural-areas/warner-park-nature-center

Pumpkin Fun

HOST: Breeden's Orchard

WHEN: Sunday, October 15th 2023, 1:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 631 Beckwith Rd, Mt. Juliet TN 37122

WHAT: Join us throughout the day for different pumpkin STEAM fun.

COST: Pumpkin activities will have a small charge to cover the cost of supplies.

AUDIENCE: This day and activities will be great for children ages 4-8.

WEBSITE: www.breedensorchard.com

Pumpkin Patch STEAM

HOST: Imagine Foundry 

WHEN: Weekdays from October 9th-20th 2023, 10:00am-5:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 1225 S. Willow Ave, Cookeville TN 38506

WHAT: Join us to explore pumpkins through hands-on activities such as pumpkin catapults, carving and painting, pumpkin guts and seeds, and more! We will also practice culinary pumpkin skills and enjoy yummy treats. We can't wait to see you there!

COST: $5 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult)

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: imaginefoundry.org

NASA ASTRO CAMP

HOST: Central Magnet School Science National Honor Society

WHEN: Saturday, October 21st 2023, 1:30pm-2:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 502 SE Broad St, Murfreesboro, TN 37130

WHAT: Come join us at the Discovery Center to explore STEAM through hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, and lessons on Earth and space science aligned with NASA-designed science experiences and inspiring the next generation of scientists!

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://snhscentralmagnet.wixsite.com/mysite

Math Fest

HOST: Mathnasium of Franklin

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th 2023, 11:00am-1:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 539 Cool Springs Blvd, Ste 105, Franklin, TN, 37067

WHAT: Celebrate Math Fest! We will be exploring different math concepts for 1st through 12th grade and providing fun activities that are math-based.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Children, Teens

WEBSITE: https://www.mathnasium.com/franklin/our-team

Solar Eclipse Event

HOST: Adventure Science Center

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th 2023, 9:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: ASC is celebrating the annular solar eclipse! The eclipse will take place from 10:38am-1:36pm with maximum coverage (about 52%) at 12:05pm. We will have community partners and staff-led educational programming about astronomy, eclipses, and other STEAM topics!
Hands-on activities and community partners will be available 9am-3pm. Planetarium shows will continue throughout the entire day until we close at 5:00pm.

COST: Regular ASC admission will cover the whole event:
Adult (13+): $22
Youth (2-12): $18
Toddler (under 2): free
ASC Members: free 
We encourage visitors to purchase tickets in advance through adventuresci.org/visit/pricing, but tickets can be purchased the day of the event at the counter.

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: www.adventuresci.org

Trip to Arnold Engineering Development Complex

HOST: FiftyForward College Grove

WHEN: Friday, October 13th 2023, 9:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: *This trip will depart from and return to the FiftyForward College Grove Center.
8607 Horton Hwy, College Grove, TN 37046

WHAT: This is a day trip to the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). The AEDC provides more than 68 developmental tests and evaluation capabilities to the nation to prove the superiority of systems required to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy. 
You must sign up in advance by calling 615-368-7093. Sign-ups will begin September 21. Limited spots are available. 

COST: $15

AUDIENCE: Senior Citizens

WEBSITE: fiftyforward.org

Experience Music: Listen, Play, and Learn

HOST: Dow Street Community Music School

WHEN: Sunday, October 22nd 2023, 2:00pm-4:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Dow Street Community Music School
1272 Dow Street, Suite A, Murfreesboro TN 37130

WHAT: Music brings people together - it enhances our lives, and allows us to blossom.
Come visit Dow Street Community Music School and hear live performances and demonstrations by our teachers, participate in hands-on activities involving the physics and production of sound, and try out an instrument with the help of our staff. We welcome all ages!

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: dowstreetmusic.org

Erosion, Sediment Controls, and Water Quality with MWS at the Adventure Science Center

HOST: Metro Water Services, NPDES

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th 2023, 10:00am-2:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: Metro Water Services, Stormwater will lead all ages through interactive enviroscapes to show how erosion prevention and sediment controls play an important role in keeping our water clean! Visitors can walk through our inflatable soil tunnel to learn about soil with the National Resource Conservation Service.

COST: Free - This event will take place outside of the Adventure Science Center. Entrance into the museum will be a separate, additional cost.

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/water

Take and Make Instrument Craft

HOST: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th-22nd 2023, 9:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,  222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: Whether you shake or strum them, instruments all work in unique ways! Using common items and your creativity, you can invent your very own instrument. Will your instrument be loud or quiet? Will it make one noise or many? Spend some time in the Taylor Swift Education Center, or take the kit with you to make at home.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Children, Teens, Families

WEBSITE: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/

AMS STEAM FEST

HOST: Antioch Middle School

WHEN: Friday, October 20th 2023, 12:30pm-3:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 5050 Blue Hole Rd, Antioch TN 37122

WHAT: At the AMS STEAM Fest, explore, engage, and get excited about all things STEAM.
Pre-registration will be required

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Youth, Teens, Families

WEBSITE: https://antiochmiddle.mnps.org/

Suminagashi: Explore an Ancient Art with Japanese Water Marbling presented with Studio NPL and FiftyForward Donelson Station

HOST: FiftyForward Donelson Station

WHEN: Monday, October 16th 2023, 10:00am-12:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: FiftyForward Donelson Station, 108 Donelson Pike, Nashville, 37214

WHAT: In partnership with Studio NPL/Nashville Public Library, participants will learn about the history and cultural significance of the ancient art form called Suminagashi (sue-me-NAH-gah-she), meaning “ink floating.” Create Japanese water marbling artwork using science and engineering principles of surface tension. 
The program will run for two hours. Wear art clothes or clothing that is washable; ink and paint materials will be used in the art making. 
Register in advance by calling 615-231-1230

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Senior Citizens

WEBSITE: fiftyforward.org

NASA Webb Telescope History & Images

HOST: FiftyForward Knowles

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023, 10:30am-11:30am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: FiftyForward Knowles, 174 Rains Ave, Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: We'll watch the July 2022 livestream as the mission team reveals the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope. This international collaboration led by NASA with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, will unlock mysteries in our solar system, look to distant worlds, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe.
Pre-registration is encouraged - call 615-743-3401

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Senior Citizens

WEBSITE: fiftyforward.org

Tech Assistance from Deloitte

HOST: FiftyForward J. L. Turner Center

WHEN: Monday, October 16th 2023, 11:30am-12:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 8101 Hwy 100, Nashville TN 37221

WHAT: Technical professionals from Deloitte will be on-site to assist with your technology questions. The questions typically relate to things like using a phone or tablet, navigating social media, taking and sending photos, etc. Please join us if you have any technology needs. 
Pre-registration is encouraged - call (615) 622-4962 to sign up. Drop-ins are also welcome.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Senior Citizens

WEBSITE: fiftyforward.org