Jan. 8, Feb. 12, Mar. 12 | 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Cookeville Depot Museum | Free
Get your family and friends together and spend the second Saturday of each month exploring Cookeville’s historic WestSide District. This free activity begins at the Cookeville Depot Museum between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Follow the clues, duplicate images in and around participating businesses with your cell phone or camera and be entered in a prize drawing.
Fit Frenzy
Jan. 15 | 8:30-11 a.m. | Cane Creek Recreation Center | Free
Enjoy a free sampling of group fitness classes all in one morning at Cane Creek Recreation Center. Different classes are offered every half hour. Meet the instructors and find your fitness fit.
CPAC'S Backstage Series: The Half-Life of Marie Curie
Jan. 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29 (7:30 p.m.) and Jan. 23 (2 p.m.) | Cookeville Performing Arts Center
CPAC’s award-winning Backstage Series presents The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson. This show is being directed by Steve Gwilt. Productions are selected especially for presentation in the intimacy of the backstage theatre setting. For more information, call CPAC’s box office at 931-528-1313.
About the show: The Half-Life of Marie Curie delves into the friendship of two extraordinary women from 1911 to 1914 – Marie Curie, 44, a brilliant, shrewd, private and patient scientist, and Hertha Ayrton, 47, a brazen, ambitious and fiercely intelligent engineer, inventor and suffragist.
Our oldest and most beloved annual event features a formal dinner and dancing for dads and daughters of all ages. Tickets for this sell-out event go on sale Jan. 8 at 8 a.m. at www.cookeville-tn.gov/ls.
CPAC'S Backstage Series: Popcorn Falls
Feb. 25, 26, March 1, 3, 4, 5 (7:30 p.m.) and Feb. 27 (2 p.m.) | Cookeville Performing Arts Center
Productions in CPAC’s award-winning Backstage Series presents are selected especially for presentation in the intimacy of the backstage theatre setting. For more information, call CPAC’s box office at 931-528-1313.
About the show: Popcorn Falls takes audiences to the small American town of Popcorn Falls, whose only claim to fame is its namesake waterfall – which has dried up. Now bankrupt, the town’s last chance is a large grant that can only be used if it produces a play in one week. The mayor and executive custodian lead enterprising townsfolk in an effort to prove that art can save the world.
April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8 | 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Cookeville Depot Museum and Cookeville History Museum | Free
Explore downtown Cookeville’s rich history with a “hike” between Cookeville Depot Museum and Cookeville History Museum on Broad Street the second Saturday of each month, April through October. Start at either museum between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Complete this activity to be entered in a prize drawing. Each month has a different theme.
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day
April 30 | 10 a.m. | Cane Creek Recreation Center | Free
Tai Chi and Qigong demonstrations begin at 10 a.m. People around the world will join together to celebrate this annual event and learn more about these Chinese martial art forms that are practiced both for defense training and health benefits. The event motto is “One World… One Breath.”
Storyfest in the Park
April 30 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Dogwood Park | Free
Lend us your ears for the eighth annual Storyfest in the Park. This is an all-day, family-friendly event that features professional storytellers from across the region, including headliner Tim Lowry, as well as an amateur storytellers’ competition. Come listen for a while under the big tent.
School of Dance performances
May 6, 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Cookeville Performing Arts Center
Students from the Leisure Services School of Dance present their annual spring performance. Dance classes, which are designed for ages 3 and up in the classic disciplines of ballet, jazz and modern dance, meet August through May at Cane Creek Recreation Center. Tickets are available by calling CPAC’s box office at 931-528-1313 or www.cpactn.com.
Third Thursday in the Park concerts
May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Dogwood Park | Free
Enjoy concerts the third Thursday of each month, May through August, at the Dogwood Performance Pavilion. A different band is featured each month, covering a variety of music genres. This series is sponsored by the Cookeville Arts Council.
Cookeville Community Band concerts
May 30, June 13, June 27, July 4 (tentative), July 11 (tentative), July 25 (tentative) | 7:30 p.m. | Dogwood Park | Free
Cookeville Community Band performs Monday night concerts every other week at Dogwood Performance Pavilion Memorial Day through July.
After Dark Movies in the Park
June 3, 10, 17, 24 | Begins at Dark | Dogwood Park | Free
The After Dark Movies in the Park series, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Williams, brings family-friendly movies to Dogwood Park each Friday night in June. Bring a lawn chair and blanket. Concessions are available. Check out the Dogwood Park Facebook page after April 1 for titles as they are announced.
Kids Fishing Derby
June 11 | Cane Creek Park | Free
A day of free fishing awaits young anglers at Cane Creek Park. This annual event, presented by Tennessee Tech University's Student Fisheries Association, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Cookeville Leisure Services, coincides with Tennessee's Free Fishing Day, so no fishing license is required. Participants should bring their own fishing gear and bait.
Red, White & Boom
July 4
Cookeville’s eighth annual Independence Day celebration includes Tennessee’s second largest fireworks display and many other patriotic activities.
Big Band Sound concerts
Aug. 8 (tentative), Sept. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Dogwood Park | Free
Enjoy lively Big Band Sound orchestra concerts at the Dogwood Performance Pavilion. Dancing is encouraged.
School of Dance Open House
Aug. 8 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Cane Creek Recreation Center
Learn about the Leisure Services School of Dance and meet the instructors. Classes are designed for ages 3 and up in the classical disciplines of ballet, jazz and modern dance.
CPAC'S Backstage Series: TBA
Aug. 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20 (7:30 p.m.) and Aug. 14 (3 p.m.) | Cookeville Performing Arts Center
Productions in CPAC’s award-winning Backstage Series presents are selected especially for presentation in the intimacy of the backstage theatre setting. Tickets are available by calling CPAC’s box office at 931-528-1313 or www.cpactn.com.
Downtown Film Festival
Aug. 27 | Cookeville Performing Arts Center, Dogwood Performance Pavilion
Cookeville Performing Arts Center, in partnership with WCTE, will present the third annual WCTE Downtown Film Festival in downtown Cookeville. Tickets are available by calling CPAC’s box office at 931-528-1313 or www.cpactn.com.
Bryan Symphony Orchestra Concert
Sept. 4 | 7 p.m. | Dogwood Park | Free
An orchestra under the stars awaits music lovers at Dogwood Park. BSO’s annual outdoor community concert features professional musicians from throughout the region, including faculty and select students from Tennessee Tech University.
Cookeville Cemetery Walk
Sept. 17 | 7-9 p.m. | Cookeville City Cemetery
Join us at Cookeville City Cemetery as “residents” tell their stories. This ticketed event is held on even-numbered years (alternating with Night at the Museums).
Dogapalooza
Sept. 23 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Cane Creek Park
Dogapalooza is an event for dogs and the people who love them. It features pet-related booths, off-leash play area, pet parade and more.
Experience William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure under the stars at the Dogwood Performance Pavilion. Bring a lawn chair and blanket. Concessions are available.
Kick off fall with outdoor music and lunch. This concert series, sponsored by Cookeville Arts Council, brings a variety of music to the museum patio three Fridays in October. Lunch is available to purchase on site.
Join us on Friday nights in October as we enjoy a free, full-length movie out on the west patio under the stars at the Cookeville Depot. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and we'll pop the popcorn and chill the water and sodas ($1 each).
Cookeville Treat Trail
Oct. 31 | 4-6 p.m. | Dogwood Park | Free
Put on a costume and join the spooky fun while collecting lots of sweet treats along the Cookeville Treat Trail. This is a free family event. Participants must be in line by 5:30 p.m.
Cookeville Community Band Holiday Concert
Nov. 27 | 3 p.m. | Cookeville Performing Arts Center | Free
Cookeville Community Band will put audience members in the Christmas spirit with its annual free holiday concert.
Christmas Forest Opening Reception
Dec. 1 | 4-6 p.m. | Cookeville History Museum | Free
Browse through a festive display of Christmas trees during the seventh annual Christmas Forest exhibit. Learn about the community clubs and organizations that decorate each tree. Visit any time the museum is open, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Join us for caroling, games, model trains and other holiday fun at the Cookeville Depot's annual Christmas Open House. Santa will be there too. (He takes a cookie break 12-1 p.m.) The theme is "Gnome for the Holidays.”
Christmas Tree Lighting
Dec. 4 | 6 p.m. | Dogwood Park | Free
Start the holiday season with the eighth annual Christmas Tree-Lighting and Celebration Service. See the lights brighten Dogwood Park's nearly 40-foot-tall tree and enjoy a Christmas concert and other activities. A 15-minute lightshow synchronized to holiday music will follow. The lightshow will continue nightly throughout the holiday season every hour on the hour from 5-9 p.m. Adding to the festive atmosphere will be holiday displays throughout the park.
Enjoy a free visit with Santa and his elves in the little red Santa House at Dogwood Park behind the Cookeville History Museum. He'll be there Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17 and 19 from 5-8 p.m. and Dec. 11 and 18 from 3-6 p.m. Bring a camera!