Uncle Dave Macon Days Are Here

Pick up your banjo and toe-heel-toe your way down to the 31st annual Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival, July 11 – 13 at historic Cannonsburgh Village.

The festival not only commemorates the contributions of singer, banjo picker, vaudeville performer, and Grand Ole Opry regular Uncle Dave Macon, but also serves as the National Championships in old-time banjo, old-time clogging and old-time buck dancing.

“Uncle Dave Macon Days is a long-standing Murfreesboro tradition providing families with a fun, fulfilling musical experience. It mirrors First Tennessee’s commitment to supporting music and arts throughout the state,” said Charlie Myatt, Rutherford County president of First Tennessee, the festival’s main sponsor.

After his mule train between Woodbury and Murfreesboro fell to the increasing number of automobiles in the area, Uncle Dave Macon began to focus more on performing. He produced his first album in 1925 and began appearing at the Grand Ole Opry the same year. In 1940 he was featured in Grand Ole Opry the movie, and Uncle Dave continued to perform at the Opry until a few weeks before his death in 1952.

His music blended the sounds of his childhood on the Highland Rim with the tones of the Cumberland Plateau and his years as a vaudeville actor, comedian and musician. Uncle Dave Macon was posthumously appointed to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.

The festival in his name honors the nostalgia of period life in the days of Uncle Dave Macon with performances and competitions of traditional song and dance, historic workshops, a juried arts and crafts show, and motorless parade.

The family-oriented festival is free, with small fees for competitors. The American Bus Association named the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival one of North America’s 100 best events and was selected by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast. Organizers expect more than 45,000 people at this year’s festival to enjoy traditional southern style fun.

New additions this year include bigger prizes for competition winners and a brand new Friday night Jug Band competition.

There will be a Sunday morning service and shape-note gospel singing throughout the weekend. Local concessions, heritage activities for children, dinner on the grounds, and a historic photo exhibit round out the weekend of performances and competitions.

Bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne will receive the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival Heritage Award for his dedication to preserving and advancing old-time music and dance. He will also serve as Grand Marshal of Saturday’s motorless parade down East Main Street.

Cannonsburgh is located at 312 South Front St. here in Murfreesboro. The authentic pioneer village has more than 20 restored log structures. Living history exhibits will be open all weekend long with a blacksmith and old fashioned gospel singing at Cannonsburgh’s little white church.

Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. Friday, July 11. Saturday the festival will begin at 9 a.m., and Sunday it will open at 2 p.m. Free and paid parking is available. Visit uncledavemacondays.com for more information.

Uncle Dave’s Schedule

Friday Night

Old Time Singing

Freestyle Dance

Jug Band

Blues Singing

(With Acoustic Instruments)

Harmonica

Dobro

Saturday Morning

Guitar

Mandolin