C.J. Vaughn

Aug. 5 – Friday Night Live Concert
C.J. Vaughn and Highway 58 will perform at the Murfreesboro Public Square on Friday, Aug. 5, from 6:30–9:30 p.m. Admission is free. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy food vendors and more. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.

Aug. 6 – Yoga in the Park

Aug. 6 – Yoga in the Park
Join The Avenue, Murfreesboro (2615 Medical Center Pkwy.) for free yoga in Central Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. Bring a light-colored mat, towel and water. Another class will be Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. Space is limited and an RSVP is required each month. To register, visit theavenuemurfreesboro.com/news-events or for more information visit facebook.com/avenuemurfreesboro.

Aug. 6 & 20 – Hallowed Ground: A Lantern Tour of the Stones River National Cemetery
Spend an hour walking through the cemetery by lantern light at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 and Aug. 20 at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) while hearing the stories of soldiers and civilians that communicate the terrible cost of the Civil War. For more information or to register, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

Aug. 6 – Back-to-School Bash
Join the Murfreesboro City Schools at their annual Back-to-School Bash at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) with entertainment, games and giveaways while learning the history of the Village. Bring a picnic lunch, your camera and enjoy the day from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. All ages are welcome. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.

Aug. 6 – Fun Fest
The 9th Annual Family Fun Fest, presented by Living Truth Christian Center and ALERT CDC, will be held in downtown Smyrna from 4–8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, with up to 1,000 free backpacks filled with school supplies. Enjoy music, free food, a kids zone, inflatables, teen zone, free haircuts, teacher gifts, educational booths, health screenings and giveaways. For more information, call (615) 459-0591 or visit alertcdc.org.

Aug. 8–12 – International Coworking Week
In observance of International Coworking Week, Cultivate Coworking, 107 W. Lytle St., will offer free coworking all week Aug. 8–12 for anyone who would like to come out and try coworking for themselves and see how much more productive they may become by having a dedicated time and space for work. For more information, visit cultivatecoworking.com.

Aug. 9 – Wine Class
Let’s Make Wine, 109 E. Main St., will host a winemaking class on Tuesday, Aug. 9, from 7–8:30 p.m. Learn the four easy steps to crafting your own delicious wine in only four weeks. For more information, call (615) 427-5084 or visit letsmakewinetn.com.

Aug. 9 – Historic Bottoms Study
Those who enjoy downtown Murfreesboro are invited to a visioning workshop as part of the Historic Bottoms Planning Study from 5–8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.), Meeting Rooms A and B, to talk about a future land use plan, a development scenario, potential industrial, civic and cultural uses, possible infrastructure improvements, market recommendations and more. The study area includes Murfreesboro’s Civic Plaza, Cannonsburgh Village, the West Main Street area down to Discovery Center. For more information, call (615) 893-6441 or email danthony@murfreesborotn.gov.

Aug. 9 – Business After Hours
The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce presents Business After Hours at First Community Bank, First Community Mortgage and Ole South Properties (262 Robert Rose Dr.), from 5–7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Business After Hours is an informal, social networking event designed to connect business professionals from across Rutherford County. For more information, visit rutherfordchamber.org.

Week of Aug. 11 – Perseid Meteor Shower
Each August the Earth’s orbit passes through a trail of debris left in the solar system from the Swift-Tuttle Comet. When even a small piece of this debris enters the atmosphere at a high speed it quickly ignites and burns, leaving a flaming trail behind, and this annual event each August is known as the Perseid Meteor Shower. These particles range in size from a tiny grain to a rock a couple feet in diameter, and usually flame 50 to 60 feet above the Earth’s surface. According to earthsky.org, this year’s Perseid Meteor Shower peaks the night of Aug. 11, and the 2016 event will involve a higher number of meteors than usual, since this year Jupiter’s gravity has pulled even more of the Swift-Tuttle debris towards the Earth. Even on the days before and after Aug. 11, look toward the north-east late at night for a chance to spot some spectacular shooting stars.

Aug. 12 – Free Summer Concert
Enjoy free music by Grizzly Goat, a creative group infusing a bluegrass flavor into rock ’n’ roll (in the vein of Mumford and Sons) at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) Friday, Aug. 12, from 6–8 p.m. For more information, find Outdoor Murfreesboro on Facebook.

Aug. 12 – Smyrna Summer Concert Series
Come out to the Smyrna Event Center (100 Sam Ridley Pkwy. E.) for live music by The Jason Lee McKinney Band at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12. with food vendors and inflatables for kids. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 459-9773.

Aug 13 & 27 – Hot Rod Club

Aug. 13 & 27 – Hot Rod Club
The Murfreesboro Hot Rod Club meets at Central Magnet High School, 701 E. Main St., from 5–9 p.m. on Saturdays Aug. 13 and 27. The fun includes music, door prizes, food, games and more. Find photos of past cruise-ins and club information at 4mhrc.net. For more information, call Dale at (615) 405-5271 or Sandra at (615) 556-0547.

Aug. 18 – The Connection, Business Networking at Mayday
The Connection: an Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming will be held from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, at Mayday Brewery, 521 Old Salem Rd. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, no-obligation event, where they can meet other small-business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. An open roundtable discussion will encourage participation from those in attendance, asking them to articulate their vision for their business and calling for examples of some of the business challenges and solutions they are experiencing. The series will continue the third Thursday of each month.

Aug. 19 & 20 – Quilts in the Boro Show

Aug. 19 – Coffee with the Veterans
Join Operation Adopt a Hero at Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) from 7:30–9 a.m. on the third Friday of each month for Coffee with the Veterans, an informal, social networking event designed to foster friendships between local veterans and their community. Enjoy coffee, pastries and the chance to meet and mingle with our service members and their families. For more information, call (615) 893-6565.

Aug. 19 & 20 – Quilts in the Boro Show
Witness a quilt exhibit and competition with cash prizes, free demonstrations with admission, vendors, and bed-turnings of vintage and antique quilts daily, The Bees General Store and door prizes at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John Rice Blvd.) from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Aug. 19 and 20. Admission is $5 with children ages 12 and under free (free parking). For more information, visit quiltingbees.org.

Aug. 20 – Depot District BBQ Festival
Enjoy BBQ vendors, live music and family fun at the Smyrna Train Depot (98 Front St.) from 6–9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. For more information, call (615) 459-9773, ext. 2622.

Aug. 20 – HOT 100 Bike Ride
The Heart of Tennessee Century (HOT 100) bike ride (not race!) will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20, beginning at 7 a.m. at Lascassas Elementary School, 6300 Lascassas Pk. The challenging ride through Rutherford, Wilson and Cannon Counties in the Heart of Tennessee will feature 102-, 63-, 33- and 15-mile routes, great riding for all levels of cyclists. Rest stops will be well-stocked with water, sport drinks, bananas, grapes and PB&Js. Lascassas Baptist Church will provide a post-ride meal at Lascassas Elementary School. Riders must pre-register before Aug. 15 to be guaranteed a T-shirt. Visit active.com for more information.

Aug. 20 – Murph’s Fun Run
Run, walk or hop one mile around the Gateway Island (1785 W. College St.) and help out Murfreesboro City Schools at Murph’s Fun Run on Saturday, Aug. 20. Registration begins at 8 a.m., the race is at 9 a.m. and entry fee is one new school supply; items needed the most are glue sticks and 2-pocket, 3-prong folders. Everyone who completes the race will receive a medal. Register on site the day of the run. No pre-registration necessary. For more information, call (615) 895-5040 or visit murfreesborotn.gov/parks.

Aug. 20 – Flag Football Signups and Skills Clinic
Registration is ongoing for this season’s flag football league at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rutherford County. Signups will conclude Saturday, Aug. 20 at a skills clinic held at 10 a.m. for ages 7–9 and at 11:30 a.m. for ages 10–12. Regular season play will begin on Saturday, Sept. 10, and run each Saturday through Oct. 29 with the playoffs the following week. All games and the skills camp will be held at the Murfreesboro club, 820 Jones Blvd. For more information, contact Kelly Davis at kelly.davis@bgcrc.net or (615) 893-5437

Aug. 20 – 10th Annual Handbag Auction
Join the Women’s Council of Realtors at Stones River Country Club (1830 NW Broad St.) at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, to benefit A Soldier’s Child Foundation. There will be a red-carpet scene and other activities. For more information, visit wcr.org or contact leshaye2011@gmail.com for sponsorship.

Aug. 20 – Wild Arts Day

Aug. 20 – Wild Arts Day
Wild Arts Day is a free, all-ages event at The Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) specifically seeking art made from natural materials or has content focusing on nature or animals. Families are invited to the Wilderness Station from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. For more information, contact rsinger@murfreesborotn.gov.

Aug. 20 – Golf Shootout to Win Ford Mustang
“Ace the Majors” will conclude Saturday, Aug. 20, at Bloomfield Links (1028 Golf Ln.) from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Golfers who qualified in previous events this year will participate in a shootout on Aug. 20 and a chance to attempt a hole in one and win a new Ford Mustang from Ford of Murfreesboro. For more information, contact (615) 896-2448 or twilkins@murfreesborotn.gov or mmccurry@murfreesborotn.gov.

Aug. 25 – Business Before Hours
The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce presents Business Before Hours on Thursday, Aug. 25, from 7:30–9 a.m. at the Jeff Hendrix Stadium Club in MTSU’s Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive on the MTSU campus. Join area business leaders each month at Business Before Hours. For more information, visit rutherfordchamber.org.

Aug. 27 – Kids Club: Touch-A-Truck
Saturday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m., kids of all ages can explore fire trucks, military trucks, ambulances and other emergency response vehicles with Murfreesboro Fire Department, National Guard, local EMS crews and MTSU athletics at Stones River Mall near Chuck E. Cheese. Families can also enjoy face painting, balloon art and crafts. The event is free, and no registration is required. Stones River Mall requires that all children be supervised by an adult. For information on this and other Kids Club events, visit stonesrivermall.com.

Aug. 27 – Jazz with the Veterans
Operation: Adopt-a-Hero invites you to its fundraiser dinner from 7–11 p.m. at Jazzmatazz Lounge and Restaurant (1824 Old Fort Pkwy.) to assist in building a community of trust, support and camaraderie for all veterans and the community. Enjoy live music from ’40s-style band Sons of Judah alongside a meal featuring Bayou popcorn crawfish. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com. For more information, call (615) 631-7478.

Aug. 27 – MTSU Pigskin Pre-Game

Aug. 27 – MTSU Pigskin Pre-Game
MTSU’s annual Pigskin Pre-Game kicks off the football season for alumni and friends of the university with a fundraiser for the Alumni Legacy Scholarship beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, at The Grove at Williamson Place (3250 Wilkinson Pk.) Tickets are $35 for adults (children 12 and under are free) and includes food from the Tennessee Pork Producers Association and The Blue Porch, adult beverages and soft drinks, live entertainment and door prizes. RSVP by 4:30 p.m. Aug. 24. For more information, call (615) 898-2922 or visit mtsualumni.com.

Aug. 27 – Murfreesboro Pride Festival
The Boro Pride Festival will celebrate the LGBTQ community in Rutherford County and throughout Middle Tennessee at the Murfreesboro Square from 4–10 p.m. with a Boro Pride walk, vendors, information booths, music and refreshments. Interested vendors and sponsors can contact murfreesboroprideevent@gmail.com. Murfreesboro Pride is a program of the Tennessee Equality Project Foundation and produced by the TEP Rutherford County Committee. For more information, find a Murfreesboro Pride event page on Facebook.

Aug. 27 – Geology at the Discovery Center
Participate in fun projects and learn about different aspects of geology as a part of Earth Experience: The Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History (816 Old Salem Rd.) from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Admission is $10 per child. For more information, call (615) 605-1417 or visit theearthexperience.org.

Aug. 27 – Community Yard Sale at Cannonsburgh Village
Bring your unwanted items to sell or just shop with over 50 booths at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 7 a.m.–noon. Reservations required for booth space; deadline is Aug. 24. Fee is $10 per 10×10 booth space. For more information, contact shodges@murfreesborotn.gov or (615) 890-0355.

Aug. 27 – Rockin’ 4 Rescue
Rockin’ 4 Rescue will be held at Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27. The event will support Operation Education Animal Rescue and include a silent auction and live bands. For more information, find Operation Education on Facebook.

Aug. 27–28 – Home Run Derby
The Pujols Family Foundation brings a home run derby, tailored after the MLB Home Run Derby and open to everyone ages nine and up, to Middle Tennessee. Qualifiers will be held in three locations with the finals taking place at First Tennessee Park, the home of the Nashville Sounds, on Sunday, Oct. 2. The Murfreesboro qualifier will be held Aug. 27 and 28 at Murfreesboro Star Plex, 130 DeJarnette Lane. The Tennessee Home Run Derby is a fundraising initiative for the Middle Tennessee area Pujols Family Foundation, providing programming and experiences for people with Down syndrome. For more information on the event and to register, visit tnhomerunderby.com.

Aug. 28 – Clothes and Food for Free
Join Oakland Park Seventh-day Adventist Church (711 N. Maney Ave.) from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. the 4th Sunday of every month for donated free food and clothes. For more information, call (615) 410-7552.

Aug. 28 – Dubfest

Aug. 28 – Dubfest
Wolfsburg Alliance VW Club of Middle Tennessee presents Dubfest 2016 on Sunday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 115 Floyd Mayfield Dr., La Vergne. This all-Volkswagen car show and swap meet will bring the Middle Tennessee Volkswagen community together. Various show classes and awards will honor VW Beetles from different time periods, best off-road, best paint, best engine and more. For more information, find a Dubfest 2016 event page on Facebook.

Aug. 28 – Rabbi Rami at Open Table Church
Join Open Table Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (1130 Haley Rd.) with guest speaker Rabbi Rami Shapiro with a 5:30 p.m. meet-and-greet and 6 p.m. service on Sunday, Aug. 28. For more information, contact info@opentablechristianchurch.org or visit opentablechristianchurch.org

Sept. 10 – International Festival Features Diverse Cultures
The ’Boro International Festival celebrates the rich diversity in Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10. This multicultural celebration is seeking exhibitors, performers, models, vendors and volunteers. Enjoy singers, dancers, instrumentalists, martial arts and theater performers from around the world, local dance groups, musical artists, theatrical entertainers, live painters, authentic clothing, crafts, jewelry, international foods, authentic dishes and a fashion show. To sign up or for more information, visit cityschools.net/outreach/boro-international.

Ongoing – Coat and Shoe Drive
The Murfreesboro Noon Lions Club launches its annual Coat and Shoe drive for the Murfreesboro Head Start Program (items will be distributed Oct. 1). Many people do not have warm coats, sweaters and shoes, so new or slightly used coats, sweaters and shoes may be dropped off at Southern Community Bank (1950 Old Fort Pkwy.), Bella Optical (836 N. Thompson Ln.) or MTR (2340 Southgate Blvd.) They may also be brought to the Noon Lions Meeting the second or fourth Thursday at Logan’s Roadhouse (740 NW Broad St.). For more information, call (615) 893-5005 or (615) 828-1645.

Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice Exhibit

Throughout August – Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice Exhibit
Visit prehistoric times with face-to-face interactions with dinosaurs at the Discovery Center (502 SE Broad St.) as you put on an insect costume, buzz around a swampy bog, coast down an icy slide and dig for fossils. The exhibit features an immersive learning environment divided into three sections: two dinosaur habitats (warm and cold environments) and a field research station. The dinosaur environments include the flora and fauna believed to be present 65–70 million years ago, during the end of the Cretaceous Period, and represent areas that are now part of North America. For more information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit explorethedc.org.

Tuesdays and Fridays – Rutherford County Farmers Market
Join market vendors from more than 20 Middle Tennessee counties with a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, baked and canned goods, flowers, plants and more from 7 a.m.–noon each Tuesday and Friday at Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). For more information, call (615) 898-7710.

Saturdays – Main Street Saturday Market
Join vendors on the west, north and south sides of the historic Rutherford County Courthouse for local fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, and flowers from 8 a.m.–noon each Saturday. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.

Wednesdays – Get to Know the Boro
Join fellow Murfreesboro residents for great connections and conversations at “Get to Know the Boro” at Bank of America Building (120 East Main St., Suite 260). Prepare to do introductions, talk about your business and set up one-on-one conversations. Come with a positive attitude, meet some great people who are willing to help you, and make some connections that can help you grow your business. For more information, find a Get to Know the Boro page on Eventbrite.

Saturdays – Bicycle Tours of the Stones River National Battlefield
Join a ranger for a 90-minute bicycle tour of the Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) at 9 a.m. each Saturday. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.