Through Aug. 2 – BounceU of Murfreesboro’s “Amazing Animal Camp”
BounceU of Murfreesboro (1222 Park Ave.) hosts “Amazing Animal Camp” July 29-Aug. 2 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Snowbird will be there on Friday (Aug. 2)! Early drop off, half-day rates, sibling discounts, and extended care available. For more information, call (615) 893-8386, e-mail murfreesboro.tn@bounceu.com or visit bounceu.com/murfreesboro.

Aug. 2 – Main Street’s Friday Night Live Concert Series
Come out and enjoy the Dirty Proper with Trembling Knees fronted by Tony “Plum” Howells at Main Street’s Friday Night Live Concert Series on Fri., Aug. 2, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Murfreesboro Public Square. Bring your lawn chair! Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.

Aug. 2 – Lascassas Ball Club Fundraiser
The Lascassas-Milton Lions Club, the Lascassas Volunteer Fire Department and the Lascassas Ball Club will hold a fundraiser Fri., Aug. 2, for new or repair to the old lights in the field at Lascassas Ball Park. This is the first Lascassas Summer Jam Fundraiser featuring music, inflatables, food and more. Doors open at 5 p.m. with music featuring The Van Lears beginning at 6 p.m. For more information, call (615) 669-7355 or visit the Lascassas Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page.

Literacy Day 2012. Photo by Sarah Porterfield

Aug. 3 – United Way Literacy Day
Join the community for a walk from Central Magnet School (701 E. Main St.) to the Civic Plaza (100 W. Vine St.) to promote the importance of literacy. After the walk, vendors will provide children’s activities and information on various literacy topics. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Central Magnet School and the walk will begin at 9 a.m. T-shirts available for walkers on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit uwrutherford.org.

Aug. 3 – Spooky Stories in the Mansion
“A Night of Spooky Stories in the Mansion” will take place in the parlors of Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) Aug. 3 from 6-8 p.m. with best-selling author Denise Daisy and an evening opening of “Whispers of the Past: A Museum’s Secrets Explored” exhibit. Admission is $5 per person for the reading with reservations required; guests should arrive no later than 6 p.m. for the reading. The exhibit is an excellent opportunity to walk through the past and see the evolution of fashions and home essentials from the families who lived, worked and entertained at Oaklands. For more information, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

Aug. 3-4 – Confederate Infantry and Artillery Programs
Watch infantry and artillery demonstrations as a ranger tells the story of one of the bloodiest and most pivotal phases of the Battle of Stones River at Stones River Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.). Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29 – Ladies Craft Classes at Oaklands Historic House Museum
Craft classes for ladies ages 16 and up will be held Thursdays in August from 10 a.m.- noon at Oaklands Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.). Each class will introduce a craft to beginners and allow those proficient to enjoy the gathering with other crafters. For cost and reservations, contact mb@oaklandsmuseum.org. For more information, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

Aug. 10 – Tailgate Party and Chili Cook-Off
Hippie Hill hosts a chili cook-off on Sat., Aug. 10, beginning at 2 p.m. Everyone who attends will be given an official ballot, and will vote on their favorite creation. The competition is open to chili of all types, and organizers say “variety will help muddle people’s thoughts on who to vote for.” The event will also include live music by the Happy Goat Band and Who Shot Lizzy. For more information or to register, call (615) 796-3697 or visit hippiehilltn.com. Hippie Hill is located at 8627 Burks Hollow Rd., Christiana.

Aug. 11 – MTSU Fan Day
Alumni, fans and friends: Come out for fun for the whole family at Fan Day! Meet MTSU players, get posters, schedules and other freebies from 2-4 p.m. inside Murphy Center on the MTSU campus.

Aug. 14 – “Discovering Your Leadership Strengths” for RutherfordCABLE Members
RutherfordCABLE and sponsor Deloitte will offer a special leadership event for RutherfordCABLE members Aug. 14 from 5:30-7 p.m. at MTSU’s Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, Room 106. Dr. Deana Raffo, Ed. D, MTSU, will present “Discovering Your Leadership Strengths”, an interactive presentation on leadership and personality styles. RutherfordCABLE is a unique and diverse group of business- and civic-minded professionals of all ages, ethnicities and religions who are driven by the desire to help connect women and opportunity. For more information on the organization, visit RutherfordCABLE.org.

The Springs

Aug. 16 – Music at the Mill
The Springs, a multi-award winning country/Southern-rock band, provide a fun and exciting show at Gregory Mill Park (390 Enon Springs Rd., Smyrna) Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy free music, food vendors and inflatables. Admission is free. For more information, call Smyrna Parks and Recreation at (615) 459-9773 or visit townofsmyrna.org.

Aug. 16 – Cannonsburgh Concert Series
Have fun at the Cannonsburgh Concert Series Aug. 16 at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 7-9 p.m. in the pavilion. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.

Aug. 17 & 31 – Hallowed Ground: A Lantern Tour of the Stones River National Cemetery
Spend an hour walking through the cemetery by lantern light at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) at 6:45 p.m. while hearing the stories of soldiers and civilians telling stories of the terrible cost of the Civil War. For more information, call (615) 893-9501.

Aug. 17 – Pigskin Pre-Game Stockyard Party
Have fun at the official kickoff party of football benefiting the Alumni Legacy Scholarship at Floyd Stadium Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and aged 12 and under are admitted free. Ticket includes food provided by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, tours of the football stadium, door prizes and more. Meet MTSU players and talk with coaches. RSVP to the Office of Alumni Relations at (800) 533-6878 or visit mtalumni.com.

Aug. 20 – RIM Alumni: Welcome reception for Ken Paulson and Beverly Keel
Join in the welcome for MTSU’s Ken Paulson as the new Dean of Mass Communications and Beverly Keel as the new chair of the Recording Industry department in Nashville’s BMI lobby at 6 p.m. For more information, RSVP to alumni@mtsu.edu.

Aug. 20 & 27, Sept. 3 – Death Café coming to Murfreesboro
Death Café allows participants to speak of death with the goal of helping people make the most of their “(finite) lives”. Death Café allows a safe and encouraging environment free from any ideology or conclusions about life, death or the afterlife. Possible topics include: feelings about death, the physiology of death, the philosophy of death and the spiritual aspects of death. The event, held over a three-week period, will be held at Unity of Murfreesboro (130 S. Cannon Ave.) from 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. The suggested love offering to cover expenses is $10 per session or $25 for all three sessions. Bring your own lunch; dessert and beverages will be provided. Register by contacting unitychurchoflife@gmail.com or (615) 907-6033.

Aug. 21-31 – 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
The Tennessee Walking Horse premier event showcases the breed’s World Grand Champion and some 20 World Champions at Celebration Show Grounds (1110 Evans St.). Admission charged. For more information, call (931) 684-5915 or visit twhnc.com.

Aug. 21-22 – 23rd Annual Middle Tennessee Nursery Trade Show
More than 125 exhibitors with products and services await horticultural professionals at the MTSU (MTNA) Trade Show Aug. 21-22 at the Embassy Suites (1200 Conference Center Blvd). Conveniently located in the “Cradle of the Plant Kingdom,” this two-day event showcases booths filled with products, equipment and services available to help industry professionals make their businesses more profitable. This year’s trade show is geared toward landscapers, garden centers and other industry specialists with exhibitors from many different states. Advance registration is required by Aug. 15; lunch is included. Visit mtna.com to register. For more information, contact the Middle Tennessee Nursery Association at (931) 507-7322 or MTNA@blomand.net.

Aug. 22 – 2013 United Way Campaign Kick-Off!
United Way’s 2013 Campaign kick-off, in conjunction with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Middle Tennessee State University, offers an exciting morning at Jeff Hendrix Stadium Club, MTSU, Aug. 22 from 7:30-9 a.m. The 2013 campaign goal will be announced as well as the pacesetter campaigns that ran prior to the kick-off. For more information, call (615) 893-7303 or visit uwrutherford.org/Home.aspx.

Aug. 23 & 30 – Rutherford’s Got Talent
Presented by The Rutherford County Government, Rutherford’s Got Talent hosts auditions at Central Magnet School (701 E. Main St.) from 5-9:30 p.m., Aug. 23 and 30. If you have an act that requires set-up (band instruments, gymnastic mats, etc.), you must audition between 7:30-9:30 p.m. Deadline to register is Aug. 17. Registration Fee is $20 for an individual and $50 for a group. Register here.

Aug. 23-24 – Wartrace Town-Wide Yard Sale
For seventeen years in late August pickers and yard sale fans have been coming to the historic town of Wartrace, Tenn., in hopes of making a buy that leads to the perfect mantle piece, or at least makes for a good yard sale fish story. This Aug. 23 and 24 the eighteenth-annual Wartrace Town-Wide Yard Sale will once again find dealers and local families lining the thoroughfares into and out of town with antiques, collectibles, flea market merchandise, hand made crafts, and the occasional odd ball what-iz-it? The Wartrace Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Kid’s Zone with inflatables, face painting, games and prizes. Live music will be presented in the town square on both mornings beginning at 8 a.m. and food vendors will offer their wares throughout the day. For more information, call (931) 389-6144 or e-mail townofwartrace@att.net. The sale opens at 6 a.m. each morning. From I-24 exit 97, take Highway 64 10 miles west to Wartrace.

Aug. 24 – Siegel High School Band 11th Annual Pancake Breakfast
The Siegel High School Band Boosters will be holding their 11th Annual Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction on Sat., Aug. 24, from 8-10:30 a.m. in the Siegel High cafeteria (3300 Siegel Rd.). Proceeds will go towards the cost of equipment for the award-winning instrumentalists and color guard, as well as help with travel costs, music, and other expenses. Enjoy a great breakfast, find an auction item that you may want to bid on, and listen to some great music from the Siegel High marching band! If you are interested in making a donation, getting printed vouchers, being a sponsor or helping in other ways, contact (615) 202-0185 or SiegelBandBoosters@gmail.com.

Aug. 24 & 25 – Murfreesboro New Home and Remodeling Show
The New Home & Remodeling Show at Embassy Suites (1200 Conference Center Blvd.) Sat., Aug. 24, from 10 a.m-6 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., highlights the latest in new construction trends as well as the finest in Remodeling techniques for any home improvement project. Show attendees can meet industry experts one-on-one and compare exhibitors to find the right home expert. There will be professional demonstrations, classes to attend and access to the industry’s finest professionals to answer all remodeling & building questions! Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and free for children 12 and under. All day parking is free. More more information, visit associationevent.com/NHRS/Murfreesboro.

Aug. 30-Sept. 7 – Cowboy Mounted Shooting & Eastern US Championships
Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association is the Fastest Growing Equestrian Sport in the Nation. Mounted contestants compete at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304-B West Thompson Ln.) in this timed, fast-action event using two .45 caliber single-action revolvers, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (or “C.M.S.A.”) has a variety of levels of competition for everyone, ranging from novice levels to the seasoned professional. For more information, call (615) 494-8879 or visit cowboymountedshooting.com.