Through Oct. 25 – Students Recycle Phone Books for Classroom Prizes
Recycle Rutherford and the Rutherford County Solid Waste Department encourage students and the city to recycle and win a cash prize for their classrooms now through Oct. 25 with their annual telephone book collection. The drawing for the winners will be at Recycle Rutherford’s semi-annual meeting Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Rutherford County Courthouse (20 N. Public Square). Drop-off locations include: Smyrna Town Hall parking lot (315 S. Lowry St.), Haley Road Recycling Center (1140 Haley Rd.) and MTSU Recycling Center (1500 Greenland Dr.). If you wish to contribute, contact recyclerutherford@yahoo.com. To join, volunteer, or request more information, visit recyclerutherford.org.

Through Oct. 31 – A House in Mourning
The Sam Davis Home (1339 Sam Davis Rd.) will host “Cult of Mourning,” which was at its peak between 1850 and 1890. The house will be prepared for a funeral, with mirrors draped in black cloth and clocks stopped at the time of death. View the Mourning artifacts and learn the history of this practice to respect and mourn for the deceased. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

Oct. 1 – MTSU Homecoming Chili Cook-off
Celebrate MTSU Homecoming week at Stones River Mall (1720 Old Fort Pkwy.) from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 1 for the annual Chili Cook-off. Student organizations, alumni and friends will compete to win the ever-coveted “Lighting’s Ladle” and “Best Chili” awards. Attendees will receive unlimited chili samples and vote for their favorites while enjoying giveaways and inflatables. Students can take a shuttle to and from Stones River Mall beginning at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Like the MTSU Homecoming page on Facebook and follow @MTSUHomecoming for event updates. For more information, call (615) 896-4486 or visit stonesrivermall.com.

Oct. 1-6 – 2013 AQHA East Novice Championship
AQHA East Novice Championship includes equitation, reining, trail shootout, western riding, showmanship, horsemanship, barrels, poles and stakes at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304-B West Thompson Ln.) Tuesday at 8 a.m., Wed.-Sat. at 7 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 494-8961 or visit aqha.com/Showing/Novice-Championships/East/East-Schedule.aspx.

Oct. 4 – Autumn in the Oaks
Teachers and parents can spend their fall field day at Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) Oct. 4 from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. while guiding children through activities, games, and pastimes of the harvest season. Explore the science, nature, history and art of the season through this self-guided experience designed to enhance classroom curriculum and inspire an appreciation of local history. Bring your own blankets and sack lunches. Public, private and home school groups welcome. Admission is $5 per person. For more information and reservations, contact (615) 893-0022 or mb@oaklandsmuseum.org, or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

Oct. 4-5 – 3rd Annual Heart of Tennessee Junior Meat Goat Classic
Open to Tennessee youth only. Pee-wee to Senior High school can participate in the 3rd Annual Heart of Tennessee Junior Meat Goat Classic at Tennessee Livestock Center (1720 Greenland Dr.) Oct. 4-5. Categories include showmanship, skillathon and class placing. For more information, contact mmote1@utk.edu or (615) 898-7710, or visit hotmeatgoatclassic.com.

Oct. 5 – Rutherford Romp 5K Run/Walk
The Rutherford Romp Foundation, whose mission is to support charities that are based in Rutherford County, hosts the Rutherford Romp, a 5K race and 1-mile fun run, at Gateway Island (1875 West College St.) on Oct. 5. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., with the race starting at 7 a.m. Sign up at active.com. Admission is $25 for 5K and $20 for the fun run. For more information, contact RaceDirector@RutherfordRomp.com or (615) 907-2630, or visit rutherfordromp.com.

Oct. 6 – Sam Davis’ Birthday
Help Sam celebrate his birthday with a visit to the Sam Davis Home and Museum (1399 Sam Davis Rd.) with free admission and family fun. Families will experience a day in the life of Sam Davis through games, toys, storytelling, chores and hands-on activities while hearing stories about Davy Crockett and other legends that Sam would have heard. Practice gathering eggs from live chickens before learning about the anatomy of the egg. For more information, please call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

Oct. 6 – “Heroes in Heels” Survivor Fashion Show Event
YMCA of Murfreesboro presents 40 breast cancer survivors modeling Belk department-store clothing with country artist and songwriter Kelsey, performing the debut of “Hero in Heels,” a song co-written with Rob Wolf for breast cancer survivors. For ticket information, please contact the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Rutherford County, at (615) 895-5995 or mcavender@ymcamidtn.org.

Oct. 6-12 – National 4-H Week Scholarship Fundraiser
Support Rutherford County 4-H Wing Eating Contest and Corn Hole Tournament Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. at Kirkenburt’s Smokehouse Grill (517 Cason Ln.) in honor of National 4-H Week. One wing = $1 pledge. There will be two divisions, adult and youth. Sponsors can pledge any amount. Contestant coming closest to their pledge amount wins a $25 prize. There’s a $5 entry fee per team. To enter, contact wdirl@utk.edu or call (615) 898-7710.

Oct. 7, 14, 21 & 28 – Basic Physical Defense for Women
R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) teaches realistic self-defense tactics and techniques to give women options in the case of an attack. R.A.D teaches risk awareness, risk reduction, risk recognition and risk avoidance strategies and self-defense techniques against abduction or sexual assault. Class size is limited to 25 students. Each class builds on the previous class. All classes will be at the Murfreesboro Police Department Annex Training Room (302 S. Church St.) from 6-9 p.m. For more information, or to enroll, contact (615) 895-3874 or 0316@murfreesborotn.gov.

Oct. 11 – Family Consumer Education Cultural Art Classes
FCE teaches cultural art classes Oct. 11 from 10 a.m.-noon at Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd). Learn a new skill and make some new friends with chicken scratch embroidery, dimensional Christmas ornaments and broomstick knitting. Cost ranges from $3-10. For more information contact (615) 898-7710, pwitak1@utk.edu or llindqu1@utk.edu.

Oct. 12 – Murfreesboro Half-Marathon and Murph’s Fun Run
This fun half-marathon and Murph’s Fun Run 13.1 mile race leaves MTSU (1301 E. Main St.) at 7 a.m., winds through historic downtown Murfreesboro and finishes on MTSU Dean Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium. Click here for more.

Oct. 12 – Brewsboro Festival
Get out and enjoy great beer at at the Avenue Murfreesboro (2615 Medical Center Pkwy.) Oct. 12 from 2-7 p.m. Sample brews from local, regional, national, and imported breweries in your handy souvenir mug as well as food from some of Murfreesboro’s and Nashville’s best restaurants. Get educated on some of the fun facts of beer and learn from the experts on how to brew your own. This is a 21+ event only. Click here for more information and the full list of participating breweries.

Brad Halfacre, son of the Edgar Evins State Park manager and a ranger at Henry Horton State Park, is a crowd-pleaser in his role as a local moonshiner.

Oct. 12 – Historic Hayride at Edgar Evins
The 8th annual Historic Hayride at Edgar Evins (1630 Edgar Evins State Park Rd., Silver point, TN) heads out of the park’s Visitors Center Oct. 12 beginning at 2 p.m. and lasting until 6 p.m. Costumed actors and actresses will portray historical characters and past events of the area along the one-and-a-half-hour ride. To reserve your seats, call (931) 858-2114 or visit tn.gov/environment/parks/reservations. For those who wish to stay overnight, there are cabins and campsites at the park. For more information on Friends of Edgar Evins, visit foeesp.alturl.com or find them on Facebook.

Oct. 12 – Fall Fashion Extravaganza/Banquet at the Embassy
Come out to the Embassy Suites (1200 Conference Center Blvd.) Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. for festivities while seeing the latest fashions hit the runway. Along with the fashion, food & fun, enjoy family-friendly vendors. For more information, call (615) 525-1412.

Oct. 12 – Harvest Arts and Crafts Show
Patterson Park will host its annual arts and craft show again this year on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Patterson Park Community Center is located at 521 Mercury Blvd. next to Bradley Elementary School, and the craft show will be held on the large multi-purpose field in the front of the building. The event will be moved inside should inclement weather threaten. This non-juried event provides an opportunity for artists to showcase their talent. All merchandise sold must be crafted or designed by the vendor. For more information, contact Trina Pullum at (615) 893-7439 or tpullum@murfreesborotn.gov.

Oct. 14-31 – A Mansion in Mourning
Explore the unusual mourning customs and creepy superstitions of the Victorian era at Oaklands Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.). Guided tours of the mansion with our mourners are available Oct. 14-31, during regular visiting hours, Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m.–4 p.m. with the last tour leaving at 3 p.m. Regular admission rates apply. For more information, contact info@oaklandsmuseum.org.

Oct. 17 – Girls Night Out
Join Murfreesboro Medical Clinic for useful tips on health, beauty and wellness with great door prizes, fabulous goodie bags and a “Fall into Fashion” show (1272 Garrison Dr.) Oct. 17 from 6-9 p.m. The GNO event is free, but space is limited, so sign up now at mmclinic.com. For more information, call (615) 893-4480.

Oct. 18 – “The Living Matrix”
Enjoy free popcorn and a free screening of a film on the new science of healing at 7 p.m. at Unity of Murfreesboro (130 Cannon St.). Empower yourself with information on how you can enliven your body’s own self-healing capabilities and transform your ideas about how to get well and stay well. From the quantum physics of the human body field to heart coherence and informational health care, this full-length feature film explores the intricate web of factors that determine our well-being. For more information, call (615) 907-6033.

Oct. 18 – Homeschool Cemetery and Mansion Tour
Get into the spirit and journey among the tombs of legends and heroes in their final resting place at Evergreen Cemetery (900 N. Maney Ave.) from 10 a.m. to noon. Guests may participate in tombstone rubbings and a cemetery scavenger hunt while learning of Victorian mourning customs such as widow’s weeds and appropriate mourning times for family members. Reservations are required and can be made to mb@oaklandsmuseum.org. Admission is $5. For more information, please call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

Oct. 18-19, 25 & 26 – Ghost Tours at the Sam Davis Home
Ghost Tours offers an answer to the commonly asked question: “Is the Sam Davis Home haunted?” Visitors board a haunted hayride where they are told grim tales of history on the property and in the surrounding area until they are dropped off at the front walk of the historic Sam Davis Home (1399 Sam Davis Rd.). Storytellers tell hauntingly true tales of ghost encounters experienced by visitors, staff and volunteers while guided along dark, winding trails by lantern light. Hayrides depart between 7 and 10 p.m. Parental discretion is advised. This event is not recommended for children under the age of 10. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

Oct. 18-31 – Widows, Weepers and Wakes: Mourning Customs Exhibit
Victorian mourning customs and superstitions will be explored when the mansion is placed in mourning at Oakland Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.). For more information, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

Oct. 19 – Lambert Dillard Memorial 5K
Lambert Dillard Memorial 5K kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with the Kids Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. at Sharp Springs Park (1000 Espey Dr., Smyrna). A family fun day begins at 10 a.m. consisting of bounce houses and fun activities, food, and a variety of local business vendors. The Lambert Dillard Memorial 5K honors the lives of Angi Ross Lambert and Carla Dillard, tragically lost to violent crimes in 2013. Proceeds from all YMCA Race Series events benefit the YMCA of Middle Tennessee’s Annual Giving Campaign. For more information, call (615) 220-9622.

Oct. 19 – Murfreesboro Walk to Cure Diabetes
The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is a fun and healthy way to show your support for all those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to raise funds for JDRF—the leading global organization focused on T1D research. Murfreesboro Walk to Cure Diabetes is a 1.2 mile loop charity walk-a-thon Oct. 19 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital (1700 Medical Center Pkwy.). For more information, please contact (615) 332-2575 or jclark@jdrf.org, or register at jdrf.org.

Oct. 19 – DreamCatchers 10th Annual Fall Round-Up
Come out for games for all ages, hayrides, bonfire, pony rides, musical entertainment, food and drinks at DreamCatchers (257 McNeil Dr.) Oct. 19 from 5-9 p.m. DreamCatchers provides comprehensive Pediatric Therapy services to children in a family-centered manner offering traditional occupational therapy, speech therapy, hippotherapy, aquatic therapy, and therapeutic listening all in a multisensory environment. For more information, call (615) 631-6691.

Oct. 19 & 26 – A Frightful Night
The evening begins with a catered dinner in the Creek House and continues to the museum theater for a showing of a classic horror film. Following the film, guests embark on a haunted hayride on their journey to the front of the Sam Davis Home (1399 Sam Davis Rd.). Reservations are required, with a prepaid admission of $25 per person. The event begins at 6 p.m. Please make reservations early. Admission is $25 per person. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

Oct. 21 – Science and Spirituality Discussion Group
Is the sense of wonder that science instills actually a spiritual experience? Or can it lead to a spiritual experience? For all those who are interested in exploring the relationship between the two, the Science and Spirituality Discussion Group meets the third Monday of each month from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (Oct. 21) at Unity of Murfreesboro (130 Cannon St.). For more information, call (615) 907-6033.

Oct. 23-27 – Cynosport World Games, USDAA Dog Agility
Competitors race against the clock as they direct their dogs to jump hurdles, scale ramps, burst through tunnels, traverse a see-saw and weave through a line of poles in an obstacle course configuration designed to challenge a handler’s competitive and training skills at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304-B W. Thompson Ln.). For more information, please call (615) 494-8879 or visit usdaa.com/events.cfm.

Oct. 25 – Pink on Purpose
Ignite Murfreesboro hosts Pink on Purpose beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, to raise funds for the American Institute for Cancer Research. The event will include a fashion show, comedy by Renard Hirsch, music by DJ Gina Sutton, food and drinks, and giveaways. The Walk In Closet and Friends plan to rock the runway at Ignite with local designers, models and artists to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and “pay it forward.” Tickets are available at The Walk In Closet (1224 NW Broad St, Murfreesboro). Call (615) 867-7255 for more information. Ignite is located at 810 N.W. Broad St.

Oct. 25 – Pink Party
Lox Salon’s Pink Party is an event to raise money for two breast cancer awareness funds – Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, through purchasing Paul Mitchell’s limited-edition pink products, and the Liz Mitchell scholarship foundation. There will be appetizers donated from a local restaurant and wine provided, Oct. 25 from 6:30-8 p.m. (132 St. Andrews Dr.). Raffles and prizes to be won! For more information, call (615) 617-3389.

“Dream House” by Lucas Antoniak, one of the many artists featured in the Off the Beaten Path Studio Art Tour

Oct. 25-27 – Off the Beaten Path Studio Art Tour
During the last full weekend in October, the artists of the Off the Beaten Path Studio Art Tour open their studios to the public for a firsthand look at the materials, methods and settings that empower their creativity at more than a dozen studios across Middle Tennessee at 5 p.m. (1618 Cripps Rd., Liberty, TN). Take a tour of 14 fine art studios here in Middle Tennessee and participate in the most interactive art crawl our region offers, with original creations in clay, glass, wood, fiber and other media. Admission is free. To find their works, visit offthebeatenpathtour.com. For more information, contact MauriceWatkinsWilliams@gmail.com.

Oct. 26 – Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Village
Celebrate fall in true pioneer fashion with old-time music and dance, hayrides, pottery demonstrations, local crafters and food vendors, broom making, blacksmithing, art and antique auto exhibits at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.

Oct. 26 – Rutherford’s Best Doctors Health Fair
Nearly 100 physicians from all specialties will be in attendance, along with dozens of free health screenings, seminars, giveaways, demonstrations, and more, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). There will be informational booths explaining what to expect when Health Care Reform takes effect, as well as instructional classes to make sure you and your family are prepared. The Health Fair is 100 percent free. For more information, call (615) 898-1496.

Oct. 26 – Express Fest 2013
Express Fest is a vendor event offering a unique boutique style shopping experience. Located indoors at The Walnut House (116 N. Walnut St.), Oct. 26 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., stop by and shop on your way to/from the last weekend of the Farmers Market on the square! Accepting new artisans and vendors daily; call (615) 719-4860 to be a part of the show.

Oct. 26 – BBQ Battle in the Boro Contest
BBQ Battle in the Boro Contest & Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) offers BBQ, music, hayrides, vendors, crafters and food vendors, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m-5 p.m. Admission is free. Click here for more information.

Trick or treating at Oaklands

Oct. 26 – Great Pumpkin Festival
Wizards, and witches, and hobbits, oh my! Dress as your favorite fantasy literature character and join Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.) in a fun, family-friendly Halloween event! For more information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit discoverycenteronline.org.

Oct. 26 – Youth Canning and Freezing Class
Learn how to preserve food by water-bath canning and freezing at Lane-Agri Park (315 John. R. Rice Rd.). Take home what you make. Open to students in grades 4-12 Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $30. Limit is 10. For more information, please contact bdavenp4@utk.edu or (615) 898-7710.

Oct. 31 – Trick or Treating at the Mansion
As the doors of Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) creak open to reveal the dimly lit main hall, you will hardly be able to help wondering how many funerals have been held in the majestic front parlors. Bring your little ghosts and goblins to offer their most haunting greeting. The flickering lights and the family dressed in mourning will be sure to intrigue you enough to return for a full tour of the once-vacant and vandalized mansion now restored to its original splendor. Trick-or-treating on Halloween is open to the public and will last from 4 p.m. until candy is given away. Contact info@oaklandsmuseum.org for more information.