Gather: May 2018
With Mother's Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Memorial Day all on the horizon, we've got plenty of ways to celebrate in this perfect spring weather. From farms to food trucks, hot air balloons to how-to's, we've got your May weekends covered.
Enjoy: Getting Your Hands Dirty
Planter's Day on the Farm
Date: Thursday, May 24
Time: 4:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
Location: Casey Jones Village (56 Casey Jones Lane)
Cost: Free!
An inaugural event for Casey Jones Village, Planter's Day is bound to be family-friendly and full of fun. (Think petting zoo, live music, and food.) More than anything, though, this day is about the Farm and its two-acre garden, and South Side High School's FFA club is a big part of it all. Families will get a chance to get a little dirty and learn about caring for gardens, and the bulk of the day's proceeds will go to The Foundation's Farm fund.
Endorse: Jackson's Efforts for Animal Rescue
2nd Annual Potting for Pups
Date: Sunday, May 6
Time: 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Location: 4022 Bells Highway
Cost: Free!
With the 6th Annual Downtown Dogtrot coming up later this month, May must be the month to support the Downtown Dogs Group! Potting for Pups is a unique way to love on our city's animals, too, because it's an afternoon full of wine and hands-on container gardening, so just bring your own pot. Proceeds from plants and additional pots purchased go to the dogs—literally! So the group can best plan for the size of the event, make sure to RSVP to the Facebook event.
Explore: Jackson's Array of Food Trucks
1st Annual Eat on the Street Food Truck Festival
Date: Saturday, May 12
Time: 11:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Location: Jackson Fairgrounds (800 South Highland Avenue)
Cost: $10 for adults; $6 for kids
Been itching to try some of our town's best food trucks? Head down to the Fairgrounds on May 12 for the 1st Annual Eat on the Street Food Truck Festival! With a dozen trucks, over thirty craft vendors, and live music by David Vicchiollo and Drew Greenway, your family will stayed entertained all day long (not to mention the bouncy houses and face painting).
Exercise: for a Cause
Relay for Life
Date: Friday, May 4
Time: 6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
Location: West Tennessee Farmers' Market (91 New Market Street)
Cost: Free!
The American Cancer Society's signature fundraiser, Relay For Life makes its reach far beyond Jackson. Whether you're part of a team or just come out for the concert, food, and games, your money will go to fighting cancer worldwide and encourage the many who come out as survivors, family members of victims, and all others affected by cancer.
Experience: A Sight in the Sky
Jackson Hot Air Balloon Classic
Date: Saturday, May 19
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Location: McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (308 Grady Montgomery Drive)
Cost: $15 (free for ages five and under)
Hot air balloons. In Jackson. Need we say anymore? The whole family will love this day full of craft vendors, food trucks, and kids' activities. And make sure to hang around till dusk for the Hot Air Balloon Glow! Don't wait to get your ticket—they're only available online and will run out soon!
Originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Katie Howerton moved to Jackson in 2011 to study Graphic Design and Drawing at Union University. She discovered Our Jackson Home in January 2015 and used it as a guinea pig for her senior design project, creating the first issue of Our Jackson Home: The Magazine. After graduating she was given leadership over Our Jackson Home at theCO, where she now runs the blog, designs the magazine, and coordinates events. She and her husband Jordan live in Midtown and are active members of City Fellowship Baptist Church.
We’ve all been there: that moment when we realize we’ve taken our local government for granted and quite frankly have no clue who to call. No matter how vigorously our local leaders keep watch over our city, there will always be the occasional pothole, confusing terms, and roadkill in your driveway to put a damper on your day. But dealing with those issues and a dozen other shouldn’t be a hassle. That’s why we’ve created this “Who’s Who?” guide to twelve of our city’s most important departments.
It’s not every day that you see a horse and jockey standing at the entrance to a fine arts center. In fact, living in Tennessee, you wouldn’t normally see a horse and jockey anywhere. Horse racing used to be popular in Tennessee, with the first horse race held in Gallatin in 1804. However, the anti-betting law of 1906 put an end to traditional horse racing in the state. Still, breeding and riding horses remained popular. There is steeplechasing in Nashville, where horses and jockeys leap over obstacles on a turf course.
Don’t let the cold weather keep you cooped up all month! Get out to catch some unique events offered this February for lovebirds and professionals to kids and students.
The holiday magic may be over, but don’t worry that your January will be dull. Cozy up with these fun events throughout the community, and don’t forget to sync the full calendar with yours so you don’t miss a thing.
It’s Christmastime, and we’re here for it! Take advantage of all the free fun offered in Jackson, for kids and adults alike.
The Halloween fun may be over, but November is jam-packed of fun community events to get you in the holiday spirit! From shopping and eating to bingo and line dancing, check out what Jackson has to offer before Thanksgiving.
It’s finally fall! Well, almost. Join us as we gear up for arguably the most beautiful time of year in Jackson as we celebrate with drinks, music, and all kinds of outdoors fun.
September may be Jackson’s overall best month for community events, and the great weather makes it even better! While we’re always excited for classics like the state fair, international festival, and Starlight Symphony, here are five other favorites we want to see you at. And don’t forget to sync our event calendars with Google or iCal so you don’t miss a thing!
Don’t let the summer fun end once 731Day passes! August is full of one-of-a-kind entertainment and so many opportunities to support local non-profits in special ways. Check out our top event suggestions.
July is by far one of our favorite times of the year with 731Day on its way, but there’s so much more leading up to that beloved end-of-summer event! Check out all the laughs, music, and other fun in store for this month.
Spring in the South is something special, and this May we’ve got plenty of events to celebrate just that. See what five community get-togethers you can’t miss this month.
It’s a late Easter this year, which thankfully means for better weather for celebrations! Make sure to get outside now that spring has sprung, and bring a neighbor to these awesome community events.
As the weather gradually warms up this month, we’re all eager to get out of the house and find unique ways to spend our weekends. This March is full of exciting events, new and old, and many of which are as fun for kids and they are for adults. Check them out!
While the weather may be dreary these days, Jackson’s social scene is most definitely not. February is bringing the most dancing, learning, and new fun our city has seen since the holiday. Here’s just a handful of the awesome events happening throughout our community this month.
“We are ‘be the change you want to see’ kind of people. Ultimately, we can complain about what is not available to us in rural West Tennessee or we can choose to change it.” This is Katie Weatherford’s heart behind Retro Coffee Bar, West Tennessee’s newest coffee option that is on the move and popping up at events, weddings, and festivals. Based in Selmer, Katie and her husband Jake have teamed up with couple Matthew and Sarah Moore to create the delicious coffee they crave, without all of the hassle of attempting a full storefront in a small town.
January might not be the most exciting month following the joy of Christmas and entering the bleak midwinter, but Jackson has plenty of fun to offer, especially with a handful of annual events we’re all looking forward to. See what’s in store this month!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, y’all! Jackson has so much family fun for you this holiday season, so check out these five favorite events happening this December.
Anybody else out there who can’t believe it’s already November? Don’t worry—you’ve still got a few weeks to prepare yourself for Christmas, but thankfully some holiday cheer is just around the corner, from decking the halls and wrapping gifts to spending time with family enjoying a play, race, or service event. Check out what’s coming up here in Jackson!
Is there a better time of year to get out and enjoy the weather than October? Sure, there’s always fall break, Halloween, and a few good Saturday morning races, but don’t forget the local beer, fashion shows, and some dog-friendly fun! Check out Katie Howerton’s five top events for this month.
As we all gear up for this week's 4th Annual International Food & Art Festival, we're wondering how it could get any better! Check out this photo gallery from last year as Katie Howerton highlights the people of the festival—so many different ages, ethnicities, and religions, but all part of Jackson on this special day.
September just might be Jackson's most nostalgic month, bringing us favorite events we've loved for years. From classics like the Starlight Symphony, state fair, and International Food & Arts Festival to new fun and fall races, this month is bound to keep your family entertained every weekend.
August is here, which means school is back in session and the weather may be a bit better—right? Either way, Jackson still has some awesome events to keep you and the family entertained as we say goodbye to summer, from golfing and hacking to contemporary music and old movies. Check out what you should be at this month.
This Tennessee summer heat is almost more than we can bear, but at least there's lots going around in town to keep us busy and happy! From fireworks and 5k's to music and theatre, July will be a month to remember. Here are the events we hope to see you at!
It's officially summer, and that means that you're looking for events for the family even more than usual. Thankfully, June is full of family competitions, live music, and ways to keep both you and the kids learning all summer long. Check out what you've gotta be at this month.
With Mother's Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Memorial Day all on the horizon, we've got plenty of ways to celebrate in this perfect spring weather. From farms to food trucks, hot air balloons to how-to's, we've got your May weekends covered.
Who knew seven doors and a plate of sardines could cause so many uproarious laughs! The Jackson Theatre Guild has brought Noises Off by Michael Frayn to The Ned and it's guaranteed to keep you in stiches. Noises Off is a farcical play that gives the audience a peek behind the scenes of a live performance. The first act occurs the night before the first show; the dress rehearsal is going horribly. The director must constantly stop the action and redirect his actors.
With Easter kicking off the month, April is bound to be full of spring fun, from a few special chances for you to get outside with the fam and plenty of local music opps, too. And don't forget to be at our 6th edition of A Night of Storytelling on the 13th, too!
March means spring, and for Jackson, that means more races, concerts, shows, and overall fun for our community. Find out what special guests are heading to West Tennessee this month, what organizations you can support, and how your family can celebrate St. Patrick's Day. (It's on a Saturday this year!)
February may not be everyone's favorite month to get out and about, but it does hold Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, and lots of cozy indoor events! Check out what Jackson has going on as we wrap up winter with entertainment, inspiration, and even some exotic animals.
Generally speaking, January is known as the reject-event month following the glitz and glam of the holiday season, but we're determined to make the most of it, especially with our new year's resolutions fresh on our minds. Here are five events we're especially excited so that our January is full of meaning and fun, but make sure to check out our full community calendar here.