Fall is always a great time in the Upper Cumberland region. From the yearly community events to the breath taking views, there’s a little something for everyone during this time of the year!
1. Festivals
Cookeville’s street festival, Fall Fun Fest is a crowd favorite taking place every year on Cookeville’s historic Square and hosted by CityScape. This year’s festival will be taking place September 9th and 10th from 5pm – 10pm and 10am to 10pm.
Another local favorite is Cooking On the Square is a lunch-time fundraiser event to benefit Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity. “This year on Friday, October 28, 2022 from 11:00-1:00 join in on some delicious Cajun food served up by 60+ cook teams on the historic Cookeville, Tennessee Courthouse lawn. The $25 presale ticket gets you a hand-made ceramic bowl of your choice, all you can eat gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, etc. Plus bread, drinks and dessert! Music, food and great company make this event a “must attend” event. Plus, your support builds a home for a hard working Habitat family to purchase with a zero percent mortgage. If you don’t live in Cookeville- it’s well worth the drive!” Check out event details here.
Baxter Harvest Fest is an event orchestrated by Friends of the Baxter Depot taking place September 24th from 10am to 4pm at the Baxter Depot. Join in on a great day of music, food, family fun, excitement, and the animals!
Cookeville Food Festival and Fall Market is another can’t miss event, with food trucks, a craft fair, kid fun zones and more! This year’s festival will be Saturday October 29th from 10am to 5pm at the Putnam County Fair Grounds.
This year will be the 2nd annual Upper Cumberland Air Fair taking place October 14th to 16th! Join in for a fun-filled weekend of hot air balloons, food trucks, vendors, airshows, and even a night balloon glow with a 5k on the runway. Tickets purchasing information can be found on the event’s facebook here.
Livingston’s Falloween Festival is another great time, taking place on Livingston’s town square every year. This year’s event will be on October 1st from 12pm to 4pm and will feature local business dressed up in costumes handing out treats!
Bacon Fest is another community favorite and features…well you guessed it…BACON! This year on October 1st from 9am to 4pm at the Putnam County Fair Grounds there will be local handmade arts & crafts, boutiques, a FREE petting zoo, and Bacon items at every food booth! There will be something for everyone to enjoy.
2. Pumpkin Patches
McCulley’s Amazin’ Acres Farm is a bucket list item if you’re in the area during the fall season. They are every Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 1:30pm to 7pm until November 6th 2pm to 5pm for fall season, but also offer other activities throughout the year. With the largest u-pick pumpkin patch in middle Tennessee with 2 corn mazes and fall farm festivals each weekend, you’re sure to have fun! Also, their sunflower field furing the summer makes for gorgeous pictures! Check out their website here for ticket pricing and to learn more.
Cedarwood Pumpkin Patch in McMinnville is another popular pumpkin patch in the area featuring a chance to pick your own pumpkin, mazes, jump pad, live music, bonfire, 100ft super slide, and much more! Check out their website here for ticket pricing and more info.
3. Haunted Adventures
Bring your friends for an eerie, after-dark, historic ghost tour while aboard a canoe. Canoe the Caney’s Haunted Canoe Trip is a great activity for the thrill seeker with the event lasting 2.5 to 3 hours depending on group size. “Unlike other staged haunted attractions, this ghost tour first takes you on a walk through an old military recreation base…. where you’ll hear true stories of strange and frightening things that have happened over the past 60 years. Learn the disturbing history from your guide and storyteller before boarding into your canoe. Then paddle in the dark water to a place many won’t dare to enter…. cemetery cove!” Check out their website here to learn about pricing
4. Scenic Train Rides
Tennessee Rail Road Valley hosts numerous train excursions of different lengths and routes to choose from. They offer dinner rides as well as themed Christmas rides in the winter. Check out their website here for ticket info.
5. Sights to See
If you’ve never been to Cheekwood Gardens in Nashville, put it on your bucket list! Their six-week harvest celebration is the perfect time to enjoy the crisp autumn air all while being greeted by Cheekwood’s Aboretums fall colors. The six week celebration program includes:
- Pumpkin Village featuring Three Pumpkin Houses
- Mum Explosion
- Community Scarecrow Trail
- Cheekwood Beer Garden featuring special performances
- Japanese Moon Viewing
- Halloween Pooch Party
- El Día de los Muertos
Visit their website here to learn more about events and tickets.
Of course, any of the hiking trails in the Upper Cumberland should be on your Fall to do list as well. Fall Creek Falls, Standing Stone, Rock Island, Burgess Falls, Big South Fork, Window Cliffs, and Bee Rock, just to name a few, are all great options for an afternoon adventure to enjoy with friends or family.
How will you spend the fall season in the Upper Cumberland?
