THINGS TO DO IN MARTIN, TENNESSEE
UT MARTIN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES CALENDARS
CITY EVENTS CALENDARS
MUSIC AND THEATRE
- UT Martin Vanguard Theatre, UT Martin campus (web link) UT Martin campus
- Masquerade Theatre, Union City TN (web link)
- Dixie Carter Center for the Performing Arts (web link)
- Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center, (270) 443-9932, 417 S 4th St, Paducah KY (web link)
- Market House Theatre (plays), Paducah KY (web link)
- Paducah Symphony, Paducah KY (web link)
- Kentucky Opry, Benton KY (web link)
- Jackson Symphony, Jackson TN (web link)
- Jackson Arts Council, Jackson TN (web link)
- Skullbone Music Park, Skullbone TN (web link)
MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
Martin Area
- UT Martin University Museum, Paul Meek Library, UT Martin campus (web link)
- Our Backyard Town (1900s town, tour by appointment, free with B&B) 520 N. College St. Martin TN, (731) 587-1918 (web link)
- Obion County Museum (log cabin, changing displays), Union City TN (web link)
- Dixie Gun Works Museum (antique guns and cars), Union City TN (web link)
- Twin Cities' Railroad & Textile Museum, Municipal Building, 700 Milton Counce Rd, South Fulton, TN (web link)/
Jackson Area
- Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame Museum, Jackson TN (web link)
- Pinson Mounds Indian Burial Mounds and Museum, Jackson TN (web link)
- Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum, 30 Casey Jones Ln, Jackson TN 38305 901-668-1222 (web link)
Paducah Area
- Tilghman Civil War Museum, (270) 575-1870 631, Kentucky Ave, Paducah KY
- William Clark Market House Museum, (270) 443-7759, 121 Market House Sq, Paducah KY
- American Quilters Museum, (270) 442-8856, 215 Jefferson St, Paducah KY (web link)
- Paducah Railroad Museum, (270) 442-4032, 3rd and Washington St., Paducah KY(web link)
- River Discovery Center, (270) 575-9958, 117 S Water St, Paducah KY (web link)
- Alben W Barkley Museum, (270) 534-8264, 533 Madison Street, Paducah KY
- Fort Massac State Park (reconstructed fort), Metropolis IL (web link)
- Super Museum (Superman items), (618) 524-5975 715 Market St, Metropolis IL (web link)
- Major Elijah Curtis Home/Museum, (618) 524-3780 405 Market St, Metropolis IL
Other Areas
- West Tennessee Agricultural Museum, Milan TN: 3 Ledbetter Gate Rd, Milan 38358 901-686-8067 (web link)
- Trenton City Hall Veilleuses Teapot Collection, 309 S College St, Trenton TN, 38382 901-855-2013
- Buford Pusser Home and Museum ("Walking Tall" sheriff), 342 Pusser St, Adamsville TN, 38310, 901-632-4080
- Tennessee River Folklife Center, Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, Eva TN, 38333, 901-584-6356 (web link)
- Hamlett-Smith House (1867 mansion) Hwy 22, Henderson TN, 38340, 901-989-4353
- Humboldt Strawberry Festival Historical Museum, 1200 Main St, Humboldt TN, 38343, 901-784-1842
- Gordon Browning Museum (Tennessee Governor) 640 N Main St, McKenzie TN, 38344 901-352-3510
- Davy Crockett Cabin, Hwy 45 W, Rutherford TN, 38369, 901-665-7166
- Tennessee River Waterway Museum (dam powerhouse), Hwy 128 S, Savannah TN, 38372, 901-925-4346
- Cherry Mansion, 101 Main St, Savannah TN, 38372 901-925-2364
- Tennessee River Museum (steamboats, Civil War), 507 Main St, Savannah TN, 38372 901-925-2364
- Shiloh National Military Park (civil war battlefield), Shiloh TN (web link)
- Fort Donelson (Civil War fort), Dover TN (web link)
- Fort Pillow State Historic Park (Civil War fort), (731) 738-5581, 3122 Park Road, Henning , TN (web link)
NATURE PARKS
- Garrett Lake (wooded fishing lake with trails and pavilion), Dresden TN (web link)
- Big Cypress Tree State Park (wooded picnic area with short trail and pavilion), Greenfield TN (web link)
- Reelfoot Lake State Park (camping, hiking, fishing), Tiptonville TN, (731) 253 9652 Visitor's Center (web link)
- Nathan Bedford Forest State Park (cabins, camping, boating, fishing) Eva TN (web link)
- Natchez Trace State Park (camping, cabins, hiking, swimming, fishing, horseback riding) Wildersville TN (web link)
- Chickasaw State Park (camping, cabins, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding) Henderson TN (web link)
- Big Hill Pond State Park (camping, hiking, boating, fishing, horseback riding) Pocahontas TN (web link)
- Pickwick Landing State Park (camping, cabins, boating, fishing, swimming) Pickwick Dam TN (web link)
- Fort Pillow State Historic Park (camping, boating, fishing), (731) 738-5581, 3122 Park Road, Henning , TN (web link)
- Paris Landing State Park (camping, cabins, boating, fishing, swimming), 731-641-4465, 16055 Hwy 79 N. Buchanan , TN (web link)
- Land between the Lakes (camping, cabins, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, exhibits) TN and KY (web link)
- Fort Massac State Park (camping, hiking, fishing, boating, fort), Metropolis IL (web link)
- Shawnee National Forest (hiking, rock climbing) Harrisburg IL (web link)
AMUSEMENT PARKS
- Patti’s 1880 Settlement (restaurant, petting zoo, arcade, miniature golf), Grand Rivers KY, (web link)
- Venture River Waterpark, Eddyville KY (web link)
SPORTS
- West Tennessee Sports Online (high schools, racing, martial arts) (web link)
- UT Martin Sports Events (web link)
- Northwest Tennessee Motorsports Park, Gleason TN (web link)
- Paducah International Raceway(web link)
LIBRARIES
MUSIC FESTIVALS
- Breakin' Up Winter old time music retreat, Cedars of Lebanon State Park, early March (web link)
- State of TN Old-Time Fiddlers' Championships, Clarksville, TN: late March, Fri and Sat (web link)
- Old Time Bluegrass and Fiddlers' Jamboree, Holladay, TN: third Saturday April (web link)
- Kentucky Lake Bluegrass Festival, Kenlake State Park, Aurora, KY: second weekend in June (web link)
- Home Place Pickin’ Party, Land Between the Lakes: second weekend in June (web link)
- Madison Bluegrass Festival and Competition, Madison, TN: second weekend in June (web link)
- Kentucky Lake Hot August Blues Festival, Hardin, KY: late August (web link)
- Soybean Festival (free concerts each evening), Martin TN: first week in September (web link)
- Americana Folk Festival, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN: second Saturday October (web link)
- Western Kentucky Regional Fiddle Festival, Murray, KY: second Saturday November (web link)
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
- IPAP Swim Lessons: UT Martin Pool, June and July
- Martin Public Pool, Martin TN: open June and July; toddler swim TTH 9:45-10:45 ages 4 and under; swim lessons: June and July
- Weldon Public Library Reading Program, Martin TN: June and July
- After Dinner Downtown Paducah; Saturday evening, early May through mid October
- Reelfoot Scenic Boat Cruises, May 1 to October 1
YEARLY FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS BY MONTH
January
February
- UT Martin Civil Rights Conference, end of February
March
- UT Martin Faculty Women’s Club Luncheon: open to the public
- Breakin' Up Winter old time music retreat, Cedars of Lebanon State Park, early March (web link)
- State of TN Old-Time Fiddlers' Championships, Clarksville, TN: late March, Fri and Sat (web link)
April
- Martin Parks and Recreation Easter Egg Hunt, Martin TN: early April
- Greenfield Fiddlesticks Festival (free amusement park rides), Greenfield TN (Pope's Concessions, 731-235-3576); early April
- Old Time Bluegrass and Fiddlers' Jamboree, Holladay, TN: third Saturday April (web link)
- UT Martin Farm Festival (educational program for ages 2-6), McWherter Agricultural Complex; last week in April
- World’s Biggest Fish Fry, Paris TN: late April (web link)
- Spring Heritage Days, Union City TN, last weekend in April
- Iris Festival, Dresden TN: late April, early May
- National Quilt Show, Paducah, KY
May
- Strawberry Festival, Humbolt TN: beginning of May (web link)
- Sharon Springtime Festival, Sharon TN
- Teapot Festival, Trenton TN
- Shannon Street Blues and Heritage Festival, Jackson TN: end of May or beginning of June (web link)
- Lowertown Art & Music Festival , Paducah, TN: end of May (web link)
June
- Kentucky Lake Bluegrass Festival, Kenlake State Park, Aurora, KY: first weekend in June (web link)
- Madison Bluegrass Festival and Competition, Madison, TN: second weekend in June (web link)
- Sonnenschein Festival, Hohenwald, TN: second weekend in June (web link)
- Arthur Smith, Robert Spicer Memorial Fiddler’s Contest, Dickson, TN: second Saturday in June(web link)
- Home Place Pickin’ Party, Land Between the Lakes: second weekend in June (web link)
- Kid’s College, UT Martin: two week specialty classes for grades K-8
- Superman Celebration, Metropolis IL; mid June (web link)
- McCracken County Fair, Paducah KY; Carson Park, last week June
July
- Happee Day Carnival, Martin TN: July 4
- Paducah Summer Festival, Paducah KY: last week July (web link)
August
- Eiffel Tower Day Kid’s Fest, Paris TN
- Rockabilly Fest, Jackson TN: early August (web link)
- Farm Toy Collector’s Show, Agricultural Museum, Milan TN
- Tater Town Special Festival, Gleason TN, Labor Day weekend (web link)
- Obion County Fair (carnival rides, livestock shows, tractor pulls, demolition derby), August 2nd week (web link)
September
- Soybean Festival (BBQ cook off, concerts, rides, vendors, antique cars), Martin TN: first week in September (web link)
- Paris Landing Arts and Crafts Festival, Paris Landing TN; early September
- Western Kentucky Highland Festival, Paducah KY; Carson Park, first week September
- Antique Gas and Steam Engine Show, Paducah KY; Carson Park, mid September
- Archeofest, Pinson Mounds, Jackson TN; mid September (web link)
- Pioneer Days, Henry TN
- Doodle Soup Festival, Bradford TN, mid September
- Big Cypress Fall Festival, Greenfield TN, mid September (web link)
- Sharon Corn Festival, Sharon TN, third week September (web link)
- Obion County Corn Fest (BBQ cook off, concerts), Union City TN, all September but mostly the last weekend (web link)
- Pontotoc Banana Festival, Fulton KY
- Our Backyard Town (1900s town, free open house) 520 N. College St. Martin TN, (731) 587-1918 (web link)
October
- UT Martin Homecoming (parade, fireworks, festival, music)
- Americana Folk Festival, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN: second Saturday October (web link)
- Arts in Action Festival, Paducah KY: mid October
- Fort Massac Encampment, Metropolis IL: (web link)
- Reelfoot Arts and Crafts Festival, Tiptonville TN: first weekend in October
- Greenfield Fire Prevention Festival, Greenfield TN
- Old Fashioned Wedding, Home Place, Land Between the Lakes (web link)
- Halloween Parties: First United Methodist Church, Martin TN; First Baptist Church, Martin TN
November
- Western Kentucky Regional Fiddle Festival, Murray, KY: second Saturday November (web link)
December
- Santa’s Village, UT Martin Agricultural Pavilion: second week December
- Christmas Light Display, Patti’s 1880 Settlement, Grand Rivers KY, (web link)
WEEKEND GETAWAY IDEAS (2-5 hour drive)
- Memphis TN: zoo, Graceland, Pink Palace Museum, Children's Museum, Beale Street, Mud Island
- Nashville TN: zoo, science museum, State Capital, Opryland Hotel
- Knoxville TN: zoo, art museum, Smokey Mountains, Cade’s Cove, Oakridge Children’s Museum
- Chattanooga TN: zoo, aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls
- St. Louis, MO: zoo (free), art museum (free), science museum (free), Grant animal park (free), children’s museum, botanical gardens, St. Louis Arch,
- Bowling Green KY: Mammoth Cave National Park, several privately run caves, Shaker Village Museum
- Lexington KY: museums, Kentucky Horse Park, Shakertown
Laura Roberts-Fieser (annetter@utm.edu)
5/18/2011