Events

The farm throws a birthday party for its albino raccoon with special treats, enrichment toys and a gathering at the exhibit with the zookeepers.

A short weekly children's program with turtle demonstrations, crafts and discovery play.

An instructor teaches bow-and-arrow basics, then the group hikes a one-mile paved trail to the archery field. Registration is online.

Weekly Wednesday-evening stories, games and crafts. Kids are encouraged to come in pajamas, and all ages are welcome.

A messy, hands-on art hour for the littlest artists, with paint, chalk, printing and sculpture on rotation. A grown-up stays with each child, so dress everyone for spills. Space is capped at 24 kids.Cost: $5; registration requiredWhere: Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A gentle story time for babies up to 24 months and their caregivers, with rhymes, songs and sensory play. Arrive on time, since the room closes 10 minutes after the start.Where: Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A cozy read-aloud in the Great Outdoors exhibit about a boy whose worries slowly turn into wonder. Afterward kids draw their own "What if..." pages, a gentle way to talk through big feelings with little ones.Cost: Included with admission ($15 ages 1+, 12 months and under free, members free)Where: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro, …

A short, hands-on turtle program with live demonstrations and a rotating craft. It is an easy add-on to an afternoon at the museum for preschoolers and early-elementary kids.Cost: Included with admission ($15 ages 1+, 12 months and under free, members free)Where: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

Kids 7 and up tackle LEGO engineering challenges that sneak in early coding logic. A quick after-school stop for builders who like a puzzle.Where: Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A free day of native-habitat exhibits hosted with local biologists, aimed at ages 10 and up. A native plant sale runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and food trucks are on site 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No pre-registra

A free family literacy morning: a read-aloud of Sophie's Masterpiece followed by hands-on arts activities. Part of the Center's monthly second-Saturday series.

New and reluctant readers take turns reading aloud to a trained therapy dog. The relaxed, judgment-free audience works wonders on confidence; book a short slot ahead.Where: Linebaugh Public Library, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

Follow a ranger in your own car to key stops across the battlefield while hearing the story of the Battle of Stones River. History-minded kids get a lot from it, and little ones can stretch their legs at each stop.Where: Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A ranger leads an hour-long walk through Stones River National Cemetery, pausing at graves to share the stories behind the names. It is a thoughtful, quiet outing best suited to school-age kids and teens.Where: Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

Two hours of hands-on air-and-wind science for the youngest visitors, on a Monday morning when the museum is quiet.

An easy, under-a-mile walk on paved and unpaved trails looking at how plants, animals and their surroundings fit together. A good first guided hike for younger kids.Where: Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A weekly hands-on science and art session for homeschoolers in kindergarten through 4th grade. Handy for families who want a structured project and a chance to meet other homeschool kids.Where: La Vergne Public Library, La Vergne, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A lap-sit story hour for babies and toddlers from birth to 36 months. Simple songs and books make it an easy first library outing.Where: La Vergne Public Library, La Vergne, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

An hour of wiggles, rhythm sticks, shakers and rhymes for young children. Great for burning off energy on a weekday morning.Where: Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A picture book plus a matching STEAM craft for 2-to-4-year-olds, this week built around lawn mowers. Short and sweet for short attention spans.Where: Technology Engagement Center (RCLS), Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

Stories, songs and a puppet show featuring a different animal for each letter of the alphabet. Mixed-age siblings can all enjoy it together downtown.Where: Linebaugh Public Library, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A preschool story-and-activity hour at the La Vergne library. A good routine builder for kids getting ready for pre-K.Where: La Vergne Public Library, La Vergne, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A short, hands-on turtle program with live demonstrations and a rotating craft. It is an easy add-on to an afternoon at the museum for preschoolers and early-elementary kids.Cost: Included with admission ($15 ages 1+, 12 months and under free, members free)Where: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A free, all-ages class on birds of prey. No registration needed.

Story time around the indoor campfire in the Great Outdoors exhibit, with seasonal stories for young children.

Homeschool Learning Pods Looking for a hands-on field trip for your homeschool or distance learning student? Discovery Center’s Homeschool Learning Pods are the perfect way to fuel those curious minds! Join us on select Thursdays from 3-4 p.m. for guided, grade-specific exploration led by our education team. Cost varies by lab. Learning Pod 3 – …

A short, hands-on animal talk twice a week at the museum, centered on the resident turtles.

Explore the pioneer village by flashlight — log cabins after dark, fall crafts, games, music and sweet treats. $5, ages 5 and under free.

Bring your own flashlight for a self-guided after-dark tour of the mansion dressed for Halloween in Victorian mourning style, with a scavenger hunt and prize. The museum calls it appropriate for all ages; it is eerie rather than gory.Cost: Adults (12+) $20; students 6-11 $10; 5 and under freeWhere: Oaklands Mansion, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any …

Military helicopters, a LifeFlight aircraft, experimental planes, flight simulators and first-responder vehicles — and kids get to sit in a lot of them.

A Saturday-morning fall celebration at Patterson's Garden Co. with free donuts, coffee and apple cider plus fall activities for the whole family. The garden center is also running a giveaway for a $100 gift card; entry steps are on its event page.

A free day of Civil War-era music from a fife and drum duo and a local band, with cannon-firing demonstrations between sets. Bring a blanket or chair for the lawn behind the visitor center.Where: Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A ranger leads a driving tour of the battlefield in your own car, with stops at key sites. Meet at the visitor center flagpole.

A ranger leads an hour-long walk through Stones River National Cemetery, pausing at graves to share the stories behind the names. It is a thoughtful, quiet outing best suited to school-age kids and teens.Where: Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A build, code and create club for tweens and teens at the library system's tech center.

A short, hands-on animal talk twice a week at the museum, centered on the resident turtles.

An instructor teaches bow-and-arrow basics to kids 7 and up. Plan on a one-mile walk on a paved trail to reach the archery field.Cost: $10; register onlineWhere: Wilderness Station at …

A ranger leads a driving tour of the battlefield in your own car, with stops at key sites. Meet at the visitor center flagpole.

A ranger leads an hour-long walk through Stones River National Cemetery, pausing at graves to share the stories behind the names. It is a thoughtful, quiet outing best suited to school-age kids and teens.Where: Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro, Tenn.Details and any registration: event page.

A Monday-morning hands-on science session for young kids, taking pumpkins apart in the name of research.