20+ Family Things Around Murfreesboro This First Week of October
The Great Pumpkin Festival takes over the Discovery Center for three nights, starting Thursday, and the week fills in around it: a hummingbird hike at the Wilderness Station, a birthday party for an albino raccoon at Lucky Ladd Farms, First Friday on the square and a daily lineup of free-or-cheap kids' programs across Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne.
Here is the week, Thursday through Wednesday.
Thursday, October 1
Little Picassos at Bradley Academy Museum — 9:30 a.m., $5. Paint, chalk, pastels and printing for ages 0 to 5. Space is capped at 24 kids and a grown-up stays with each child.
Campfire Story Time at the Discovery Center — 2 p.m., with museum admission. A monster-themed read-aloud in the Great Outdoors exhibit, followed by drawing your own “What If” page. It repeats Tuesday.
Tales to Tails at the Smyrna library — 3 p.m. Kids reserve a 10-minute slot to read aloud to Bella, a certified therapy dog. It happens on the first Thursday of the month.
Discovery Design Time: Monster Dancers — 3 p.m., with museum admission. Kids build a rubber-band-powered dancing monster from bottle caps and a paper cup.
Super Gross Science at the Smyrna library — 3:15 p.m. A weekly hour of gross-but-awesome experiments for elementary-aged kids.
Homeschool Learning Pods: Sea Urchin Dissection — 3 p.m. at the Discovery Center. Older homeschool students use real tools to explore the inner workings of a sea urchin. The cost varies by lab.
The Great Pumpkin Festival: Monsters in the Museum — 5:30 p.m. at the Discovery Center. An evening Halloween party inside the museum with costumes, face painting, games, crafts, a Monster Mash dance party, costumed characters and food trucks. It runs three nights, Thursday through Saturday.
Friday, October 2
Turtle Talk at the Discovery Center — 3 p.m. A short weekly program of turtle demonstrations and crafts that changes each week.
Stones River Kayaking for ages 10 and up — 4 p.m., $15. A relaxed guided paddle with equipment and instruction included. Reservations are required and space is limited.
The Boro Art Crawl: First Friday on the Square — 5 to 8 p.m., free. A stroll around the historic square with local artists, shops, handmade goods and creative activities. The organizer calls it family-friendly.
The Great Pumpkin Festival, night two — 5:30 p.m. Same Halloween party, same museum, second night.
MTSU Friday Star Party: The Science of Disaster Movies — 6:30 p.m., free. A public astronomy talk followed by telescope viewing at the campus observatory, weather permitting. Kids are welcome.
Saturday, October 3
Hike with Jane: A Last Look at Hummingbirds — 10 a.m. at the Wilderness Station. A monthly guided hike led by a Tennessee State Naturalist, with a learning station on hummingbirds before they head south.
Terrarium Tinker at the Wilderness Station — 1 p.m. Build a mini terrarium to take home. Bring a lidded container up to 32 ounces, or buy a 16-ounce jar there for $3.
The Great Pumpkin Festival, final night — 5:30 p.m. The last of the three Monsters in the Museum nights.
Sunday, October 4
W.T.'s 2nd Birthday at Lucky Ladd Farms — 2 p.m. The farm throws a birthday party for its albino raccoon, with special treats, enrichment toys and a gathering at the exhibit with the zookeepers. It is included with a Season Pass.
Monday, October 5
Butter Making at the Wilderness Station — 4:30 p.m., $3. Kids shake cream into butter by hand and learn a bit of the area's dairy history. Registration is required.
Tuesday, October 6
Campfire Story Time at the Discovery Center — 2 p.m. This week's monster-themed read-aloud, followed by a drawing activity.
Tasty Tuesday at the Discovery Center — 3 p.m. Kids stir, mix and experiment in the museum kitchen and see the science behind cooking.
Wednesday, October 7
Turtle Talk at the Discovery Center — 3 p.m. The midweek turtle demonstration and craft.
Archery for Beginners at the Wilderness Station — 3:30 p.m., $10. For ages 7 and up. An instructor teaches the basics, then the group hikes a one-mile paved trail to the archery field. Register online.
Pajama Story Time at the Smyrna library — 6 p.m. Wednesday-evening stories, games and crafts, and kids are encouraged to come in pajamas. All ages are welcome.
Just added for the weekend
St. Luke International Fall Festival in Smyrna — Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free. Food from around the world, a classic car show, craft vendors and a kids' area with inflatables. There is a beer garden on site, so keep the little ones in the kids' area.
Coming up: Cannonsburgh Village After Dark runs Oct. 16 and 17, the 50th Annual Harvest Days are Oct. 24 and Trick or Treat Around the Historic Square is Oct. 30. The holiday calendar is filling in early, too: the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade is Dec. 13 and A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh begins Dec. 4. Everything is on the Murfreesboro family events calendar.
