Introducing Mudfest: A new year brings new events from Clarksville Parks and Recreation

A new year brings new events to the city by the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department, and says goodbye to some well-known community events in 2023.

Over the last couple of years, the Clarksville Parks and Rec Department has noticed changes in some previously longstanding events like Riverfest. According to department leadership, attendance has not been as steady over the past few years since COVID and inflation trends. Anew year and new start gave the department a chance to revamp some city events and create new ones, including changes to Clarksville's longest-running community festival.

"It's important to me as a planner to respect the past and honor it", said Clarksville Parks and Rec Event Planning Supervisor, Maggie Houts. "We're honoring the past of Riverfest and what it's given our city and I want to bring that forward with a new vision here."

First event of the year

Following the end of Riverfest last year, the Parks and Rec Department surveyed citizens asking what events people wanted to see next from Parks and Rec.

Many answered with an interest in live music, food and beverage events, holiday and seasonal-themed events, Farmers' Markets, as well as cultural and artisan events such as craft fairs.

The ideas led to the conception of the Clarksville Cookie Crawl.

Clarksville Parks and Rec kicked off its year of events with the Clarksville Cookie Crawl, replacing Chocolate Affair, which ended in 2022.

The inaugural year drew more than 200 people attend Cookie Crawl, an event where local bakers sold their sweets, and attendees received cookie decorating classes.

"Looking at the survey, we were like what's a food everyone is obsessed with," Houts said. "Who doesn't love cookies?"

The Parks and Rec wanted to do more than just have vendors selling cookies. The idea was to get the community involved as much as possible.

Austin Peay State Univesity's culinary program led a cookie decorating class, Girl Scouts were selling cookies and people were educated on the different types of cookies.

With the event considered a success, Parks and Rec is already looking forward to what they can do in 2025.

"This was the first one, so it kind of started out small," said Houts with a smile. "But next year, I think we can get more cookie vendors and the public involved."

If you missed the Cookie Crawl, it's not the only new and exciting thing coming to Clarksville, including a holiday parade, new running events and a downtown market.

Riverfest to Mudfest

Clarksvillians who enjoyed Riverfest will now have a new way to enjoy live entertainment and fun.

Riverfest, known for live music and entertainment, vendors and bringing the community, celebrated its grand finale in September 2023 after more than three decades.

So what happened?

According to Houts, entertainment was harder to get, the price tag continued to rise while the event continued to grow.

"We wanted to keep the events free, so with the cost going up, we went back to the drawing board to see what we could do," Houts said.

Leading the survey was live music with an emphasis on local entertainment was still a top priority for Clarksvillians, receiving 1,302 votes.

After months of thinking, research and planning, a new event was put together: Mudfest.

Mudfest will be similar to Riverfest in such that there will be live music and vendors.

Unlike Riverfest which had two stages and included performers not just local to Clarksville., Mudfest will have one stage and will have performers local to Clarksville.

The new event is centered around nature, food and music. So when attendees are standing in front of the stage listening to music, they can participate in muddy fun such as a mud spa, mud pits, mud art, an obstacle course and more.

"We've gotten a lot of responses from people who are excited and curious," Houts said with a laugh. "I think the number one question is how are we involving mud with this? It's just so weird."

What else to expect in 2024

Along with the Cookie Crawl and Mudfest, more events are coming to Clarksville this year.

Fourth of July Parade

This year's Fourth of July celebration will be a two-day event.

The City of Clarksville will continue to hold its July 3rd celebration that's traditionally held at Liberty Park, with a parade to follow on the 4th in Downtown Clarksville.

Houts is hopeful that the parade will feature children with their bikes decorated, floats and, of course, those in the military.

"We're a military community and I want to focus more on celebrating why we're the Fourth of July and freedom," Houts said.

Downtown Market

The Downtown Market is returning for another year in Clarksville each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon from Mother's Day weekend until October.

This year will have a new monthly Night Market taking place on a weekday evening at the L&N Train Station, focusing on farm vendors. Next door at Dixon Park, live music and food concessionaires will be located to create a fun, family atmpsphere.

Summer in the Park Series

The event focusing on art, dance and theater is returning after a successful 2023. This summer the event is revamped with a new multi-concert music series, emphasizing local talent.

Summer in the Park will run from May to August, with each concert at a different park.

Running events

Gone is the Queen City Road Race, Hello Turkey Trot.

In 2024, the plan is to expand on those races by offering more variety.

"We got some feedback saying that we aren't providing enough running events and different distances, so we made some changes," Houts said about the races.

So instead of just the big event in the Spring, there will be multiple races, including the inaugural Clarksville Half Marathon on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

The Half Marathon will feature a certified half marathon, 5K and one-mile courses. Participates in the half marathon can anticipate running the scenic Liberty Park, along the Cumberland River in McGregor Park, though APSU's campus and a sprint to the finish down Franklin Street.

That's not all. The Clarksville Greenway will host a new 5k and one-mile race this Spring and a Clarksville Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.

“Once again our Parks and Recreation Department has created a lengthy list of events and activities for citizens of every age to enjoy,” said Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts in a press release. “The MudFest promises to be an interesting and exciting new addition to the calendar, in addition to the tried and true popular events like our Downtown Market and a perennial favorite, the Independence Day celebration.”

Information regarding the events will be added to the Clarksville Parks and Rec website as the details are finalized. For additional question about any of the event or sponsorship inquires, you can contact the Parks and Rec Department at 931-7476 or at  parksrec@cityofclarksville.com.

Leaf-Chronicle reporter Kenya Anderson can be reached at kanderson@nashvill.gannett.com or on X at KenyaAnderson32.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Cookies, Mudfest, parades and more events planned for Clarksville fun