Join the summer fun! Clarksville lines up can't-miss events for 2023
Summer officially begins in June but for most people and families, graduations, the end of the school year and Memorial Day are what marks the unofficial beginning.
As the weather warms, keeping up with plans or finding something to do can be difficult. Here are some can't miss summer events happening in Clarksville, including a few that will continue until September and October.
Cooling at the Cave
Red River Breeze will perform at this year's Cooling at the Cave concert. The fundraising event supports projects and improvements at Dunbar Cave State Park.
Tables and chairs will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, and guests are advised to bring their own chairs to ensure they have a good seat.
When: June 3, gates open at 6:30, Red River Breeze will play from 7:30 to 9:30.
Price: Car guaranteed parking $65 Walk-In $25 per person
Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Juneteenth Block Party
Clarksville's third annual Juneteenth Block Party will be held Saturday, June 17 starting at noon.
The block party will feature over 60 black-owned businesses, food trucks, live performances and family activities that will fill the Downtown Commons.
You can find more information on Juneteenth Block Party and becoming a vendor at https://www.clarksvillejuneteenth.com/.
Indie Film Fest
Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library will host an Indie Film Fest this July.
This year will be the first fest and will feature short films from local artists. During the Film Fest, there will be movie screenings, audience-based voting and awards.
Those interested in submitting a short film can do it here and have until July 8.
When: Saturday, July 29, starting at 1 p.m.
Where: 350 Pageant Lane #501, Clarksville
Price: Free
Master Gardeners 2023 Garden Tour
The Montgomery County Master Gardeners Association is hosting its 2023 Garden Tour this June.
This tour features six unique gardens and will have garden extras including honey, yard art and teacup planters.
For more information on the event and where to purchase tickets, you can visit https://montgomery.tennessee.edu/horticulture/.
When: June 24, 2023, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Various Garden sites
Price: $10
4th of July Fireworks
The Independence Day Celebration is still a couple of months away, but the planning for the big day starts months in advance. Montgomery County has already started the planning for the event. More updates are to come, but here's what we know so far from the City of Clarksville's website:
The Independence Day Celebration will be held at Liberty Park on Monday, July 3.
There will be food, live music and family-friendly events before Clarksville's "largest firework display" begins at 9:10 p.m.
Riverfest
The annual end-of-summer event will be this September at McGregor Park.
Riverfest is the longest-running community event and brings more than 30,000 people to Clarksville will be on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9 -10.
The entertainment lineup will be announced at the Independence Day Celebration.
Applications for entertainers, food concessions, artisans vendors and more are open here.
Downtown at Sundown
Each month's first and third Fridays will offer free music and entertainment in downtown Clarksville with Downtown at Sundown.
The concerts will last go through Oct. 20. Here's the schedule for this year:
May 19: Local Night
June 2: ACE Party Band
June 16: World Turning (Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band)
July 7: Highway to Hell and Ultimate Def Leppard (AC/DC and Def Leppard Tribute Band)
July 21: Shining Star (Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute Band)
Aug. 4: Hollywood Swingin' (Kool and the Gang Tribute Band)
Aug.18: Rubik Groove
Sept. 1: Ashley Cooke and Kylie Morgan
Sept. 15: Night Train (Guns N' Roses Tribute Band)
Oct. 6: American Floyd (Pink Floyd Tribute Band)
Oct. 20: The Wildflowers (Tom Petty Tribute Band)
Street closures begin at 3 p.m. Fridays on Main Street from Second Street to Third Street to make room for food trucks.
Chairs and blankets are allowed, but pets, coolers, smoking/vaping and outside alcohol are not prohibited.
Clarksville Downtown Market
Clarksville's annual Downtown Market is back for the 14th year.
The event features farmers and artisans who provide locally grown produce, food items and handcrafted products. This year's market will have 106 vendors and various food trucks and will feature special events days. Here are some days to remember:
May 20: Children's Entrepreneur Market
May 27: Memorial Day Market
June 10: Safety Special Event Day
June 17: Father's Day Care Show
June 24: Pollinator Day
July 1: Independence Day Celebration
July 8: Healthy Mind, Health Body
July 29: BBQ Bash
Aug. 5: Back to School Bash
Aug. 19: Diversity Awareness
Aug. 26: Women's Empowerment Day
Sept. 16: Honey Maker Madness!
Sept. 23: First Day of Fall Festivities
Oct. 7: Pumpkin Pickin'
Oct. 21: End of Season Bash
The market is at Public Square and will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon until Oct. 21.
Movies in the Park
Montgomery County Parks and Recreation's Family Movie Nights series is back.
This year, Family Movie Nights will be at three different parks in Montgomery: Downtown Commons, RichEllen Park, and Rotary Park.
Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Director Sally Burchett said this was done to be "more convenient for people who live in other areas of our county and allows people to visit some of our fabulous parks they may not be familiar with.”
All movies will start at 7:30 p.m. Here's a schedule of what movies are to come:
May 20
Movie: Frozen 2
Location: Downtown Commons
June 10:
Movie: Moana
Location: RichEllen Park, Banquet Hall
June 24:
Movie: Sing 2
Location: Downtown Commons
July 8:
Movie: E.T.
Location: Rotary Park
July 15:
Movie: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Location: Downtown Commons
Aug. 12:
Movie: Luca
Location: Downtown Commons
Sept. 23:
Movie: Encanto
Location: Downtown Commons
Jazz on the Lawn
Food trucks, wine and live music are on the schedule for the last Saturday of every month for the next six months as Beachaven Vineyards and WInery brings back Jazz on the Lawn.
The annual Jazz on the Lawn will feature two live bands on the the last Saturday of the month starting on May 27.
The first band will play from 3 to 5 p.m. and the second will play from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. weekly.
May 27: Full Circle and The Bicho Bros
June 24: Harold Dawson and Tiffany Turner
July 29: Clarksville Jazz Collective and Nightmasters
Aug. 26: Full Circle and Nashtones
Sept. 30: Clarksville Jazz Collective and South Street Players
Oct. 22: Harold Dawson and Tina Brown
Price: $5 for admission for ages 21 and up. Admission allows you to be on the property all day for both bands.
Summer in the Park Series
Clarksville Parks and Recreation is showcasing the arts this summer with its Summer in the Park Series.
Parks and Rec will host three free events at Liberty and Heritage parks
All events will be on a Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Here's what you have to look forward to:
June 10
Art in the Park at Heritage Park
July 22
Shakespeare in the Park at Liberty Park
Aug. 12
Dance in the Park at Liberty Park
Did I miss your favorite summer event? Email your event to me at kanderson@nashvill.gannett.com to get added to our list.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Join the summer fun! Clarksville lines up can't-miss events for 2023
