Things to do: Highland Realm Fall Festival, First Fridays, holiday open houses
Kick off November events this weekend with another festive First Fridays, Fall Festivals at the Highland Realm Blueberry Farm, shop Christmas items and more.
1. Highland Realm Fall Festival & Chili Cook-off
Visit one of Maury County's most scenic settings as Highland Realm Farm will host its first Fall Festival and Chili Cook-off this Saturday.
Highland Realm, located at 4443 Hampshire Pike in Hampshire, welcomes visitors to walk among its gorgeous blueberry plantings while also enjoying a night of good food, live music and much more.
The Fall Festival, which includes a $5 entry fee, will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
In addition to chili tasting, the Highland Realm Fall Festival will include beer from Asgard Brewery, food trucks, music from Box of Rox and Kith & Kin, inflatables and other kid-friendly games. There will also be a mechanical bull.
2. First Fridays, Polk Birthday Weekend
The weather will be perfect for another great First Fridays in downtown Columbia this weekend.
As always, First Fridays events will run from 5-8 p.m., with shops staying open late, as well as lots of live music and vendors around the Columbia courthouse square.
Stop by the James K. Polk Home & Museum. 301 W. 7th St., who will be celebrating its annual Polk Birthday Weekend. This includes free birthday cake and tours starting at 6 p.m. Friday. Saturday will feature a 2 p.m. lecture with Dr. Tim Johnson and gallery tour, which you can RSVP to attend via Eventbrite.
The Polk Home will also offer free house tours from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, with $5 admission to Polk Presidential Hall.
3. Christmas Open Houses
The holiday season is almost upon us, which means it's the perfect opportunity to shop local for gifts, decorations and other festive items.
Baxter's Mercantile, 808 S. Garden St., will host its Christmas Open House & Festival of Lights from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The shop's Festival of Lights will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, where Baxter's will light up the shop for the Christmas season.
The Pink Porch, 1326 Trotwood Ave., will also host its Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Guests can enjoy holiday-themed refreshments, as well as the chance to win prize giveaways.
Needle & Grain, 510 N. Garden St., will host its Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Friday will include a walk-in candle bar, Chivanada food truck, with Saturday featuring Groovy Links Permanent Jewelry, Larra Mirk Designs pop-up. Guests who spend $50 will receive $10 in N&G bucks.
The Faded Farmhouse, 113 E. 6th St., will also have a Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
4. Carrie Murphy comedy taping at Mulehouse
The Mulehouse, 812 S. High St., will be showcased this weekend as part of a special standup comedy taping.
Christian comedian Carrie Murphy will bring the funny starting at 7 p.m. Sunday. The show will be recorded and released on K-LOVE's OnDemand platform in January 2023.
Murphy's act includes a mashup of jokes, music and improv, creating a unique and diverse experience for each audience.
Tickets are $15 and are available at www.TheMulehouse.com.
5. Live entertainment
Bald Kernal will perform at Asgard Brewing Co. & Taproom, 104 E. 5th St., starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Jon Mclaughlin will perform with Kris Allen at The Mulehouse, 812 S. High St., starting at 6 p.m. Friday.
The Sun Bodies will perform at Big Shake's, 822 S. Main St., starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Aaron Sizemore will perform at Bad Idea Brewing, 307 W. 11th St. in the Columbia Arts Building, starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Kevin Wright Band will perform at The Rebel Bar and Grill, 307 Riverside Drive, starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Big Daddy Todd & The Pickups will perform at The Boondox, 3543 Highway 431, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Jay Powell covers events and entertainment for The Daily Herald. Contact him at jpowell@c-dh.net or follow him on Twitter @JayPowellCDH.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Things to do: Highland Realm Fall Festival, First Fridays, holiday open houses
