Events

The 2nd Nashville Charity Poker Challenge will be held on Sunday, March 29th.  The event is presented by Bongo Java and MAFIAoAZs and is sponsored by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

It’s a tournament where everyone wins!  The charitable poker tournament winner will be named “Nashville’s Best Poker Player 2020” and have bragging rights for a year. All proceeds will benefit charitable endeavors with top place finishers determining which nonprofits receive the funds. Since it’s all for charity, everyone is welcome and encouraged to rebuy multiple times!

Your entry fee includes a drink and munchies.  Additional food and drink will be available for purchase and tournament watchers are also welcome!

Located inside The Reserve at Fat Bottom.

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Mule Day is an annual celebration of all things related to mules and is held in Columbia, Tennessee, the “Mule Capital” of the world. It begun in 1840 as “Breeder’s Day”, a meeting for mule breeders, it now attracts over 200,000 people and takes place over four days. In addition to mules, traditional Appalachian food, music, dancing, and crafts are featured. View this year's map of the festival.

If you visit during Mule Day celebrations, you might see a square dance, a mule-driving contest, a horse show, a crafts festival, or attend a flea market. Other events include “working mule”, “best of breed”, or even lumberjack competitions. Food served at the event includes barbecue, roasted corn, home-made pies and funnel cakes.

Since 1934, the festival has been highlighted by a “Mule Day Parade” held on Saturday during the celebration. Floats in the parade compete, with winners in each judged category receiving awards such as ribbons or money. The annual mule pull contest requires a pair of mules to pull a sled loaded with cinder blocks 10 feet. Each pair is given 3 tries to make it the full 10 feet. The team that pulls the most weight wins.

***The 2020 Mule Day Parade will have a change in its route, due to the West 7th Street construction project***

During the construction, two of the four lanes will be closed at all times. Once completed it will be a great up-grade to downtown Columbia, with wider sidewalks, landscaping, etc. Construction should be complete by late summer 2020.

The new route will offer more viewing for the 100,000 who are downtown for the parade on Saturday morning. The functions such as the Culleoka Lions Club Pancake Breakfast and The Polk Garden Party will continue as usual.

The Parade will still line-up at the same location on Carmack Blvd., at the same time. Carmack Blvd. runs into Garden Street in downtown Columbia, and goes thru Columbia (rather than take a left on West 7th Street stay on Garden Street thru downtown Columbia) to the north-end of town and take a left at the Duck River Bridge on Santa Fe Pike which feeds into James Campbell Blvd., which in turn will carry anyone who is going back to Maury County Park.

The Parade Route will be about the same length as the present route, Wagons, Mules and Horses will have to travel about a mile more in distance in getting back to Maury County Park. Santa Fe Pike and James Campbell Blvd. are both four-lane streets, as they will be blocked-off during this time, will be available to anyone who needs to be picked-up after the Parade.

Below is a list of the full activities by day:

MONDAY, MARTH 30th

9:00 a.m. Wagon Train Departs

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1st

Mid-Afternoon Wagon Train Arrives at Maury County Park

THURSDAY, APRIL 2nd

7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Ham Biscuits (7-10); Ham Beans (10-5) Maury Senior Center
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Arts & Crafts/Flea Market
10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Live Music at Main Stage All Weekend
12:00 Noon. Mini Mania Show – Old Arena
12:00 Noon Old Fashioned Log Pulling Competition – Main Arena
2:00 p.m. Feed Time Race – Main Arena
4:00 p.m. Jackpot Mule Races – Main Arena
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Gee-Haw Chili Supper – 1st Methodist Church, Downtown
6:00 p.m. Dummy Roping Contest – Main Arena
7:00 p.m. Bluegrass Music Fest – Columbia Central High School

FRIDAY, APRIL 3rd

7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Ham Biscuits (7-10); Ham Beans (10-5) Maury Senior Center
9:00 a.m. State Auctioneer Contest, Tennessee Livestock Producers Sale Barn
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Arts & Crafts/Flea Market
10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Live Music – Main Stage All Weekend
12:00 Noon Driving Mule Show – Old Arena
6:00 p.m. Gaited Mule Show – Old Arena
6:30 p.m. Live Music – Ridley 4-H Center with Tony Malugin, Katie Stewart & Logan Blade
7:00 p.m. Liars’ Contest Mule Tales – Columbia High School

SATURDAY, APRIL 4th

6:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast – Memorial Bldg.
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Country Ham Breakfast – 123 Theta Pike
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Ham Biscuits (7-10); Ham Beans (10-5) Maury Senior Center
8:00 a.m. Maury Regional 5K Race
9:00 – 11:00 Polk Home Garden Party
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Arts & Crafts/Flea Market
10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Live Music – Main Stage All Weekend
11:00 a.m. Mule Day Parade – Downtown
12:00 Noon Pony Pulling – Main Arena
2:00 p.m. Mule Pulling – Main Arena
2:00 p.m. Skillington Draft Mule Show – Old Arena
4:00 p.m. Knife Auction – Main Stage
6:00 p.m. Bluegrass Music, Line Dancing, & Mule Town Stompers at Ridley 4-H Center

SUNDAY, APRIL 5th

9:00 a.m. Worship Service – Main Stage
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Arts & Crafts/Flea Market
11:00 a.m. Riding Mule Show – Old Arena
12:30 p.m. Riding Mule Show – Main Arena
12:00 Noon Gospel Singing – Main Stage

Lou Turner "Songs for John Venn" tape release show featuring Heinous Orca, Glimmer, readings from AM Ringwalt and Hilary Bell, and paintings and prints for sale by Peggy Snow. Benefitting Community Foundation of Middle Tennesee\'s emergency response fund.

Join The Women’s Fund for the 2020 Power of the Purse® on Tuesday, April 7th from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The event will take place in a ballroom at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Carole Stanford Bucy, Ph.D. is the keynote speaker for the 2020 Power of the Purse®.

Carole Stanford Bucy is considered to be one of the foremost scholars of Tennessee women’s history, with particular knowledge of Tennessee’s ratification of the 19th Amendment. She is frequently called on by scholars and writers for her expertise about women’s suffrage in Tennessee.

She has devoted the past twelve months doing research for the Nashville Public Library’s “Votes for Women” room which will open in June, and as a consultant for the Tennessee State Museum’s Women’s Suffrage exhibit, which is to open in April 2020. Additionally, Carole has volunteered her time to teach two popular adult education classes, Nashville 101 and 102, for newcomers and native Nashvillians which provide an extensive overview of Nashville’s history.

Carole was appointed Davidson County Historian by then-Mayor Karl Dean in 2011. She has a doctorate degree in History from Vanderbilt University and is a history professor at Volunteer State Community College. Carole teaches regularly in Vanderbilt’s Osher Lifelong Learning Program, including a class titled Protest and Social Change: The Women’s Movement.

All proceeds of The Power of the Purse© support the grantmaking potential of The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Since its inception in 1994, The Women’s Fund has made grants totaling more than $1.6 million to 132 programs supporting women & girls in Middle Tennessee.

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Join friends and neighbors for the Old Timer's Day 5K, an active and fun-filled morning to show your personal commitment to staying healthy and to support Dickson County! Proceeds from the 5K will benefit The Community Foundation for Dickson County and the grants it has distributed to nonprofit organizations and schools across the community since 1999.

The top male and top female runner will each win $100 in cash! Top runners in each age group will also receive a gift card to a local business or restaurant. Age groups are as follows: 12 & Under, 13-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70 & Up.

5K runners start in front of Holland Park, headed west toward Main Street. Turn left onto Main, right onto Chestnut, right onto North Charlotte. The one-mile mark is just before you get to Henslee Drive (Hwy 70). Turn left onto Henslee. The two-mile mark is just before College Street. Turn left onto College, left onto Mulberry, right onto Murrell, right onto Main Street. The three-mile mark is on Main Street between Murrell and College. The finish line is on Main Street in front of Fussell’s Store.

Late and Day Of Registration will be $35. All race participants, including children, will be required to pay the registration fee due to the charitable fundraising efforts for the fund. The only exception is for children in strollers or carriers who are with a parent participating in the run.

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The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s The Big Payback is a 24-hour, online giving event created to increase philanthropy in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee. The goal is simple – inspire Middle Tennesseans to come together, show their pride in their communities, and contribute to support the life-changing work of local nonprofit organizations. 

In its first four years, The Big Payback has helped Middle Tennessee’s nonprofit community raise $9.3 million dollars for more than 750 nonprofits, including religious institutions and schools. The spirit of generosity shines bright during this annual giving event.

Learn more, see a list of participating nonprofits, and learn how your nonprofit organization, school or religious institution can participate at http://thebigpayback.org.

The Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Fund Luncheon is hosted by the Music City Center in the Davidson Room on Tuesday, June 2nd from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Award honors the memory of civil rights trailblazer and civic leader Francis S. Guess and recognizes those who spur innovation leading to equality.

IN HONOR

TBD

IN MEMORY

Francis S. Guess served this community with vigor, commitment and pride for decades. He found his own bridge to equality, and then created the same opportunities for others throughout the country and here at home.

ABOUT THE FUND

No one who knew him can imagine what Nashville would have been like without Francis S. Guess. The child raised in public housing became the man whose fingerprints can be found on almost every major civic effort in our community.

Throughout his distinguished life, Francis S. Guess’ body of work has included the widest range of worthy causes from economic development to the preservation of musical heritage to investment in the human condition. He has served on the National Civil Rights Commission; has acted as Commissioner for the Tennessee departments of Labor and General Services under then Governor Lamar Alexander; and has provided volunteer support to more than 100 organizations.

As a community we honor his memory with gratitude for his many accomplishments. And to ensure that his efforts continue, The Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Fund has been created to help provide equal access to the American Dream, in perpetuity.

Brought to you by The Tomorrow Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, this over-the-top themed boozy brunch will have you feeling very patriotic. Ticket purchase includes attendance to one of Nashville's best summer parties, bites from Nashville Urban Winery, live music by TBD, and chances to win AWESOME door & contest prizes

Proceeds from the event will support The Tomorrow Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which builds community awareness and responsibility in Middle Tennessee young professionals by establishing a pattern of community service and charitable giving.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Nicole Rose.  Red, White & Brew is the Tomorrow Fund's largest and most important fundraiser!

Parking: Ride Sharing with Lyft or Uber is highly encouraged. Limited parking is available onsite, in the open lots next door. or at Center 615's parking lots down Main Street, but it's still best to rideshare.

Note: This is a 21+ event. Rain or shine.

Source: The Tomorrow Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Nashville Fashion Week is a city-wide celebration of Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its vast array of creative talent. This five-day event features local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the week encouraging both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces.

Nashville Fashion Week is founded and directed by a collaboration of fashion, retail and media professionals who have combined their passion and resources to create a volunteer event spotlighting Nashville's growing fashion community with a sustainable focus for philanthropic support of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Nashville Fashion Week Night 1

Featuring Article X, Laura Citron, Mary Violet Woosley, Tanya Taylor and Timo Weiland.

Nashville Fashion Week Night 2

Featuring Amanda Valentine, Erica Knicely, Lily Guilder, The Morgan Factory and Truly Alvarenga.

Nashville Fashion Week Night 3

Featuring Black by Maria Silver, H. Lane, Justin Mark Richards, Ken.Drama and Ola Mai

Nashville Fashion Week Night 4

Featuring Any Old Iron, Eileen Kelly, Emily Phillips, Moore by Paige, No Worries and Rank & Sugar.

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Dream Nashville is presenting the Official Nashville Fashion Week Opening and Closing Night Parties on Tuesday, March 31st and Friday, April 3rd. Celebrate year 10 with Nashville Fashion Week!

Dream Nashville's Dirty Little Secret on Tuesday, March 31st following the runway show. These events are 21 and up. Guests are encouraged to Rideshare.

Nashville Fashion Week is a city-wide celebration of Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its vast array of creative talent. This five-day event features local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the week encouraging both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces. View all runway shows and festival details.

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Dream Nashville is presenting the Official Nashville Fashion Week Opening and Closing Night Parties on Tuesday, March 31st and Friday, April 3rd. Celebrate year 10 with Nashville Fashion Week!

Dream Nashville's Dirty Little Secret on Friday, April 3rd following the runway show. These events are 21 and up. Guests are encouraged to Rideshare.

Nashville Fashion Week is a city-wide celebration of Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its vast array of creative talent. This five-day event features local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the week encouraging both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces. View all runway shows and festival details.

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The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee invites you to celebrate and support the entrepreneurial spirit of Nashville’s creative arts and fashion community with Nashville Fashion Week and our partner OZ Arts Nashville at the 10 Year Celebration Party and Nashville Fashion Forward Awards on Saturday, April 4 at OZ Arts Nashville. The Celebration Party and Nashville Fashion Forward Awards will close out Nashville Fashion Week.

This is the fifth year that Nashville Fashion Week will present its Nashville Fashion Forward Awards to recognize community leaders that have made an impact on the Nashville fashion industry. Many more details about this 10 Year Celebration Party and about the talented people receiving one of the Nashville Fashion Forward Awards will be shared soon.

The ninth Nashville Fashion Week will be held March 31- April 4 in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville. All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

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The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee could not be more honored to present the 27th annual Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award on November 19th at the Music City Center.

About Joe Kraft and The Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award Fund

Established in 1993, the Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award recognizes community leaders who embody the strength of character and unwavering integrity of the late Joe Kraft. Past honorees include Amy Grant and Vince Gill, John Seigenthaler, Francis S. Guess, Clayton McWhorter, Aubrey Harwell, Jayme and McDonald Williams, Monroe J. Carell Jr., Pauline Gore, Martha Ingram, Karl Dean, Jim Haslam II, Steve and Cal Turner Jr., Phil Bredesen and Andrea Conte, Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley, Jack B. Turner, and Jerry B. Williams, among others.

Location: This event will be held in the Davidson room.

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