 "Photo: Wendy S. Bryant")
 "Photo: Wendy S. Bryant")
The 32nd annual "Uncle Dave Macon Days" Old-Time Music and Dance Festival is scheduled for July 10-12 at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro.
The festival was formed to pay tribute to a past Rutherford county resident, David Macon.
The festival's Web site said Uncle Dave Macon Days is the National Championship for Old Time Banjo, Buckdance and Clogging.
"He ['Uncle Dave'] had owned a freight wagon business that carried various things from Woodbury to Murfreesboro," said Wendy Bryant, publicity director. "Whenever 'Uncle Dave' was making a trip he would carry his banjo with him and play it on the ride home."
She said people began coming and sitting at the edge of their driveways and listening to him play.
"With the invention of cars, Uncle Dave's freight wagon business lost profit, [but] to his fan's delight, he began devoting all of his time to his musical career," Bryant said.
Macon was one of the first stars on the Grand Ole Opry Stage and was elected into the County Music Hall of Fame in 1966.
Among the festivities there are numerous acoustic, instrumental and dance competitions, an arts & crafts show and also a "motorless parade," featuring horse and mule drawn vehicles. This event is free and open to the public, but there is a small entry fee in order to participate in competitions.
Bryant said that an estimated 40 to 45,000 people attend the festival.
"There will be a children's area, different vendors and all kinds of competitions," Bryant said. "Everything from singing and free-style dancing to playing the harmonica."
Bryant said the festival offers something for everyone to enjoy.
"It sounds pretty cool," said Joshua Jacobs, a sophomore at MTSU. "I'd go to it."
The Web site said "The festival has been consecutively selected by the Atlanta-based Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast."
The Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival was announced by the American Bus Association as one of North America's 100 Best Events for 2008 by an elite tourism industry selection committee.
"It sounds like a great way to have fun, while also learning about Murfreesboro's history at the same time," said Abby Surles, a sophomore at MTSU.
Bryant said everyone planning on attending should park in the parking garage at City Hall. An officer will be on hand to direct traffic for those crossing the street.
The festival is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. on Friday July 10. For more information on the festival, visit uncledavemacondays.com.
Be the first to comment on this article!