Outdoor entertainment a great way to kick off the fall season

That perfect “in between seasons” weather is right around the corner, so whether you are lamenting the end of summer or embracing the beginning of fall, there are plenty of things going on outdoors to help you take advantage of the beautiful weather.

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens & Museum of Art

Although it is most commonly known for its beautiful botanical gardens, Cheekwood has plenty of other exhibits open during the fall months. From September 22-October 31, as a part of Cheekwood Harvest, you can take a tour of their brand-new pumpkin patch, and even paint or carve one to take home. You can also view their vast display of chrysanthemums, along with over 40 scarecrows that are scattered throughout the trails.

Nashville Zoo

In addition to regular zoo activities, from September 21-23 you can participate in the Harvest Days at Grassmere’s Historic Farm. The event, which is free with regular zoo admission, will take you on a tour of the Croft House and provide insight into the families that worked the land for many generations. Events include a civil war display, animal presentations and several musical performances.

 Murfreesboro Saturday Market

From 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through the end of October, vendors set up stands with fresh fruits, vegetables, breads and flowers around the courthouse in downtown Murfreesboro. It was even mentioned in Spry magazine as one of seven farmer’s markets “worth the special trip.” So if you live nearby, take a walk or ride your bike to grab some fresh goods and support local vendors.

 Disc Golf at Barfield

Disc golf, sometimes referred to as “frisbee golf,” is a trend that has begun to sweep the nation, particularly among college students. It is a sport that is inexpensive and requires little physical activity; the object of the game is to throw a disc into a basket, which could be on the ground or propped up against a tree. Barfield offers courses for both beginning and advanced players, some in open terrain and some in wooded areas. There are also doubles tournaments going on every Thursday.

Musician’ s Corner

This ongoing event on Saturdays throughout the end of October features free music from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Centennial Park. Upcoming events include a Music City Roots special square dancing event on Sept. 22 and Sixpence None the Richer on Oct. 13. Other features include a mobile food court that starts at 11 a.m. each Saturday, as well as a Beer and Wine Garden Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Rock Island

Surrounding the Great Falls of the Caney Fork River, Rock Island State Park offers a wide variety of activities to fit everyone’s needs– including camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, canoeing and various sports-related activities. During the weekend of Sept. 29, the park will host its 37th Annual Fall Festival and Craft Fair. The event will focus around crafts, antiques and jewelry, as well as several different games and even some musical performances.

Bicycling

Although many students ride their bikes to class every day, there is a different element of fun that can be found when riding on a trail in a park for leisure rather than strictly a means for transportation. Murfreesboro offers several different options for bike trails, including the historic Fortress Rosencrans Trailhead, located just inside Old Fort Park. The trail passes through several remaining areas of the now abandoned fortress, which were built during the Civil War.

Photo shoot

A day spent with your friends capturing all of the fun on film can be a great way to enjoy the weather outside and help stimulate your creative side. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a professional, there are plenty of different approaches to be taken with this activity. You could take a disposable camera to a local park here in Murfreesboro, or load up the car and take your fancy gear to a larger park in Nashville, such as Centennial Park or Bicentennial Mall State Park. And even if it’s just you and your friends goofing around rather than a serious work of art, you’ll have proof of those memories to last forever.