Local News

October 2026 in Murfreesboro brings the Hop Springs Fall Festival, Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh, Old Scream Road, Sam Davis Home ghost tours, Restaurant Week, two MTSU home football games and trick-or-treating on the Square.

Buc-ee's Murfreesboro opens Monday, Nov. 16, 2026 at 6 a.m. at I-24 and Joe B. Jackson Parkway. A mass hiring event runs Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at The View at the Fountains, with pay listed at $20 to $25 an hour.

Diesel topped $6 a gallon in Tennessee this week. Murfreesboro business owners say retail and parts of the construction industry are feeling the rising cost of shipping and logistics most.

The 22nd Annual Greenway Art Festival brings a juried fine art show to Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cannonsburgh Village hosts its 50th annual Harvest Days on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, with blacksmithing, a car show, clogging, crafts and free admission.

The 12th Annual Oktoberfest returns to the grounds of Oaklands Mansion on Saturday, September 26, 2026, with regional brewers, live music and food vendors. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.

Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation invites families to an enchanting evening walk through Cannonsburgh Village by lantern light on January 30, 2026.

Oaklands Mansion hosts an elegant Valentine's Day celebration on February 14, 2026, featuring dinner by Chef Jack Barakat, dancing in Maney Hall, and cocktails.

The annual MTSU Jazz Festival brings middle school, high school, and university jazz ensembles to the MTSU School of Music on March 28, 2026, for performances and educational workshops.

The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Murfreesboro returns to Oaklands Mansion on June 12, 2026, bringing the community together to celebrate survivors and raise funds for cancer research.

MTSU began construction Sept. 28 on a $5.6 million cyber range in the Miller Education Center on Bell Street. Built with IBM, it is the first of its kind in Tennessee higher education and is expected to open in January.

A Friday evening fire on Sept. 25 destroyed the historic Fosterville store on Fosterville Road in southern Rutherford County. The store dated to the 1920s, closed in 1972 and remained a community gathering place. No one was hurt.

The first three weeks of September 2026 were the hottest on record for the region, and Middle Tennessee Electric says members should expect higher bills. Here is what MTE recommends and how to check your usage.

The Rutherford County Adult Detention Center was built for about 550 inmates but holds roughly 1,050 a day, with peaks near 1,200. County commissioners toured the jail as discussions about a new facility move forward.

New Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen faces questions from the La Vergne and Smyrna mayors and former Mayor Joe Carr over a reported plan to demote Public Safety Director Chris Clark, after earlier personnel moves drew criticism.

MTSU cut the ribbon Sept. 22 on its expanded $258,000 Level Up esports arena in the Student Union Building and signed a partnership with Franklin's XP League, which will bring youth teams to campus on weekends.

Local 501(c)(3) nonprofits can apply Oct. 1-31, 2026, for Murfreesboro Community Investment Trust grants. Last year the trust awarded $598,525 to 30 nonprofits, and the city expects about 30% more to be available.

Dairy Queen's Halloween Spellbound Series runs Sept. 28 to Nov. 1 at participating stores, with a purple ube Enchanted OREO Blizzard, a Bubble Brew Sparkler, Ghost Pepper Sauce and $4 Mystery Blizzard Buddies.

Paris Baguette's Halloween lineup runs Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 and adds a Ghost Pepper Chocolate Marble Mochi Donut and Ghost Pepper Iced Hot Chocolate. Murfreesboro's bakery cafe is at The Avenue on Medical Center Parkway.

Firehouse Subs' Thanksgiving Turkey Sub, which sold out nationwide last year, is back now through the end of December at participating restaurants, along with a new Pecan Bar. Murfreesboro has three Firehouse Subs.

MTSU (2-2) plays at Kansas on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. Central on ESPNU, the first meeting between the programs. The Blue Raiders lost their Conference USA opener 23-13 at Jacksonville State.

Universal Health Services wants to build Cedar Grove Behavioral Health Hospital, a 132-bed hospital for children and teens at 1640 Lascassas Pike in Murfreesboro. The rezoning goes before a City Council and Planning Commission workshop on Sept. 30.

Monster Mini Golf's Murfreesboro location at 1002 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. now lists an opening date of early December 2026. It will have 18 holes of glow-in-the-dark mini golf, an arcade and mini bowling.

Murfreesboro City Council and planners take up a proposed 55-foot minimum lot width for new homes on Sept. 30, and the council holds a public hearing on outdoor pickleball and paddle court rules on Oct. 1.

Clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, the night after Halloween. The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July, and Tennessee already has a 2019 law to keep daylight saving time permanently if Congress allows it.

Part of ESPN's 2026 Monday Night Football opening, with Chris Stapleton and Cindy Blackman Santana performing "In the Air Tonight," was filmed Aug. 3 at Hollingshead Aviation at Smyrna Airport, with a driving scene on Lowry Street.

Taco Bell's new Gordita Crunch Duos, a two-piece snack take on the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, launched Sept. 17 for $5.49 at participating locations, including Murfreesboro's 10 Taco Bells. They also come in a new $9 Discovery Luxe Box.

ALDI is launching its first line of fresh, heat-and-eat ready-made meals, with single-serve meals under $8 and family-size meals under $15. They roll out in select markets starting in October and nationwide by January 2027.

The Twinning Station mixed-use development on Waldron and Blair roads returns to the La Vergne Planning Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 29, now at about 89 acres with 938 homes, a grocery store, retail and office space.

Trick or Treat on the Square is Oct. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. Here is every 2026 Halloween event in Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne, from the Barfield Bash and Old Scream Road to Halloween in the Park, pumpkin patches and glow-in-the-dark corn mazes.

Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools are both out for fall break Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Here are the rest of the 2026-27 break dates and things to do with kids that week.

MTSU Homecoming 2026 is Saturday, Nov. 7, when the Blue Raiders host WKU at 2:30 p.m. The week's headline event is the first Live at MTSU concert on Nov. 5 at Murphy Center with Bailey Zimmerman and Waka Flocka Flame.

The first annual Rutherford County Veterans Day Parade runs Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon, traveling down Main Street from MTSU to the Murfreesboro Public Square. It is free, with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m.

McDonald's Monopoly is back Oct. 6 through Nov. 1, 2026, with peel-off game pieces on eligible items and all play in the McDonald's app. Prizes include $1 million, a 2027 Jeep Cherokee and a Carnival cruise.

National Coffee Day is Tuesday, Sept. 29. Krispy Kreme on Medical Center Parkway has a new Original Glazed Coffee Flavored Doughnut through Sept. 29 and free coffee with any purchase that day, plus national deals from Dunkin', Scooter's Coffee and more.

TDOT contractors are closing I-24 ramps at Sam Ridley Parkway, Almaville Road and Waldron Road on weekends through Oct. 17 for concrete repair. Here is the weekend-by-weekend schedule, plus other Murfreesboro road work.

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis, only the second in its 145-year history, and Middle Tennessee hospitals have postponed elective procedures. Here is where to give blood in Murfreesboro, including drives at MTSU on Oct. 22 and downtown on Oct. 23.

A state-run job fair at the American Job Center, 1313 Old Fort Parkway, runs Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Employers include Taylor Farms (through Eclipse Staffing), Kroger, Yates Nissan, Chromalox and the U.S. Army.

AutoZone celebrated its 8,000th store with a Murfreesboro grand opening on Sept. 10, 2026, with Gov. Bill Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn at the ribbon cutting.

Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier told CNBC the company's next step is three shifts at its U.S. plants, including Smyrna, as the 2027 Rogue Hybrid arrives. Here is what it could mean for Rutherford County jobs.

National Coffee Day is September 29. Here is where to find pumpkin, apple, and fall spice drinks and treats in Murfreesboro this season, from Dapper Owl and 7 Brew to Andy's Pumpkin Pie Concrete.

Wawa, Bubba's 33, Another Broken Egg Cafe, and a second Tim Hortons have opened in Murfreesboro, with Big Bad Breakfast and UFC GYM on the way. Here is September 2026's roundup of openings, closings, and projects in the works.

Early voting in Rutherford County runs October 14 to 29 at nine locations ahead of the November 3, 2026 election. Here are the deadlines, hours, addresses, ID rules, and what is on the ballot.

The Rutherford County Board of Education approved display designs pairing the Ten Commandments with portions of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution for all 53 county schools, funded by private donations.

The Rutherford County Library System board has hired Heath Lee as executive director, days before former director Luanne James filed a federal lawsuit over her March firing.

La Vergne's free Goblins and Goodies candy trail returns to Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, with trick-or-treat booths and a costume contest.

Patterson Park Community Center hosts the 6th Annual Party in Pink Zumbathon on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m. during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

McFadden Community Center hosts its annual Fall Fest on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a Haunted Hallway, carnival games and free admission.

The Rutherford County Walk to End Alzheimer's steps off at MTSU's Hayes Soccer Complex on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, with a $250,000 fundraising goal.

MTSU's Todd Art Gallery shows new work by 24 Art and Design faculty in the 2026 Faculty Biennial, open through Saturday, Oct. 3, in Murfreesboro.

The 2nd Annual Fall Art & Craft Fair brings local artists, handmade crafts, vintage vendors, food trucks and live music to the Oaklands Mansion grounds on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Perform Murfreesboro brings Finding Nemo Kids to the Washington Theatre at Patterson Park Community Center for four performances February 19–22, 2026, featuring young local performers in the beloved underwater musical.

Linebaugh Public Library in Murfreesboro hosts a Girls Who Code Club session on February 19, 2026, offering girls a free, beginner-friendly introduction to coding and technology from 4:00 to 4:45 PM.

Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park leads a guided all-day winter hike to Machine Falls on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The excursion departs at 8:00 AM and registration is required through Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation.

Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park offers an introductory archery class on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. All equipment is provided and registration is required through Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation.

Murfreesboro Little Theatre presents its annual Summer Camp at Oaklands Mansion, June 1–6, 2026. The week-long program gives young performers a chance to develop acting, singing, and stagecraft skills on the historic mansion grounds.

The Center for the Arts in downtown Murfreesboro seeks performers for its upcoming production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, with auditions scheduled for February 8-9, 2026.