 The UT Martin Skyhawk Marching Band is shown participating in the annual Tennessee Soybean Festival parade in 2015. MARTIN, Tenn. - The city of Martin, the University of Tennessee at Martin and many local businesses and organizations partner to bring the annual Tennessee Soybean Festival to Martin each year, and the 2016 concert lineup is one to remember. The 23rd annual festival, held Sept. 2-9, will feature a variety of family-friendly entertainment options, including concert appearances by the Plain White T's, Vince Gill and Three Dog Night.
The festival will also feature the traditional Tennessee Soybean Festival Parade beginning at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 6, on University Street in front of UT Martin's Hall-Moody Administration Building. The carnival midway and craft fair will also be open each night in downtown Martin.
There will be a Minecraft Farming Challenge for children ages 10-15 on Aug. 27 in the UT Martin Paul Meek Library prior to the official start of the festival. Sessions are open from 8 a.m.-noon or 1-5 p.m. Registration is required for this event, and space is limited. There is a $10 participation fee per child, and cash prizes will be given to challenge winners. Visit tnsoybeanfestival.org/minecraft to register. This event is sponsored by the UT Martin College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and the Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneur Center.
The Little Miss Soybean Pageant will be held from 9-10 a.m. that same day in the UT Martin Fine Arts Building's Harriet Fulton Theatre. This event is sponsored by the UT Federal Credit Union, and registration forms are available at tnsoybeanfestival.org/ or at Martin City Hall.
Morris Day and The Time will make the festival's first concert appearance, beginning at 9 p.m., Sept. 2, on the Festival Park main stage in downtown Martin. Advance tickets are $10 per person. Any remaining tickets will be available for $15 at the Festival Park box office prior to the show.
Elsa's Magical Ice Cream Party will begin at 11 a.m. in the Duncan Ballroom of the UT Martin Boling University Center. The registration fee is $25 per child and $5 for each accompanying adult. Children are encouraged to dress as their favorite Frozen character, princess or superhero.
Children in the fourth and fifth grades are invited to an interactive workshop titled "The Bare Necessities of Making Music" from 2-3:30 p.m., Sept. 3, in room 206 of the UT Martin Boling University Center. Participants will build their own musical instruments and later play alongside the Martin Community Band at 6 p.m. in Virginia Weldon Park.
The School of Rock Nashville will perform at 8 p.m., Sept. 3, in Festival Park. There is no charge for this concert, which is sponsored by Hamilton-Ryker.
The third annual "Guitar as Art" contest and exhibition will begin at 2 p.m., Sept. 4, in the UT Martin Fine Arts Building Gallery. The awards ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. More information and entry details are available at tnsoybeanfestival.org/guitar-as-art/.
Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon: A Tribute to John Denver will perform at 7 p.m., Sept. 4, at the Martin Recreation Complex. The concert is sponsored by Savant Learning Systems and will be followed by a fireworks show.
The Brothers Osborne will perform at 8:30 p.m., Sept. 6, on the Festival Park main stage. Advance tickets are $7 online, and remaining tickets will be available for $10 at the box office prior to the show. This concert is sponsored by Center Point Business Solutions.
Travis Cottrell and the Local Community Choir will perform for Faith and Community Night beginning at 6 p.m., Sept. 7, on the Festival Park main stage. The concert is sponsored by the Martin Area Ministerial Alliance, and there is no charge to attend.
UT Martin Student Night will feature a performance by the Plain White T's beginning at 9 p.m., Sept. 8., in downtown Martin. Advance tickets are $15 online, and remaining tickets will be available for $20 at the box office prior to the show.
Friday night's concert headliner is Vince Gill, who will perform at 9 p.m., Sept. 9, in Festival Park. Advance tickets are $15 online, and remaining tickets will be available for $20 at the box office prior to the show. This concert is sponsored by Republic Services.
The Tennessee Soybean Festival West Tennessee Dairy Show will begin at 10 a.m., Sept. 10, in the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex on the UT Martin campus.
Sept. 9. Additional information and registration are available at tnsoybeanfestival.org/west-tennessee-dairy-show/.
Blood Sweat and Tears will perform beginning at 7 p.m., Sept. 10, in Festival Park. Three Dog Night will end the evening with the festival's headline performance at 9 p.m. Advance tickets are each performance are $15 online, and remaining tickets will be available for $20 at the box office prior to the show.
UT Martin will wrap up festival week with the annual Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Skyhawk Dining Hall, located inside the Boling University Center. The charge is $10.82 per person, while children ages 10 and under eat for $5.08
This is not a comprehensive list of festival events. For information on additional events or to purchase tickets, visit tnsoybeanfestival.org/festival-schedule/. Tickets for all events are available by selecting the event in which you are interested.
For more information, visit tnsoybeanfestival.org or contact festival coordinators at 731-588-1263 or email info@tnsoybeanfestival.org.
PHOTO ID: The UT Martin Skyhawk Marching Band is shown participating in the annual Tennessee Soybean Festival parade in 2015. |
