Country Comes to Town at the Music & Molasses Arts & Crafts Festival

NASHVILLE – Hundreds of visitors will head for Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville on Oct. 17 and 18 for the 17th Annual Music & Molasses Arts & Crafts Festival.

"This is a huge weekend of family fun," said Anne Dale, director of the Tennessee Agricultural Museum. “We will have music, horse-drawn wagon rides, molasses making and lots of great food. Tennessee crafts and unique items will also be available for purchase.” 

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 with children 4 and under free. There is no cost for parking.

"It's a country celebration for the entire family.  We're excited about the great new attractions we've added this year," said Ann Ellington-Wagner, who is co-chairing the event with James McCormick.

Fabulous garden items, hand-made furniture, gold-wrapped jewelry, handmade quilts, mountain berry baskets, flutes and mandolins will be among the crafts available for purchase. A record number of demonstrators will share how farm and home chores were done in times past, including making molasses and gardening to woodworking and blacksmithing. Music and dance can be seen and heard all across the festival grounds.  

Children will love the hands-on "Farmer for a Day" activities. They can also see and touch farm animals, pick a pumpkin to decorate, take a pony ride, bob for apples or have fun with corn hole games.

From barbecue and beans to roasted corn, sweet potatoes and grilled turkey legs, there will be a variety of food including homemade ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs and fried pies plus outdoor cooking at the chuck wagon.

Ellington Agricultural Center is located 10 miles south of downtown Nashville, accessible from Franklin Pike or Edmondson Pike. For more information about the festival or directions call the Tennessee Agricultural Museum at 615-837-5197 or visit www.tnagmuseum.org.