38th Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Jul 09, 2015 at 02:20 pm by bryan


One of America's premier traditional music festivals, the 38th Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days old-time music and dance festival, is slated Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 10-12) in historic Cannonsburgh Village. The celebration takes place in Cannonsburgh, an authentic pioneer village that is home to more than 20 restored log structures. The village is located at 312 South Front St. (just off of Northwest Broad Street) and is 30 minutes southeast of Nashville on Interstate 24 east, exit 78B.

The family-oriented event annually draws more than 25,000 people during the three-day run. The Atlanta-based Southeast Tourism Society has chosen it as one of the top 20 tourism events in 2015 for July.

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In 1977, the festival was established first as a two-hour banjo picking on the lawn of the historic Rutherford County Courthouse on the public square to honor the memory and times of Uncle Dave Macon. Uncle Dave lived near Murfreesboro in the Kittrell community, and is considered one of the first Grand Ole Opry superstars. A master old-time banjo player and performer, he died in 1952, and was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.

A purse of more than $15,000 will be at stake during the highly charged music and dance competitions, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 10-12). The festival is home to the National Old-Time Championships in banjo, clogging and buckdancing sanctioned in 1986 by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The musical heritage is celebrated every year at Uncle Dave Macon Days at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro. The 38rdannual Uncle Dave Macon Days Old-time Music and Dance Festival now benefits and supports the year-long Macon Music Education in Middle Tennessee schools. Macon Music Education brings the music and culture of Middle Tennessee to the next generation through traditional artists and musicians all year long.

The 38rd Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days Old-time Music and Dance Festival will begin July 10th. Gates open at 8am with the Matilda Macon Folk Arts Village, Dave Macon Artisan's Court and Marketplace. The Old-time Musical and Dance Competitions begin at 1pm on the Main Stage and the "newest" Dixie Dew Drop Stage. New this year are three featured Concerts at Sunset beginning with Russell Moore and III Tyme Out at 6pm following with the 2015 Heritage Award Winner, Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. The festival continues July 11th with the famed Motorless Parade Down Historic East Main to Cannonsburgh at 10am and the National Old-time Dance and Banjo Competitions. On Saturday evening, the Concert at Sunset will feature the Hog Slop String Band and the Presentation of the 2015 Trail Blazer Award Winners, STEELDRIVERS at 7:00pm. On July 12th the festival entertains with the Gospel Showcase, Wilson Bank and Trust Antique Car Show and Community Service Fair. The festival concludes with a Sunday with Kristina Craig and Exit 148 and the final Concert at Sunset with Larry Cordell and Lonesome Standard Time.

Gates open at 8am, Friday and Saturday....Sunday at noon.

  • Admission $10 for General Public
  • Children 12 and under FREE
  • Seniors 55 and up $5
  • Sunday, $5

Other events taking place throughout the festival include: heritage activities for children, Dave Macon Marketplace, Matilda Macon Folk Arts Village with demonstrating craftsman, mouth-watering local concessions, a juried arts and crafts show, living history demonstrations in the blacksmith shop, storytelling and shape-note singing in the chapel, a historic photo exhibit and the Sunday Gospel Showcase and Community Service Fair during the Wilson Bank and Trust Antique Car Show that goes from Noon until 5 p.m. on July 12 followed by the Sunday Concert at Sunset with Larry Cordell and Lonesome Standard Time at 6pm.

The festival's sole purpose is to not only honor the man, who popularized America's "roots" music, but to preserve and perpetuate the history and culture of the era that made us who we are today.

If you have not experienced Uncle Dave Macon Days, come, take a break from your routine, and enjoy. Guaranteed, you will feel the enthusiasm, revive old friendships, and make new ones. Needless to say, you will be changed by the warm sounds of traditional music on the banks of Lytle Creek in Cannonsburgh Village.

For more information about the 2015 Uncle Dave Macon Festival at Cannonsburgh and the schedule for each day-- go to www.uncledavemacondays.com or email: sponsorudm@gmail.com

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