A combination of Main Street Murfreesboro's Saturday Marketplace and the International FolkFest, brought record crowds to the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse Saturday morning.

International FolkFest

This was the final performance day for the musicians and folk dancers here from the Czech Republic, Germany and Puerto Rico. This annual event is hosted by Murfreesboro's own Appalachian' dance group, the Cripple Creek Cloggers.

In June, 1967 Steve Cates started the Cripple Creek Cloggers as a 4-H project at Kittrell School. The group has toured the world and shared our Appalachian heritage over those 49-years. The dancers were invited to their first international event in 1977. Cates surmised that Rutherford County was ready, and in 1982 organized International Folkfest. That was the first event of its type in Tennessee.

Cripple Creek Cloggers and Folkfest founder Steve Cates remains the moving force behind the group and this event. If you would like to help sponsor a group, event or have an idea, contact Cates by calling his home at 615-896-3559. His cell number is 615-542-4162, and he does not receive texts.

Saturday Marketplace

Main Street Director Kathleen Herzog noted that this year's growing season being so successful, that each of the 8:00AM to noon Saturday Marketplaces have been successful.

Vendors were offering fresh produce, local honey, meats, goat cheese, baked goods, homemade soap and much more.

The Saturday Marketplace is open every Saturday through October, 2016.