MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - The 5th annual summer bash at AdamsPlace turned Memorial Boulevard into a splash zone Friday (6/12/2026) morning as residents, volunteers, and community partners gathered for Ride ’n Slide. It’s presented each year by Senior Helpers and has grown into a summer tradition when seniors get to be kids again.
This year’s weather only added to the fun. Executive Director Terri Deal said the overcast sky, light sprinkles, and mid‑70s temperatures made the morning even better. With everyone getting soaked anyway, the cool drizzle simply became part of the charm. Laughter carried across the lawn as riders settled into oversized inner tubes and prepared for their trip down the long, soapy slide.
Deal noted...
The Murfreesboro Fire‑Rescue Department kept the slide drenched and the momentum high, pulling each rider down the slippery track with the same enthusiasm they’ve brought to past years. The Rockvale cheerleaders lined the slide, shouting encouragement and waving pom‑poms as seniors zipped past. MTSU football players added muscle and good humor, steadying riders and helping them on and off the tubes with the kind of teamwork that makes the event feel like a true community celebration.
Around the slide, AdamsPlace created a full festival atmosphere. Burgers sizzled on the grill, slushies flowed freely, and games kept families and residents moving between rides. The campus buzzed with the easy, county‑fair energy that has become part of the Ride ’n Slide identity.
The tradition began with Senior Helpers, who wanted to bring movement, joy, and connection to older adults in a way that felt fresh and unexpected. Five years later, the idea has blossomed into a signature AdamsPlace event — one that residents talk about long before June arrives.
For many, the magic is simple. It’s the feeling of wind in their face, the cheers from the crowd, the cool splash at the end of the slide. As one participant put it, “It makes senior years even more fun — just like being a kid again.”
On Friday, that spirit was alive and well, sliding across the lawn one joyfilled ride at a time.
