Summer days...nice, long days simply fly so quickly from June, July into August and September! Still vivid in the memory of most, on one of the hottest summer July days is when square dancers came from across the state, nation, and world. These eager souls pouring into Murfreesboro, Tennessee on the Rutherford County Square were unified in an attempt to break the Guinness record for the World's Largest Square Dance. It may have been a typical, hot hazy day in the South when dancers from all across the globe emerged from great distances- Japan, Austria, and Sweden. But there was nothing typical about this attempt. Only one word can describe this attempt....Extraordinary!

From almost every region around the country and state, they came to participate including a group of soldiers from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After two practices in May and June and another one hour before the attempt, over 800 dancers danced in precision a quarter of a mile circling one and a half times around the Rutherford County Courthouse. These dancers included city and county officials along with Tennessee State Senators Bill Ketron and Jim Tracy serving as Guinness Witnesses. This world-wide community building event included many leaders who officiated as stewards to document the proceedings.

Without a doubt, this night was magical! Under the magnificent canopy of trees dappled by summer's sunlight were energetic dancers inspired by the rollicking sounds of Sally Goodin' sung and played by America's Square Dance band, "The Hog Slop String Band."

Who Had the Most Square Dancers?

Congratulations are in order! Across the US on May, 20th, another attempt to break the record for the largest square dance with 1,040 participants was achieved at an event organized by Frank Augustus Miller Middle School (USA), in Riverside, California. Noting the interest in this very American community-building initiative, all of the students from Frank Augustus Miller Middle School studied square dancing throughout the school year.

All agreed that the 'Tennessee Attempt' which includes square dancers and organizers, "It was a great effort and a good seed was planted for 2017!" The invitation is being sent! So mark your calendar on Thursday, July 6th. Join all the community and world in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the Rutherford County Courthouse for the kick-off celebration at the 40th Anniversary Uncle Dave Macon Days Music and Arts Festival. Once again, the world-wide event to break the Guinness record for the World's Largest Square Dance will be featured. Festival dates are Friday, July 7 and Saturday 8, 2017.