It was quite possibly, the best Uncle Dave Macon Days in history, according to some of the guest that WGNS spoke to over the weekend. This year marked the 39th anniversary of the musical event in Murfreesboro.

In case you are curious as to how it all started, Uncle Dave Macon Days began as an afternoon banjo pickin' contest on the East side of the Rutherford County courthouse in July of 1978. It was started by the late pharmacist Jesse Messick and David "Ramsey" Macon, a grandson of Uncle Dave. The two men planned the event over a lunchtime sandwich at a nearby drugstore. Signs were painted on large plywood boards advertising the 'Banjo Pickin' Contest.

I guess you could say, the rest is history.

This year, the Heritage Award winner was Doyle Lawson. The Heritage Award recognizes and honors individuals who have dedicated their careers and life perpetuating, preserving and promoting old-time music and dance.

The Trailblazer Award went to The Boxcars. The Trailblazer Award is presented to an artist, musician, or individual who have developed old-time musical performance styles and techniques that blaze the trail for others to perpetuate, emulate, refine, and follow into contemporary genres.

The Southeast Tourism Society named the 39th Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for July of 2016.

These photos were captured by Jim Davis with the Murfreesboro Parks and Rec. Department.