Blog Seasons & events

2026-03-155 min readcheaphotels

Six annual weekends that actually pull people in from out of county, ranked by whether they’re worth planning your visit around.

1. Robertson County Fair (late July, five days)

Held at the Robertson County Fairgrounds off Highway 41 south of Springfield, the county fair runs Tuesday through Saturday in late July and is the biggest single event of the local calendar. Gate admission is $8 adult, $5 kids, parking free. The livestock shows — dairy cattle, beef, hogs, sheep, goats — run during the day; the demolition derby Friday night and the tractor pull Saturday night are the paid-ticket draws ($15-20 each). Midway rides open at 5 p.m.

This ranks first because it is the one event where every part of the county — Adams, Cedar Hill, Cross Plains, Orlinda, White House, Coopertown — sends people. If you want to understand Robertson County as a place, spend Wednesday evening walking through the exhibit halls (canned goods, quilts, tobacco leaf competitions) and the livestock barns. It's real, not staged for tourists. Book Springfield hotels three months out; the derby weekend fills every room in the county.

2. Springfield Christmas parade (first Saturday in December)

The Christmas parade steps off from the high school parking lot at 3 p.m. and runs through downtown Springfield to the square, where the tree lighting follows at 5 p.m. Free. Marching bands from all three county high schools, floats from every civic organization, fire trucks, tractors decorated with lights, and Santa on a Robertson County EMS truck. About 15,000 people crowd the parade route — the largest single-day gathering after the fair.

This ranks second because it is the year's most visually memorable community event and it costs nothing. Arrive by 2:15 p.m. for a curbside spot on 5th Avenue; the square itself is packed by 2:45. Bring folding chairs. Warm clothes: it is Middle Tennessee in December, so temperatures at 3 p.m. run 40-50°F but drop fast after sundown. Stay for the tree lighting and hot chocolate on the courthouse steps.

3. Bell Witch Fall Festival, Adams (mid-October)

The Adams Bell Witch Fall Festival runs the second full weekend of October at the Bell Witch Cave grounds and along Highway 41 through downtown Adams. Free admission to the festival grounds; cave tours run continuously at $18 with a longer wait than usual (expect 45-60 minutes). Craft vendors, food trucks, live music on a small stage, and ghost storytelling sessions after dark on Saturday. Peak tourist weekend for the county.

This ranks third because it is the one weekend that turns Adams from a quiet crossroads into a genuine destination, and the storytelling program is legitimately good — retired schoolteachers and local historians take turns. The catch: parking is a nightmare. Park at the Adams city lot half a mile north on Highway 41 and walk in. Skip if you don’t like crowds; visit Adams on any other October weekend for a quieter experience.

4. Cross Plains Homecoming (late September)

Cross Plains Homecoming, the weekend closest to the fourth Saturday of September, centers on the town square with a parade Saturday morning at 10 a.m., a car show at Thomas Drugs' parking lot, a barbecue lunch fundraiser at the fire hall ($10 a plate), and live bluegrass on the town gazebo Saturday afternoon. Free. About 3,000 people, most of them former Cross Plains residents back for the weekend.

This ranks fourth because it is the smallest event on this list but has the strongest sense of place — you are dropped into a working small town's actual homecoming, not a marketed tourist event. If you want to eat pie made by someone's grandmother in a fire-hall basement, this is the weekend. Book a Springfield hotel; Cross Plains itself has no lodging. Combine with a Sunday morning drive through the surrounding tobacco country.

5. Middle Tennessee Highland Games (May)

Held at the Robertson County Fairgrounds on the second Saturday of May, the Highland Games are the region's Scottish and Celtic heritage weekend. Gate $12 adult, $6 kids. Caber toss, stone throw, hammer throw, sheep dog demonstrations, three pipe bands rotating on the main stage, and a whisky tent for those 21 and up ($10 for a flight of three pours). About 5,000 attendees.

This ranks fifth because it is a genuinely well-run event but it is a niche interest — you either want to watch large men in kilts throw telephone poles or you don’t. If you have Scottish heritage or an interest in Celtic music, absolutely go. The clan tents (30+ family associations) are the best part; researchers can trace family lines for free with volunteer genealogists. Bring cash for food trucks.

6. Springfield Farmers Market Season Opening (first Saturday of May)

The Springfield Farmers Market opens its outdoor season on the first Saturday of May on the courthouse square, and the opening weekend draws about 2,000 people — three times a normal Saturday. About 25 vendors: produce, cut flowers, honey, baked goods, jams, pastured eggs, and one goat cheese producer from Cedar Hill. Free entry, market runs 8 a.m. to noon. Live acoustic music from a rotating slot of local players.

This ranks last because it is a smaller event than the others, but it earns a spot because the opening Saturday sets the tone for the market's whole season. Arrive at 8:15 a.m. for the best strawberry selection — the two produce farms with early strawberries sell out by 9:30. Grab coffee from the mobile coffee cart, walk the square, then eat breakfast at Springfield Cafe when it opens at 10 a.m.

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The questions people ask about Downtown Springfield, answered with this month’s numbers.