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2010 marks the 33rd annual
appearance of the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival.
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The lively event will be held
from July 9-11, 2009 at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee.
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The old-time music and dance
festival spans three days of family-oriented fun that is internationally
recognized.
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In 1986, the United States
House of Representatives named the event the Home of Three
National Championships. These championships are Old-Time Banjo,
Old-Time Clogging and Old-Time Buckdancing.
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During this hand-clappin’,
toe tappin’ festival there are numerous highly charged
acoustic, instrumental and dance competitions.
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The fun-filled festival has
a juried arts & crafts show that people of all ages will
enjoy.
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This summertime tradition includes
a nostalgic “motorless parade” featuring horse
and mule drawn vehicles.
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The Motorless Parade will take
place on Saturday, July 10th at 10:00 a.m.
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The 2010 Heritage Award will
be presented on Saturday, July 10th. The Heritage Award is
given to an individual who is dedicated to the preservation
and promotion of traditional Old-Time Music and Dance.
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The event itself is free. There
is a small entry fee for competitions.
What Others Have Said About It
The festival has been consecutively selected
by the Atlanta based Southeast Tourism Society as one of the
Top 20 events in the Southeast.
The American Bus Association designated the
family-oriented event as one of the Top 100 Events in North
America for 2008.
According to Steve Benefield, President of the
Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, the festival brings in
close to $1 million annually. Middle Tennessee and Rutherford
County profit greatly from the impact of some 40,000 visitors.
Nationally recognized author and Middle Tennessee
State University The late Dr. Charles Wolfe says "...
Uncle Dave Macon Days has emerged as the most important traditional
music contest in the South. There is nothing else like it, in
terms of both authenticity and spirit in the area."
AMERICAN
BUS ASSOCIATION NAMES UNCLE DAVE MACON DAYS FESTIVAL
ONE OF NORTH AMERICA’S 100 BEST EVENTS FOR 2005
Event is a Ticket to Fun and to Critical Group Tourism Dollars.
(Washington, D.C.)—The American Bus Association
(ABA) announced today that the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival,
has been designated as one of the
Top 100 Events in North America for 2008 by an elite tourism
industry selection committee. Inclusion in the Top 100 list,
published as a supplement to the September issue of Destinations
magazine, indicates that Uncle Dave Macon Days offers excellent
entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers
from around the world, said ABA.
“The attractiveness of Uncle Dave Macon
Days as a don’t-miss entertainment value is only part
of why its selection this year is such a distinction for Rutherford
County,” said Peter J. Pantuso, ABA’s president
and CEO. “The real news here is that Uncle Dave Macon
Days has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars,
at a time when reenergizing domestic tourism is so important
to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives Rutherford County
an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.”
According to a study recently completed by researchers
at The George Washington University, one overnight visit by
a motorcoach group can leave from $5,000 to more than $11,000
in a local destination’s economy. Those dollars are spent
on lodging, meals, admissions, fees, shopping, souvenirs, services
and local taxes.
“Simply put,” said Pantuso, “motorcoach
groups spend more and stay longer. That’s why Uncle Dave
Macon Days is truly a local economic asset. There is no better
way to jump-start tourism than to attract motorcoach groups
to a great event and convince them to extend their stay.”
ABA’s 2008 Top 100 Events Selection Committee
selected Uncle Dave Macon Days from among hundreds of U.S. and
Canadian events nominated by state and provincial tourism offices
and visitors bureaus. Judges considered the event’s broad
appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling
large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria.
The Top 100 Events list will be available online
at
www.buses.org/top100