The University of Tennessee at Martin and other sponsors have again partnered with the city of Martin to bring the Tennessee Soybean Festival to Martin on Sept. 5-10.
More than 100 events for the entire family are scheduled during the festival, including appearances by the Puppy Pals Dog Show and the Jetpack Flying Water Circus. Labor Day children’s events on Monday, Sept. 5, include the annual sidewalk chalk art contest at the C.E. Weldon Building from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and the Mad Hatter Tea Party at 11 a.m. and Magical Martin Day from 3-7 p.m., both at the Martin Public Library.
A full concert lineup is planned on the WK&T Amphitheater stage at the Martin Public Library, and tickets are on sale now at tnsoybeanfestival.org. Chris Janson will perform beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8; 38 Special will take the stage at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9; and Bohemian Queen, a Queen tribute band, will perform at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10.
Several free concerts are also scheduled, including a fireworks show and performance by the Martin Community Band at 7 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 4, and Mike Snider and the String Band at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 6, all at the WK&T Amphitheater.
Dr. Todd Winters, dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, will kick off the UTM research series during the festival with a presentation titled “The Magic Bean: Utilization of Soybeans and Effects of Mammalian Physiology.” The presentation will be at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Paul Meek Library.
The first Tennessee Soybean Festival was held in 1994 through the joint efforts of city leaders and UTM officials. Through the years, the festival has sponsored events such as a tractor rodeo and toy pedal tractor pull to showcase the spirit of agriculture that is prevalent today. The festival has grown since 1994, but the tradition of celebrating agriculture and one of the country’s biggest cash crops is still at the core of this weeklong celebration.
A complete schedule of events and concert ticket prices are available at tnsoybeanfestival.org.
