Inaugural ‘Discover Rutherford’ festival showcases county’s diversity

Aug 29, 2022 at 05:09 pm by Voice Wire


MURFREESBORO, Tenn., Aug. 29, 2022—The diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds of Rutherford County residents will be in the spotlight at the inaugural Discover Rutherford food and arts festival, benefiting Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children, and available at www.explorethedc.org/discoverrutherford.

The outdoor festival at Discovery Center will feature food, music and dance by a wide variety of vendors and performers. In addition, Cedar Glade Brewery will be onsite at the traditional German Beer Garden. Beer may be purchased by guests 21 and over (with ID) for $8 per pint.

Participating food vendors include: 

  • The Clay Pit Indian Cuisine 
  • El Hornito Bakery 2 
  • I Take It 
  • Lilly Belle’s BBQ and Catering 
  • Love Thai Sushi 
  • Om Sai Indian Grocery 
  • Opah Greek Frill 
  • Panaderia La Michoacana 
  • Patricia Veals 
  • Wise Girls LLC 
  • …more to be announced

“As an educator and a mother of two, I’m so thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Discover Rutherford event,” said Discover Rutherford Chair Monica Frazier. “As Rutherford County continues to grow, so does the diversity of its neighbors. What better way to learn about one another and our cultures than through food! Our committee has been hard at work as we honor our community with this festival. We’re also so excited to have musical and dance performances which include shackled feet DANCE!, Tula Tribe, a Pow Wow by the NAIA, and a dance by the Chinese Arts Alliance.”

Additional programming by: 

  • MTSU Japan Club 
  • MTSU Asian Arts Association 
  • …more to be announced

“The Discovery Guild was formed by a group of Discovery Center advocates who wanted to create opportunities to build community among the many different cultures represented in Rutherford County,” said Discovery Guild Chair Regina Ward. “We have such a diversity of cultures and traditions. We wanted to encourage families to learn more and celebrate those things, so it’s truly an honor to be part of bringing this event to fruition.”


Overflow parking will be located in the City lot on the corner of South Church Street and East Sevier Street (across from WGNS). Shuttle transportation from the overflow lot will be available to and from the Discovery Center throughout the event.

The Discovery Center will be closing early on Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m. to prepare for the event. Sponsored by Redstone Federal Credit Union and Prufrock Communications.

About the Discovery Guild
The Discovery Guild is a network of Discovery Center advocates that saw the need to provide an avenue for the families that visit the museum from different cultures to share their traditions through music, dance, activities, food, and crafts. The Discover Rutherford Cultural Food Festival provides an experiential opportunity for residents of Rutherford County to meet their neighbors and share their traditions. It encourages dialogue and promotes the cross-cultural awareness and understanding so necessary in our communities.

The group’s vision for the event includes: 

  • Always maintain the integrity of the mission and encourage learning about diverse cultures and traditions. 
  • Include the local region’s artistic and cultural heritage by offering an opportunity to share gifts and talents specific to that heritage. 
  • Set standards and policies that maintain inclusiveness of all people. 
  • Focus on the celebration of: arts, music, food, dance, and traditional representations of culture, by including only vendors, community organizations, and other groups that fit within this focus. 
  • Facilitate a festival that that raises much needed funds to further the mission of Discovery Center

About the Discovery Center 
The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is a hands-on, environmental, cultural and educational museum located in the heart of Middle Tennessee. More than 120,000 children and families visit annually, exploring exhibits and participating in programs that promote STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & math) education. Adjacent to the Center is the protected Murfree Spring wetlands, a natural habitat for a variety of fish, amphibians and birds. Located at 502 S.E. Broad Street in Murfreesboro, TN. For more information, visit www.explorethedc.org or call (615) 890-2300.