Good morning, Cookeville.

Late June has its own rhythm: long evening light, folding chairs headed toward Dogwood Park, and a fairgrounds Saturday fully committed to bananas. This Scoop has a $3 festival plan, four chances to see a Stravinsky ballet program downtown, the final free Friday movie of June, and a quiet Sunday class. July 4 is already peeking over the calendar too.

In today's Cookeville Scoop:

Let's get into it.

Pick a performance of A Night of Stravinsky. Alder & Clark brings its ballet program to Cookeville Children's Theatre, 46 S Cedar Avenue, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 PM, then Saturday at 2 and 7:30 PM. The program focuses on Igor Stravinsky's Ballets Russes compositions from 1910-1913 and closes with a full performance of The Rite of Spring. Tickets are $20 general, $10 for seniors 60+ and military, and $5 for students. See the performance details.

Looking ahead to Red White & BOOM. Cookeville's July 4 celebration returns Saturday, July 4, at the old Putnam County Fairgrounds, 367 Fairground Street. Gates open at 4 PM, the festival runs from 5 to 9:30, and fireworks begin at 9:15. Admission and parking are free. Put the chair by the door now, then check the full July 4 listing.

Saturday's plan is simple: six hours, one fairgrounds, and a $3 adult gate.

The 2026 TN Banana Festival runs Saturday, June 27, from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Putnam County Fairgrounds, 155 Fairground Lane. Children under 5 get in free, and parking is free. That makes the front door easy. What happens after that is where a little planning helps.

The organizer clearly marks three attractions as free: the petting zoo, the bounce house, and parking. It also lists live music and banana-eating contests, which give you plenty to watch between laps around the grounds.

Then there is the pay-as-you-go side of the day. The lineup includes carnival games, henna, face painting, a bungee trampoline, axe throwing, plus train, carousel, and helicopter rides. The event page does not list individual prices, so families should budget separately for rides instead of treating the $3 admission like an all-inclusive wristband. A sentence no child has ever enjoyed hearing, but a useful one before you leave home.

Shopping gets its own long list: boutiques, children's items, permanent jewelry, summer picnic photo sessions, and flower, charm, and hat bars. Food and other vendor purchases are separate too. If you are trying to keep the day inexpensive, start with the free attractions and live entertainment, then pick the extras that matter most to your group.

The practical version: Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM, $3 for adults, free for children under 5, and free parking. Bring a little room in the budget for rides, food, and shopping. The festival has handled the banana theme. You only need to handle the plan. See the full organizer listing.

Final June After Dark movie. Arrive at Dogwood Performance Pavilion, 43 N Walnut Avenue, by 7:30 PM Friday, June 26. The movie begins at dusk, around 8. Bring a lawn chair and blanket; concessions are available. This is the last Friday screening of the month, and it is free. Check the City event series.

Rest and Recover Yoga. Sunday, June 28, from 2:30 to 3:45 PM at Cane Creek Recreation Center, 180 C C Camp Road. The $10 drop-in class is beginner-friendly and uses gentle poses, stretching, breathwork, and guided relaxation. No grand weekend finale required, just a quieter landing. See the City class listing.

Forward this edition to the person who will appreciate a $3 fairgrounds plan, then reply and tell me which option wins your weekend: bananas, ballet, the final free movie, or a quiet Sunday class. If you know about a local event, restaurant opening, or neighborhood story we should catch next, send that too. I read every tip.

Thanks for spending the last June weekend with the Scoop. July 4 is already lining up behind it, so keep the folding chair handy and pace yourself on the banana-themed snacks. 🧡

-- Travis