Good morning, Cookeville.

April is showing up this week. The weather's cooperating, the calendar is full, and if you're looking for reasons to get outside this weekend, you won't have to look hard.

In today's Cookeville Scoop:

Let's get to it.
-- The Cookeville Scoop Team

Nothing Bundt Cakes Ribbon Cutting | Wednesday, April 8

Nothing Bundt Cakes opened on March 25 at 377 W. Jackson Street (the former Party City space), and today the Chamber makes it official with a ribbon cutting. Time is TBD, so check the Chamber's events page before heading over. A good excuse to stop in, grab a bundt cake, and welcome the newest addition to the W. Jackson corridor.

Meet the County Candidates | Thursday, April 9

The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber is hosting a signature luncheon Thursday where you can meet the 2026 Putnam County election candidates. If you want to put faces to names before voting season heats up, this is a solid opportunity. Registration is required, so plan ahead. Register here.

Spring Dance Concerts at the PAC | Thursday & Friday, 6:30 PM

Two nights of spring dance performances at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center this week. The VIOLET SHOW runs Thursday, April 9, and the BLUE SHOW is Friday, April 10, both at 6:30 PM. Dancers of all levels take the stage, from the youngest students to advanced performers. A great Thursday or Friday evening out, especially if you have a young dancer in your life. Check the PAC website for ticket pricing.

Premier Pools & Spas Grand Opening | Friday, April 10, 11 AM

The world's largest pool-building company arrives in Cookeville this Friday. Premier Pools & Spas is celebrating its grand opening with the Chamber at 11 AM, and they're giving away a robotic pool cleaner at the event! Even if a pool isn't on the agenda right now, it's a fun Friday stop. Visit premierpoolsandspas.com for their address.

Nothing Bundt Cakes opened March 25 at 377 W. Jackson Street, in the former Party City location. The bakery specializes in customizable bundt cakes in flavors like Lemon, Red Velvet, and Cinnamon Swirl, and they can personalize cakes for birthdays, graduations, and any spring celebration on your calendar. A good one to bookmark as end-of-school season approaches. Reach them at [email protected] or 615-405-9395.

The Putnam Room runs happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 5 PM in historic downtown Cookeville. They also do a late-night happy hour on Saturdays from 8 to 10 PM. Open Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 9 PM and Saturday from 4 to 10 PM. A solid mid-week option if you're looking for somewhere to land downtown. More at theputnamroom.com.

The Firefly Festival returns to Dogwood Park this Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, and if you haven't been before, it's the kind of event that'll make you feel genuinely proud of where you live.

Here's what makes Firefly different from a regular outdoor market or concert: every musician on stage is performing their own original music, and every artist behind a booth made what they're selling. No cover songs, no imported goods. The whole weekend is built around original work from local and regional creators, and it shows.

On the music side, you'll hear artists playing through their own catalog all day. On the maker side, expect pottery, jewelry, textiles, clothing, and woodwork, all handmade by the person you're talking to. In between, there are immersive art experiences where you can watch metalworking, mural painting, and candle-dipping up close, or try some of it yourself. There's a dedicated kids area with hands-on activities built for younger visitors, and the Firefly Music Awards are part of the weekend, celebrating local talent in the community.

Food vendors will be on site, so you don't need to plan around meals. Saturday runs from 10 AM to 8 PM, with Sunday continuing the festivities.

Everything is free. No tickets, no registration, just show up at Dogwood Park and spend a few hours exploring what Cookeville's creative community has been working on. If you go Saturday, getting there before noon gives you first pick of the artisan booths before the crowds fill in. And if you find something you love, buy it. These are your neighbors making a living doing what they love.

Full details at hipcookeville.com/fireflyfestival.

Here's what else is happening this weekend alongside the Firefly Festival:

28th Annual Celebration of Craft at the Appalachian Center for Craft, Saturday, April 11, 10 AM to 5 PM. Tennessee Tech opens its craft studios for free, with live demos in glassblowing, blacksmithing, raku pottery, woodturning, and weaving. The gallery is 25% off all day, and there are food trucks and live music on site. It's a short drive toward Smithville and well worth the trip. Free admission. Details at tntech.edu.

Ford of Cookeville Cars & Coffee kicks off its 2026 season Saturday, April 11, from 7:30 to 10 AM at Ford Lincoln of Cookeville. A relaxed early-morning gathering for car enthusiasts and curious neighbors alike. No registration needed, just show up. A nice way to start Saturday before the rest of the weekend picks up. Free.

History Hikes at the Cookeville Depot Museum and Cookeville History Museum, Saturday, April 11, 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM on Broad Street. Walk between both museums for a self-guided tour of downtown history. Start at either location anytime during the window, and visit both stops to enter a prize drawing. Each month has a different theme. Free, no registration needed, and easy to pair with lunch downtown after.

Cookeville Farmers Market is open and running through November 30, daily from 6 AM to 6 PM near the Municipal Building. Local farmers and vendors are out with fresh produce and seasonal goods. A good Saturday morning stop before the weekend events get going. Free to browse.

If you make it to the Firefly Festival this weekend, we'd love to hear about it. Reply to this email with a favorite moment, or tag us on social. And if you know about an event, a new business, or a local story we should cover next week, send it our way. We read every reply.

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Thanks for being here with us, week after week. Enjoy the weekend, support your local artists, and we'll see you next time. 🧡

-- The Cookeville Scoop Team