Good morning, Cookeville — and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's a great week to get out and explore your community. This weekend brings one of the most important events of the year for our neighbors in need (more on that below), plus a full Saturday of local shopping, live music mid-week, and a family-friendly show at the PAC. And if you haven't made it to Drake's yet — today's the perfect excuse.

In this week's Scoop: the RAM Free Clinic is coming to Cookeville High School this weekend with free dental, vision, and medical care for anyone who needs it. Plus: Disney's Little Mermaid Jr. hits the PAC stage Thursday and Saturday, and some great restaurant finds to close out St. Patrick's Day.

Let's get to it.

— The Cookeville Scoop Team

PAJCH Presents: Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. — Local youth theater group PAJCH Inc. is bringing The Little Mermaid to the Cookeville Performing Arts Center this week, and we think it's going to be a great one. Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian — the whole crew, performed by a talented local cast. There are two evening shows: Thursday, March 19 at 7 PM and Saturday, March 21 at 7 PM. Tickets are available through Etix — grab them soon, these youth shows fill up fast!

Greater Vision in Concert — Southern Gospel fans, this one's for you. Award-winning trio Greater Vision performs Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 PM at Washington Avenue Baptist Church here in Cookeville. Greater Vision has earned more Dove Awards than just about any group in contemporary Southern Gospel, so if you enjoy this kind of music, this is a rare opportunity to see them live. The event is open to the public — contact the church to confirm whether admission is free or by donation.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — The Cookeville Chamber has a ribbon cutting on the books for Thursday, March 19. Details on the business weren't available at press time — check business.cookevillechamber.com/events for the latest, including time and location. Ribbon cuttings are always a fun way to welcome a new member of our business community!

Drake's is celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style. The Louisville-based bar and restaurant — now open at 1010 S Walnut Ave in the Shoppes at Eagle Pointe — has an Irish specialty menu running through Saturday, March 22. We're talking a Big Arse Reuben Sandwich and a Paddy Melt Burger that sound like exactly what a Tuesday in March calls for. And if you haven't been yet, today is genuinely the perfect day to check it out. Coming up: Drake's celebrates Opening Day (baseball's back!) March 26–29 with $3 Coors Light in a souvenir glass and a $12.99 hot dog combo. Full menu and hours at drakescomeplay.com.

Chill Billy's Lounge is one of our favorite spots to highlight for folks who haven't discovered it yet. Opened by Toni and Bryon Mowrey last fall at 102 N Cedar Ave in downtown Cookeville, it's a craft cocktail bar with elevated food — and it stays open until 1 AM daily, which makes it genuinely unique in our downtown scene. Whether you're looking for a long lunch, a dinner out, or a late-night bite after the show at the PAC, Chill Billy's has you covered. Give them a call at (931) 651-1068 or just swing by.

Quick specials worth knowing this week: The Putnam Room is doing Whiskey Wednesdays tomorrow — half off all whiskey, bourbon, and scotch from 5–9 PM. Tonight, Crawdaddy's has half-price drafts. And if you love a weekday happy hour, Irrationale Kitchen+Taps runs specials Tuesday and Friday from 2–4 PM and again at 8 PM–close ($3 draft beers, $6 well spirits, half off select apps). El Magueyal has $4 margaritas Sunday–Thursday from 3–8 PM.

Here's something we really want every Cookeville family to know about: Remote Area Medical (RAM) is setting up a free clinic at Cookeville High School this Saturday and Sunday, March 21–22.

RAM is a volunteer organization that deploys pop-up clinics to provide free medical care to communities across the country — and they've been coming to Cookeville for years. This weekend, they'll offer:

And when we say free, we mean it. No insurance required. No ID required. No income verification. You just show up.

The clinic operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and the doors open at 6 AM — but the parking lot at Cookeville High School (2335 N Washington Ave) opens at midnight Friday night. If you're planning to go and want to beat the lines, showing up early makes a real difference. Bring warm clothing if you're arriving before sunrise, along with any medications you're currently taking, and some food and water. There are bathrooms on-site.

We also love that Tennessee Tech students help organize the Cookeville RAM clinic each year — it's a reminder of how deeply TTU is woven into the fabric of this community.

If you or someone you know has been putting off a dental visit, an eye exam, or just a general checkup because of cost or coverage, please share this. The RAM clinic is genuinely one of the most meaningful events our community hosts every year.

More info: ramusa.org/events/cookeville-tn-2026/

Tooth Fairy Approved: Free Sealant Day — Today, March 17, there's a free dental sealant event for kids in Cookeville. Sealants are a simple, painless way to protect little teeth from cavities — and this one's completely free. Check visitcookevilletn.com/events for location and time details. Free.

Natasha Evans Live at 37 Cedar — Looking for a midweek pick-me-up? Natasha Evans performs live at 37 Cedar Restaurant & Bar on Thursday, March 19 at 8 PM. A great excuse to grab dinner and stay for the music. No cover charge listed.

Cookeville's Largest Yard Sale — Spring cleaning season is officially here! One of the biggest rummage and yard sales in Cookeville takes over the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 21 starting at 9 AM. Bring cash and come early for the best finds. Free to browse.

Spring Market on Fourth Avenue — Just up the road, a Spring Market is running Saturday, March 21 at 10 AM along 125–159 Fourth Avenue. Local vendors, artisan goods, and seasonal finds — make it a full Saturday morning by hitting both the yard sale and the market. Free admission.

CO-ED Darts Night — A two-night social darts event is listed on the Cookeville calendar for Wednesday and Thursday, March 18–19. Fun adult social activity — check visitcookevilletn.com/events for venue details and timing. [VERIFY before publishing]

Share this with a friend who needs to know about the RAM clinic this weekend — it could make a real difference for someone. And if you've got an event or local story you think the Cookeville Scoop should cover, just reply to this email. We love hearing from our readers.

Thanks for being here with us, Cookeville. We're so grateful for this community and for each of you who takes a few minutes out of your week to read along. We hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day — and a great weekend ahead. See you next week! 🧡

— The Cookeville Scoop Team