Good morning, Cookeville.

If your closet still has a purple shirt buried under the election-day flannel, dig it out. Saturday is Homecoming, the parade rolls down Dixie Avenue, and the Golden Eagles are ranked No. 9 with an 8-1 record. It's also sweater weather for real. Saturday's low sits near freezing, so pack a coat before you pack the spirit gear.

In today's Cookeville Scoop: - Tech Homecoming: free parade at 10, then No. 9 Tech vs VMI at 1:30 - Little Women, Peter Pan, and the last day of the Mistletoe Market - Date Spot: Fire & Vine's rooftop for a night above downtown

Let's get into it.

Little Women, the Musical - Tech's Backdoor Playhouse keeps the March sisters on stage Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, with more shows Nov. 12 to 14. Wendy Mullen directs. Tickets are $22, $16 for seniors and military, and $6 for students with ID. It's the cozy counterweight to a loud football Saturday. Show details.

Peter Pan at CPAC - Cookeville Children's Theatre flies through the weekend at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center (10 E Broad St). Friday's 7 PM and Saturday's 2 PM shows are sold out, but seats remain for Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM (more dates run through Nov. 22). Grab what you can while Neverland still has tickets. See showtimes.

Next Stop Comedy at Dream Country - Saturday's show at Dream Country Brewing (105 S Walnut Ave) is already sold out online, which tells you everything. Seating starts at 7:30 PM and the show hits at 8, with headliner Lee Kimbrell (he's opened for Theo Von) and feature Tre Pack. Tickets were $27 all-in. Watch the door list in case a seat opens, or plan the next lineup. Show page.

Handbags for Hope - Make the short drive to Sparta Friday from 6 to 10 PM for a ladies' night out at Duck Pond Manor (655 Duck Pond Rd) that helps survivors of domestic violence. Expect dinner and drinks, a silent auction, goodie bags, door prizes, and purses stuffed with gifts, plus a chance to win an authentic Louis Vuitton bag. Tickets run about $80 to $132. Get tickets.

Father Tom's Pub still has fall behind the bar. The new seasonal cocktail menu (they're calling it Autumn, Shaken & Stirred) leans cozy, and the kitchen's keeping the West Side Frisco and Ruby's Mushroom & Dumpling Soup around while they last. The Frisco stacks a 5-ounce burger with grilled onions, Swiss, and fresh tomato on buttery Texas toast, with homemade 1000 Island on the side (8-ounce burgers after 3:30). The soup is roasted mushrooms and from-scratch dumplings in a creamy, Italian-seasoned bowl, finished with parsley, and it's vegetarian-friendly. Find them at 32 N Cedar Ave. See the specials.

Drake's has a weekend breakfast plan that doesn't require waking up at dawn. The Sunrise Breakfast Quesadilla and Breakfast Burrito run every Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM at 1010 S Walnut Ave. Happy hour still hits weekdays from 2 to 5 and again from 9 to close, and veterans and active-duty military eat free on Nov. 11. Location details.

First Watch takes over the old IHOP spot at 1115 Interstate Drive on Monday, Nov. 9, open daily from 7 AM to 2:30 PM. Opening week brings free Project Sunrise Coffee, and the first 100 guests on day one get a free tumbler. If your Sunday brunch crew wants a new Monday tradition, this is the week to circle it. UCBJ report.

Cookeville doesn't do quiet Homecomings, and this one has extra juice.

Tennessee Tech's theme is "Game On, Golden Eagles!," and Saturday, November 7, is the big day. The Golden Eagles come in at 8-1 and ranked No. 9 in both the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls, in their first season as members of the Southern Conference. The west side of Tucker Stadium just got a $60 million glow-up. The town is ready.

Start early if you can. The Crawford Alumni Center hosts a free Homecoming parade watch party at Centennial Plaza beginning at 9 AM, with breakfast sandwiches, Ralph's Donuts, T-shirts, Tech swag, music, and spirit activities. (Yes, Ralph's. Plan accordingly.)

The parade itself steps off at 10 AM down Dixie Avenue, lining up earlier in the Towne Plaza parking lot by Gabe's on Jefferson. Expect floats, local marching bands, student organizations, and the homecoming court. Leading the way as grand marshal is retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Edward F. Dorman III, a Cookeville native and 1983 distinguished military graduate of Tech. That's the kind of hometown detail that makes a parade feel like more than pageantry.

Then it's football. Kickoff against Virginia Military Institute is at 1:30 PM at Tucker Stadium. At halftime, Mr. and Ms. Tennessee Tech get crowned. Students with a valid ID who pay the Program Service Fee get into the student section free. Everyone age 3 and up needs a ticket. Clear bag policy is in effect (clear bag up to 12" x 6" x 12", or a one-gallon freezer bag, plus a small clutch).

Tickets are at ttusportstickets.com or the ticket office at 931-372-3940. Tailgate spots sell through TTUSports.com and close at 4:30 PM CT the Wednesday before the game, so if you're reading this Thursday evening, check what's left.

Wear purple, wear a coat, and yell a little louder than usual. It's Homecoming!

Homecoming details · News release

The numbers are in from the 30th annual Cooking on the Square, and they're worth cheering even after the gumbo bowls are washed. Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity raised $201,470.20 on Oct. 30 (with more donations still coming in), thanks to 3,676 attendees, 71 cook teams, 28 bake teams, and 12 drink teams. Founders Don Calcote and John Clemons even led a Founders' Parade to kick things off.

That's a lot of gumbo building a lot of homes.

Herald-Citizen report

Friday Mistletoe Market – 50+ vendors, food trucks, and Santa selfies at Leslie Town Centre ($3 cash, 10 and under free)… 9 AM to 7 PM
Rosenwald Schools Exhibit – Free exhibit at the Cookeville History Museum… 10 AM to 4 PM
Read, Play, Grow – Stories and play for ages birth to 3 at the Cookeville library… 10 to 11 AM
Chair Yoga – Gentle chair yoga in Algood at 10 AM and Baxter (ages 50+) at 11 AM
Train Tales – Preschool train storytime at the Depot Museum… 10:30 AM
Writers Workshop – Monthly craft session at Plenty for writers of every level ($20, drink included)… 11 AM
Family Wellness Pharmacy Ribbon Cutting – The locally owned pharmacy at 330 N Oak Ave celebrates 10 years… 11 AM
Monterey Library Book Sale – Friends of the Monterey Branch monthly sale… noon to 6 PM
Mint Condition Exchange Ribbon Cutting – Welcome downtown's new collectibles shop at 18 W Spring St… 2 PM
Teen Smash Bros. Tournament – Single-elimination Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for ages 13+… 3:30 to 5 PM
Life Drawing at CAS – A life drawing session at Cookeville Art Studio and Gallery… 5:30 to 8:30 PM
Tech Volleyball vs. Western Carolina – The Golden Eagles host the Catamounts at Hooper Eblen… 6 PM
Traditional Dance – $1 contra and English country dancing at Cane Creek Rec Center (no partner needed)… 6:30 to 8 PM
Handbags for Hope – A ladies' night in Sparta benefiting domestic violence survivors… 6 to 10 PM
Peter Pan – Cookeville Children's Theatre at CPAC (Friday 7 PM sold out)… 7 PM
Little Women – Tech Theatre at the Backdoor Playhouse ($22)… 7:30 PM
Slow Motion R&B Party – Old-school R&B homecoming kickoff at Midtown Social (~$29)… 9 PM to 1 AM

Saturday Alumni Parade Watch Party – Free breakfast, Ralph's Donuts, and Tech swag at Centennial Plaza… 9 AM
Mistletoe Market, Day 2 – Last day of holiday shopping at Leslie Town Centre ($3 cash, 10 and under free)… 9 AM to 5 PM
Persimmon, Walnut & Pecan Foraging Day – Free fall foraging and iNaturalist tree tagging at the Food Forest… 9 to 11:30 AM
Tech Homecoming Parade – Free parade down Dixie Avenue with floats, bands, and grand marshal Maj. Gen. Edward F. Dorman III… 10 AM
Twice Told Book Sale – Friends' book sale, most items $3 or less… 10 AM to 1 PM
Rosenwald Schools Exhibit – Free exhibit at the History Museum… 10 AM to 4 PM
Tech Football vs. VMI – No. 9 Golden Eagles (8-1) host VMI for Homecoming at Tucker Stadium… 1:30 PM
Peter Pan – Saturday 2 PM sold out; evening show at 7 PM… 7 PM
Tech Volleyball vs. Western Carolina – Series finale at Hooper Eblen… 7 PM
Roasted Karaoke – Free karaoke with Sound Boy (21+)… 7 to 11 PM
Little Women – Backdoor Playhouse… 7:30 PM
Next Stop Comedy – Lee Kimbrell headlines at Dream Country (sold out online)… 8 PM
Trailride R&B Rodeo – R&B and line dancing at Revolver Dance Hall… 9 PM to 1 AM

Sunday Second Sunday Lunch – Monthly potluck after worship at First Presbyterian (20 N Dixie Ave)… noon to 1 PM
Peter Pan – Matinee at CPAC… 2 PM
Dabgo Music Bingo – Free music bingo on your phone at Roasted (21+)… 3 to 5 PM
Food Forest Friends Meeting – Monthly meeting under the pavilion, then work and harvest… 3 PM

If the stadium scene isn't your whole Saturday, the Cookeville Food Forest has a quieter kind of homecoming with the trees. Saturday from 9 to 11:30 AM, neighbors gather under the pavilion on C C Camp Road for Persimmon, Walnut & Pecan Foraging Day, with a chance to help tag trees on iNaturalist while you harvest. Sunday at 3 PM is the monthly Friends Meeting, followed by work and harvest for anyone who wants to roll up their sleeves. All are welcome, whether you garden every week or you're just forest-curious. Details and RSVP.

Traditional Dance is back Friday from 6:30 to 8 PM at Cane Creek Recreation Center for a $1 drop-in. Instructor Mev McCurdy leads American Contra and English Country dances, and you don't need a partner or any experience. It's a gentle way to move after a day of market shopping. Class info.

Take the night above downtown at Fire & Vine, Cookeville's rooftop dining pick at 115 W 1st St. Stone-fired plates, a farm-to-table lean, and a patio that works year-round make it an easy yes after the parade (or instead of another sports bar screen). Hours this weekend: Friday 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday 10:30 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday 10:30 AM to 9 PM. Reservations are smart on Homecoming Saturday. Call 931-559-8463 or book through fireandvinecookeville.com.

Friday 63 / 39 | 18% rain
Saturday 57 / 31 | 6% rain
Sunday 61 / 33 | 6% rain

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Thanks for reading, and for being a town that packs the parade route, shops local, and shows up for Habitat when the gumbo's on. Bundle up Saturday morning, yell loud at 1:30, and save a little energy for Sunday. See you next time. 🧡

-- Travis

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