Good morning, Cookeville.

Big news this week: In-N-Out Burger has officially chosen its Cookeville location. There's a lot to say about what that means for the area, and we get into it below. Closer to home this weekend, Easter is three days away and the city is leaning into it — Breakfast with the Bunny Saturday morning, an Easter egg hunt at Clayton Saturday afternoon, and the Bryan Symphony wraps up Sunday with a beautiful afternoon concert at Wattenbarger. There's also a brand new lounge open downtown worth checking out.

Let's get into it.

— The Cookeville Scoop Team

Home & Garden Show at DelMonaco Winery — If you've got a spring project in mind, this weekend is a great excuse to drive out to Baxter. The Upper Cumberland Home & Garden Show runs Saturday and Sunday, March 28–29, at DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards — one of the more enjoyable settings you'll find for a home expo. Contractors, builders, designers, and service providers all in one place, with giveaways and food to keep things relaxed. $5 admission. Visit Cookeville event listing.

Bryan Symphony Orchestra — Sunday, March 29 — Close out the Easter weekend Sunday afternoon with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at Wattenbarger Auditorium on the Tennessee Tech campus. Trombone soloist Joshua Hauser is featured. It's a beautiful room and a nice way to end a full weekend. 3:00 PM — check TTU's calendar or the BSO website for ticket info before you go.

Candidate Connect 2026 — Tuesday, March 31 — The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting Candidate Connect 2026 Tuesday evening at 5:00 PM. A chance to meet the candidates before the 2026 election cycle heats up. Verify the venue directly with the Chamber at cookevillechamber.com, but put it on the calendar if civic engagement is your thing.

Chill Bill's Lounge is open. Toni and Bryon Mowrey just opened their new craft cocktail lounge in Cookeville, and it sounds like exactly what it is — a classic, well-made cocktail in a thoughtfully curated environment, with elevated bar food to go alongside it. A welcome addition to the local bar scene. Full details on location and hours via UCBJ's story.

Irrationale Kitchen+Taps runs happy hour twice a day this week — 2–4 PM in the afternoon, then back at it from 8 PM through close. $3 select drafts, $6 well spirits, $5 house wine, half-price select appetizers. Whether you need a Wednesday pick-me-up or a late Friday start, Irrationale has you covered.

The Putnam Room keeps happy hour running 3–5 PM on weekdays, with a late-night window Saturdays from 8–10 PM. Good downtown spot if you're looking for a lowkey after-work drink or something to ease into the weekend. theputnamroom.com.

When the news dropped, Cookeville did what Cookeville does — the comment sections filled up, the group chats went off, and people started counting down a timeline that's still six months away.

In-N-Out Burger has confirmed its Cookeville location at The Willows, the new shopping development anchored by Target and Home Depot set to open in October 2026. It will be the first In-N-Out in the Upper Cumberland, and if you've lived anywhere on the West Coast or in certain parts of the South, you know why that's a bigger deal than it sounds.

For those who haven't had it: In-N-Out runs a deliberately simple menu — burgers, fries, shakes, and the famous "not-so-secret" menu that longtime fans will gladly explain to you in more detail than you asked for. The reason people are enthusiastic isn't branding — it's that the food is genuinely good, and the company has a reputation for keeping standards high across every location.

But the bigger story here is what The Willows represents for Cookeville as a city. Target was already a milestone. Home Depot adds to it. Bringing in a brand like In-N-Out — which is notoriously selective about where it opens, doesn't franchise, and controls quality start to finish — says something about where Cookeville is right now in terms of market size and regional growth. It's not just another fast food opening. It's a signal.

October 2026 still feels far off, but if you've been holding out hope that Cookeville's retail footprint would keep growing, this is a good week to feel some optimism about that. We'll keep you posted as The Willows development continues to take shape. Full story from UCBJ.

Breakfast with the Bunny — Saturday, March 28, 10:00 AM at 1150 South Willow Avenue. Easter breakfast with the Easter Bunny in the mix — great for the little ones with a few days until the holiday. Verify cost and registration details before the weekend. Check AllEvents for details.

Cars and Coffee at the Crossroads — Saturday, March 28, 7:30 AM at 109 Stallion Rd. Monthly car meet for enthusiasts, free and casual. If you're an early riser and enjoy a good look at what people are driving, this is a low-commitment, genuinely fun Saturday morning outing. All makes and models. Free.

Clayton Cookeville Easter EGGSTRAVAGANZA — Saturday, March 28, 1:00 PM at 1440 Interstate Drive. Easter egg hunt and family activities hosted by Clayton Homes. A community-facing event with no cost — just show up with the kids and let them run. Free.

He is Risen, Easter Extravaganza — Sunday, March 29, 2:00 PM at 3 N Jefferson Ave Suite B. Easter celebration with faith-based programming, open to the community. Free.

2026 Spring Celebration — Monday, March 30, 6:00 PM at the Putnam County Convention Center. Community spring celebration event — details are limited on our end, so worth verifying what this one is before you go. Check AllEvents or the Convention Center directly. Free (unconfirmed — verify).

Know someone else in Cookeville who'd enjoy this? Forward it along — we're always glad to have more neighbors in the loop. And if you've got an event tip or something you'd like to see covered in next week's Scoop, reply to this email — we read every one.

Thanks for being here with us, Cookeville. Enjoy the Easter weekend, whatever it looks like for your family. 🧡

— The Cookeville Scoop Team