Good morning, Cookeville.

Wednesday has a full slate today. Premier Pools & Spas opens this morning at 11 AM with a ribbon cutting and a robotic pool cleaner giveaway, the Chamber's Signature Luncheon puts the 2026 Putnam County candidates in the room with the community, and the VIOLET SHOW dance concert is tonight at the PAC at 6:30 PM.

And if you haven't made plans for the weekend yet, the Firefly Festival is Saturday and Sunday at Dogwood Park. Free, all original music, all handmade goods. It's a good one.

-- The Cookeville Scoop Team

Premier Pools & Spas Grand Opening | Today, April 9 at 11 AM

The world's largest pool-building company opens in Cookeville today with a Chamber ribbon cutting at 11 AM. They're giving away a robotic pool cleaner at the event, so there's a real reason to stop by beyond just being neighborly about it. Premier Pools & Spas has been building custom Gunite and fiberglass pools since 1988, and this Cookeville location brings that national reach to the Upper Cumberland with a family-owned, local operation. Address and details at premierpoolsandspas.com/pool-builders/tennessee/cookeville.

Signature Luncheon: Meet the County Candidates 2026 | Today, April 9

The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber is hosting its Signature Luncheon today, with Putnam County candidates gathering ahead of the May 5 primary. It's a chance to put faces to names and hear directly from the people running for local office before voting season. Registration is required. Check cookevillechamber.com/events for timing and to register.

Spring Concert 2026: VIOLET SHOW | Tonight, April 9 at 6:30 PM

Tonight at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center, the VIOLET SHOW brings students ages 3 and up from the Cookeville Leisure Services School of Dance onto the stage for ballet, jazz, and modern dance. This is the second of three spring shows (INDIGO was Tuesday, BLUE SHOW is Friday). If you have a young dancer in the family, tonight's their night. Tickets through the CPAC box office at 931-528-1313 (Mon-Fri, 9 AM-5 PM) or at cookeville-tn.gov/cpac.

Chill Billy's Lounge is worth knowing about if you haven't been yet. It's at 102 N Cedar Ave on the northwest corner of 1st and Cedar in the Historic Westside, and it does craft cocktails and elevated bar food in a space that feels like it actually belongs in that neighborhood. They opened in fall 2025 and have settled into being a genuinely good evening option on the Westside. A solid choice before or after tonight's dance concert. Reach them at 931-651-1068 or chillbillyslounge.com.

The Putnam Room runs happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 5 PM in historic downtown, with a late-night window on Saturdays from 8 to 10 PM. Open Tuesday through Friday 11 AM to 9 PM and Saturday 4 to 10 PM. A reliable mid-week landing spot downtown. More at theputnamroom.com.

We covered this in Monday's and Tuesday's editions, but it's worth one more mention before Saturday arrives: the 4th Annual Firefly Festival is at Dogwood Park this Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12.

It's free. Every musician performing plays their own original music. Every vendor behind a booth made what they're selling. There's a kids area, food on site, immersive art experiences, and the Firefly Music Awards.

Saturday runs 10 AM to 8 PM. No tickets. Just show up.

If you're planning to go Saturday, getting there before noon gives you first pick of the artisan booths before the afternoon crowds arrive. And if you find something you love from one of the makers, buy it. These are your neighbors.

Full details at hipcookeville.com/fireflyfestival.

Picture Book Putt-Putt at the Putnam County Library is open through this Saturday, April 12, Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Kids ages 5-12 check in at the Children's Desk and play a round of picture-book-themed mini golf through the library stacks. Drop-in, no registration. A few days left to catch it. Free. pclibrary.org

Cookeville Farmer's Market is running daily from 6 AM to 6 PM near the Municipal Building at 201 Mahler Ave. Local produce and seasonal goods, open every day. A good Wednesday morning stop if you're out early. Free to browse.

If you made it to any of the spring dance concerts this week, or if you're heading to Firefly this weekend, we'd love to hear about it. Reply 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 be covering, send it our way.

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Thanks for being here with us. Have a good Wednesday, and we'll see you before the weekend. 🧡

-- The Cookeville Scoop Team