Cookeville Leisure Services March Newsletter 🍀

Warmer days are near, and we have lots of fun things in store. The goal of Cookeville Leisure Services is “making the good life better” for our fellow citizens, and we strive to do that by offering beautiful parks, diverse recreation and cultural arts facilities and a host of events, activities, programs and classes for people of all ages and interests. So catch a performance at our Cookeville Performing Arts Center. See an exhibit at the Cookeville History Museum. Enroll in a fitness class or craft workshop at Cane Creek Recreation Center or a sports league at Cane Creek SportsPlex or Gymnasium. We have lots of options for leisure! (Photo: Cane Creek Park)

 

See Popcorn Falls at CPAC

Be sure to “pop” in at Cookeville Performing Arts Center, where a “kernel” of happiness awaits. Audiences will “fall” for our latest Backstage Series show, Popcorn Falls. Remaining performances are March 1, 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. at 10 E. Broad St. This high-energy comedy, written by James Hindman and directed by Matthew Wilson, takes place in the small town of Popcorn Falls, where citizens face a big problem: their namesake waterfall, the town’s only claim to fame, has been dammed. Now bankrupt, the town’s last hope is a large grant that can only be used if citizens produce a play in one week. The mayor and executive custodian lead the enterprising townsfolk as they rise to the challenge of proving that art can save the world. To learn more, call 528-1313.

 

Get tickets

 

Crafts and Cards

Have you always wanted to create your own unique greeting cards that stand out from the generic store-bought ones? Our new Spring Craft and Card Workshop is for you! Join instructor Connie Cinder on March 5, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Cane Creek Recreation Center to craft four spring-themed cards (two Easter, one spring and one thank you) that you can take home and give to loved ones. Cost is $20.

 

Register

 

Monthly meditation

Join Tennessee Tech University’s Dr. Mohan Rao for our next free meditation workshop March 5, 11:30-12:30 p.m., at Cane Creek Recreation Center, 180 CC Camp Road. Meditation is a great way to charge yourself with fresh positive energy, lightness and peace. Just drop in; no registration or experience required. To learn more, call 526-7393.

 

Could you defend yourself?

Our self-defense workshop is an opportunity to learn basic principles to protect yourself. Join instructor Nikki Desch on March 5 from 10 a.m.-noon in a friendly, self-paced environment at Cane Creek Recreation Center, 180 CC Camp Road. Cost is $20. For details, call 526-7393.

 

Register

 

Karate for kids

Our children’s karate class continues to go strong with new sessions offered regularly. Registration is open for Monday classes, March 7-April 4, and Tuesday classes, March 8-April 5. All classes are 4-4:45 p.m. Students ages 6-12 learn simple, effective self-defense techniques that allow them to take advantage of their personal strengths. Instructors are Nikki Desch and Teddy Spivey. Cost is $25 per four-week session. For more information, call 526-7393.

 

Register

 

Scavenging the WestSide

This year’s final WestSide Scavenger Hunt is March 12. Get an entry form with tiny pictures and clues at the Cookeville Depot Museum, 116 W. Broad St., between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and start exploring this historic district. Just replicate images in and around participating businesses with your cell phone camera to be entered in a prize drawing. This free activity is a great opportunity to get outside and have fun. To learn more, call 528-8570.

 

Play volleyball

Get your teams together. Registration for two new volleyball leagues – Women’s and Co-Ed Recreational – is open through March 18. Women’s League games will be played on Mondays, April 4-May 9, and Co-Ed Recreational games, Tuesdays, April 5-May 10. Cost is $200 per team with a maximum of 12 players. Games will be played between 5 and 9 p.m. at Cane Creek Gymnasium, 180 CC Camp Road. For more information, call 526-9767.

 

Register

 

See art at CPAC

Cookeville Performing Arts Center’s featured artist for March is Mary Mae Smith, who has been creating art professionally since 2010. Much of her artwork is inspired by cute creatures, nature and pop culture. She is involved in many projects both locally and online, including her studio at The Art Jam in Cookeville, Gay Little Trees, Hip Cookeville, various freelance work, local murals and private commissions. Viewers may enjoy her art in the CPAC lobby Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 10 E. Broad St.

 

Parks staying open later

Remember to “spring forward” one hour on March 13. Also remember that when that happens, our gated city parks – Ensor Sink Natural Area (pictured), Cane Creek Park and City Lake Natural Area – will be staying open until 9 p.m. Dogwood Park’s Heart of the City Playground and Park View Skate Park will continue to close at dusk.

 

Register now for spring camp

Spring break is an extra special time at Cane Creek Recreation Center because of our day campers! Registration is open for Recreational Day Camp, which is March 14-18, 7:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m. This camp is for children in kindergarten through age 12. Activities include arts, crafts and games. Cost is $80, and space is limited. To register, call 526-7393.

 

Join the Leisure Services team!

The city’s “fun department” has openings for several part-time and seasonal positions, including day camp assistants, parks groundskeepers, Cane Creek Park hosts, Cane Creek SportsPlex concessions staff and Cane Creek Gymnasium athletic program assistants. For more information, call 520-4386.

 

Apply

 

Painting workshop

Ready to bring out your inner artist? Join us for our step-by-step acrylic painting class March 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Cane Creek Recreation Center. Instructor Mary Mae Smith of The Art Jam in Cookeville will provide the image; you’ll create your own masterpiece with her guidance. Materials are provided. Just bring yourself and a creative attitude. Register by March 23. Cost is $35.

 

Register

 

Experience Tai Chi

If you’ve never tried Tai Chi, now is your chance to experience serenity through gentle, low-impact movements. Registration is open for two six-week classes: Tuesdays, March 29-May 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Thursdays, March 31-May 5, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. All experience levels are welcome to join award-winning martial artist Nikki Desch at Cane Creek Recreation Center, 180 CC Camp Road. Cost is $30 per six-week session. For more information, call 526-7393.

 

Register

 

Spring leagues

Registration for spring softball is open through March 25. Co-ed church league will play Mondays starting April 4; co-ed recreation, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting April 5; and men’s, Wednesdays starting April 6. Games will be played between 6 and 9 p.m. at Cane Creek SportsPlex, 2200 W. Jackson St. Fee is $400 per team. For more information, call 520-5224.

 

Register

 

Kickboxing

Thai kickboxing (or Muay Thai) is known as “the art of eight limbs.” This popular class continues on Wednesdays, March 30-May 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Cane Creek Recreation Center. Students will learn basic techniques in a friendly, self-paced environment with instructor Nikki Desch. Registration is $30. To learn more, call 526-7393.

 

Register

 

(re)Boot Camp

Are you ready to make a change? Our three-month (re)boot camp, to be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 5-June 30, will take you out of your comfort zone and push you to be your best. This program utilizes a variety of Cane Creek Park’s natural elements to incorporate body weight exercises, cardio and strength training. Participants will complete a pre- and post-assessment to track their progress. They will also receive a 14-class bonus pass to use on classes of their choice along with a Boot Camp completion hoodie. Space is limited. Register by March 25 for an early bird special of $75. Otherwise, registration is $119 (three months) or $45 (one month). For more information, call 526-7393.

 

Train Tales

Friday mornings are a fun time at the Cookeville Depot Museum. Bring your preschoolers from 10:30-11 a.m. to enjoy a train story and activity at 116 W. Broad St. Admission is free. For more information, call 528-8570.

 

‘What We Were Wearing’

It’s a history lesson on fashion – Cookeville fashion, that is. “What We Were Wearing: A Timeline of Cookeville Fashions” continues through April 16 at Cookeville History Museum. For this exhibit, we’ve partnered with Tennessee Tech’s School of Human Ecology to showcase pieces from the university’s historic costume collection. Check it out Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 40 E. Broad St. Admission is free.

 

Learn more

 

Save the dates

Mark your calendar for upcoming workshops at Cane Creek Recreation Center: Children’s Painting Workshop, April 9 at 10 a.m.; Wedding Dance Workshop, April 23 at 10:30 a.m.; and Kids’ Craft and Card Workshop, April 23 at 10 a.m. For more information, call 526-7393.

 

Learn more

 

Storyfest in the Park

World-class storytelling in Cookeville’s Dogwood Park? Yes! Lend us your ears for the eighth annual Storyfest in the Park on April 30 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. This family-friendly event features professional storytellers from across the region, including headliner Tim Lowry, as well as an amateur storytellers’ competition. Come listen for a while under the big tent.

 

What’s your story?

Ready to release your inner storytelling champion? Perform a 10-minute story for our Storyfest audience April 30 at Dogwood Park for a chance to win cash prizes and bragging rights for an entire year as our reigning Storytelling Sovereign. Call 528-8570 or email bthompson@cookeville-tn.gov to register. (Photo: 2021 winners Dave Johnson, Dwight Henry and Mark Creter)

 

March fitness

Check out our daily fitness classes at Cane Creek Recreation Center, 180 CC Camp Road. Your first class is free! After that, it’s $3 per class. Just drop in. For more information, call 526-7393.

See class descriptions