In addition to free musical entertainment, festival highlights include the Carson & Barnes Circus, a street fair and carnival, 19th annual barbecue cook-off, 16th annual car show and the annual festival parade. Festival organizers include the city of Martin, the University of Tennessee at Martin and the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council.
 
“The Tennessee Soybean Festival is a Labor Day week tradition that brings residents and visitors together for food, fellowship, entertainment and the celebration of Northwest Tennessee’s cash crop – the soybean,” said David Belote, festival chair, Martin city alderman and UT Martin assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. “Many volunteers and sponsors work hard to keep the festival a family-friendly event with activities offered for persons of all ages.”

The 2012 festival opens with the Carson & Barnes Circus, Friday, Aug. 31, at the Martin Recreation Complex, the Little Miss Soybean Pageant, Saturday, Sept. 1, at the UT Martin Student Life Center, and the 8th Annual Soybean Talent Contest, Sept. 3, at the downtown stage in Festival Park.
 
The annual festival parade will begin at 6:30 pm Tuesday, at Hardy M. Graham Stadium and continue through downtown Martin. The eighth annual Faith and Community Night on Wednesday features the music of Shane & Shane, followed by UT Martin Student Night on Thursday featuring the Bowling for Soup concert. Grand Funk Railroad performs Friday night at the downtown stage, followed by the Travis Tritt concert Saturday night, also downtown.

Traditional festival events include the Mayor’s Kickoff Luncheon, Prayer Breakfast, Farmer’s Breakfast, “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner for the Martin police and fire departments, and Children’s Street Fair and lunch, 9 am-1 pm, Friday, in downtown Martin. A pet show, community health-awareness fair, Rotary Golf Tournament, 5K run, bicycle rodeo and a disc golf tournament are also scheduled.
 
Other activities planned are the Crosswinds Luncheon: A Celebration of Civic Organizations, an art exhibit and competition, WLJT Bikers for Books/Cycling Run, book sale, youth soccer matches and Sodexo Sunday Brunch, Sept. 9, at UT Martin’s Skyhawk Café in the Boling University Center.
 
Visit the Web at www.tnsoybeanfestival.org for complete festival information, the event schedule and sponsors, or contact Brad Thompson, Martin director of community development, 731-588-2507, or email bthompson@cityofmartin.net.