The Following Events Require Pre-Registration to attend.

Beaman Park Nature Center
5911 Old Hickory Blvd., Ashland City, 862-8580 or nashville.gov/parks

• FREE Family Night Hike Saturday, May 5. All ages. Take a walk through the woods under the light of the full moon. 7 - 9 p.m.

Belle Meade Plantation
5025 Harding Pike, Nashville; 356-0501, ext. 26, or bellemeadeplantation.com

• Nothing but HORSE! Play Wednesday, May 9. Ages 2 - 5. Make apples out of yarn, participate in pony tosses and stick pony riding, then head to the paddock to visit real horses. 10 - 11 a.m. $5

Blue Heron Nature Cruises at Riverbluff Park
175 Old Cumberland St., Ashland City; 385-7007 or blueheroncruises.com

• Nature Cruise Fri - Sun. All ages. See wild birds, boats and waterfront homes during a 90-minute cruise on the Cumberland River. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. $9 ages 2 - 12

Brentwood Library
8109 Concord Road, Brentwood; 371-0090 or brentwood-tn.org/library

• FREE After School Explorers Tuesdays. Grades K - 2. Enjoy reading, games, crafts and a snack. 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
• FREE Movie Matinee Saturday, May 12. All ages. Watch a screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, starring Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood. 1 p.m.; ext. 851, to register

Carnton Plantation
1345 Carnton Lane, Franklin; 794-0903 or carnton.org

• Hands on History Saturday, May 26. Ages 5 - 10. Head to the McGavock Cemetery to discuss the origins of Memorial Day, what it means and its importance. 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. $10

Cheekwood
1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville; 356-8000 or cheekwood.org

• Andy & Co.: American Pop Art Thursday, May 17. All ages. Enjoy lunch while hearing a lecture about the beginnings of American pop art in the 1960s. 12 - 1 p.m. $15 members, $25 non-members
• Mother’s Day Tea Friday, May 11. All ages. Celebrate motherhood with tea, finger sandwiches, scones, desserts and live piano music. 3 p.m. $39

College Grove Community Center
8607 Horton Hwy., College Grove; 302-0971, ext. 10, or wcparksandrec.com

• Bark Painting Tuesday, May 8. Make a Mexican papel amate (bark paper) painting. 4:30 - 6 p.m. $4

Dyer Observatory
1000 Oman Drive, Brentwood; 373-4897 or dyer.vanderbilt.edu

• Scout Night Tuesday, May 1. Scouts of all ages. Learn about the stars from local astronomers. 8 - 8:30 p.m. $5 per person, $10 per family
• FREE Second Friday Telescope Night Friday, May 11. All ages. View the night sky through the giant telescope. 8 - 10 p.m.

Fairview Recreation Complex
2714 Fairview Blvd., Fairview; 799-9331 or wcparksandrec.com

• American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Saturday, May 19. Ages 11 - 15. Learn to become good babysitters. 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (bring a sack lunch). $85. Call 585-9055 to register
• Children’s Pottery Tuesdays, May 4 - 29. Ages 6 - 12. Create boxes, bowls, mugs, animals and more. 5 - 6:30 p.m. $40
• Customized Picture Frames Thursday, May 17. Ages 12 and older. Transform old picture frames into creative, unique pieces. 5 - 6 p.m. $10

The Fellowship at Two Rivers
2800 McGavock Pike, Nashville; 924-7496 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• FREE Buddy Break  Friday, May 25. Ages 5 - 18 with special needs. Parents of special needs kids can drop off their children for fun and recreation while they enjoy respite time. 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Hendersonville
106 Bluegrass Commons Blvd., Hendersonville 447-1323 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• FREE Buddy Break  Friday, May 18. Registration deadline is Friday, May 4. Ages 5 - 18 with special needs. Parents of special needs kids can drop off their children for fun and recreation while they enjoy respite time. 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Franklin Recreation Complex
1120 Hillsboro Road; 790-5719, ext. 10, or wcparksandrec.com

• Art Connections: Optical Illusions in Art Wednesdays, May 2 and 9. Ages 7 - 12. Learn drawing techniques that trick the eye. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. $20
• Children’s Pottery Tuesdays, May 2 - 29. Ages 6 - 12. Create pottery projects using coils, slabs and pinch pots. 1 - 2:30 p.m. $45
• Guitar or Bass Guitar Lessons Mondays, May 7 - 21. Ages 5 and older. Learn to play the guitar or bass via private instruction. Choose a 30-minute session between 12 and 8 p.m. $66
• Mighty Tikes Triathlon Saturday, June 2. Ages 3 - 6. Participants can “swim,” bike and run through an obstacle course. Bring a bike or tricycle no larger than 16 inches and a helmet. 7:30 a.m. $8 (includes T-shirt and medal)
• Piano Lessons  Fridays, May 4 - 25. Ages 5 and older.  Learn to play the piano with private lessons. Choose a 30-minute slot between 12 - 8 p.m. $88. Call 268-2296 to register
• Sticky Fingers Preschool Club Tue/Thu, May 1 - 17 or Mondays, May 7 and 14. Ages 3 - 6. Enjoy a variety of crafting experiences to enhance fine motor and development skills. 9:30 - 11 a.m. $36 Tue/Thu, $14 Mon
• Voice Lessons Fridays, May 4 - 25. Ages 5 and older.  Private studio lessons stress notation reading skills, artistic interpretations, proper breathing and phrasing. Choose a 30-minute slot between 12 - 8 p.m. $88. Call 268-2296 to register

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
919 Broadway, Nashville; 744-3357 or fristcenter.org

• FREE Kids Club: Scary Monsters, Super Creeps Saturday, May 12. Ages 5 - 10. Create a monster mash-up inspired by your favorite fairy tale villain. 10:30 a.m., 1 or 3 p.m.

Hutton Hotel
1808 West End Ave., Nashville; reviveherhealth.com

• FREE REVIVE Her Health: Summer Soiree Tuesday, May 8. Registration deadline is Thursday, May 3. Ladies only event. Baptist Hospital and Hutton Hotel host this event for women that includes health screenings, presentations, hors d’oeuvres, wine, chocolate and a chance to ask personal health questions to local experts. 5 p.m.

Indoor Sports Complex
920 Heritage Way, Brentwood; 268-2296 or wcparksandrec.com

• Piano Lessons Thursdays, May 3 - 31. Ages 5 and older. Learn to play piano through private lessons. Choose a 30-minute session between 1:30 and 4 p.m. or 5:30 - 8 p.m. $110
• Voice Lessons Thursdays, May 3 - 31. Ages 5 and older. Learn to play piano through private lessons. Choose a 30-minute session between 1:30 and 4 p.m. or 5:30 - 8 p.m. $110

Longhunter State Park
2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage; 885-2422 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• FREE The Nature Circle  Every Monday (no program May 28). Ages 3 - 5 with a parent. Enjoy stories with a nature theme and hands-on craft activities. 10 a.m. May’s themes are:
      • May 7: Ladybug, Ladybug
      • May 14: Crickets up Close
      • May 21: Fishing for Fun

Longview Recreation Center
2909 Commonwealth Drive, Spring Hill 302-0971, ext. 10, or wcparksandrec.com

• American Red Cross Babysitter Training  Saturday, May 12. Ages 11 - 15. Learn the skills and confidence to become a great babysitter.  9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (bring a sack lunch). $85.  To register, call 585-9055
• Cake Decorating: Mommy and Me Cookies Tuesday, May 22. Ages 3 and older with a parent. Make decorative cookies using buttercream and rolled fondant icing. 9:30 - 11 a.m. $20
• Cake Decorating: Mommy and Me Cupcakes Tuesday, May 29. Ages 3 and older with a parent. Bring a dozen unfrosted cupcakes and learn decorating techniques. 9:30 - 11 a.m. $20
• Children’s Pottery Workshop Sunday, May 6. Ages 6 - 12. Create a pottery piece. 2 - 4 p.m. $40
• Deb’z Kid’z Art Thursdays, May 10 - 31. All ages. Create art using a variety of methods, including markers, colored pencils, pastels and watercolors. 6 - 7:30 p.m. $45 per month or $11.25 per class
• Judo Karate Mondays, May 7 - 21. Ages 8 and older. This exercise program combines Judo and Karate. 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. $30
• Little Fingers Mondays, May 14 - 21. Ages 2 - 4 with a parent. Create season-themed art projects. 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. $6 per class
• Manga Drawing May 15 and 17 or May 22 and 24. Ages 8 and older. Learn the basic layout and proportions of drawing Japanese Mango cartoon characters. 4:15 - 5:45 p.m. $30
• Martial Arts Fitness Mondays, May 7 - 21. Ages 8 and older. Participate in a kick boxing, karate and judo fitness program. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. $40
• Picking Strings Saturdays, May 5 - 26. All ages. Learn the musical alphabet, basic chord shapes, strumming patterns and finger picking. 1 - 4 p.m. $30
• Polynesian Dancing Wednesdays, May 2 - 23. All ages. Learn to dance like the island natives of Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand and Tahiti. 5:15 - 6 p.m. beginners, 6 - 7 p.m. intermediates. $30 ($25 each additional family member)
• Sticky Fingers Preschool Club  Mondays, May 14 - 21 or Wednesdays, May 16 - 23. Ages 3 - 6. Enjoy a variety of crafting experiences to enhance fine motor and development skills. Mon 9:30 - 11 a.m., Wed 8:30 - 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. $12

Moss Wright Park
745 Caldwell Drive, Goodlettsville; 851-2255 or goodlettsvilleparks.com

• Love Grows Tuesday, May 8. Registration deadline is Friday, May 4. All ages. Paint a flower pot for Mother’s Day and fill it. 4 - 5 p.m. $5
• Summer Recreation T-ball June and July. Registration is open May 7 - 21. Ages 4 - 5. Practices take place in June, games are in July. $25 residents, $50 non-residents

Nashville Children’s Theatre
25 Middleton St., Nashville; 252-4675 or nashvillechildrenstheatre.org

• Telling Tales Thursday, May 17. Adults. This fundraiser for the theater features childhood stories and song by Kathy Mattea, John Prine, Jonell Mosser, John Carter Cash, Minton Sparks, Titans wide receiver Marc Mariani, NCT actors and more. 6 p.m. silent auction/reception, 7:30 p.m. performance. $100 (only 150 tickets are available)

Nashville Zoo
3777 Nolensville Road, Nashville; 833-1534 or nashvillezoo.org

• Backstage Pass: Anteater Barn Saturday, May 5. Registration deadline is Friday, May 4. Ages 5 and older. Join zoo staff for a behind-the-scenes tour of the anteater barn and learn about animal care, behavior and conservation. 9:30 - 11 a.m. $25 members, $50 non-members
• Homeschool Days May 17 - 18. Registration deadline is Sunday, May 13. Grades K - 8. Enjoy animal presentations, and learn about conservation and recycling. 10 - 11 a.m. grades K - 1, 12 - 1:30 p.m. grades 2 - 4, 2 - 3:30 p.m. grades 5 - 8. $6 members, $13 non-members
• Zzzoofari Slumber May 26 - 27. Ages 4 and older. Camp overnight on the zoo grounds and enjoy outdoor play and traditional camp activities. 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. $30 members, $40 non-members

Oaklands Historic House Museum
900 N. Maney Ave., Murfreesboro; 893-0022 or oaklandsmuseum.org

• Days of Washing, Churning and Learning May 17 - 18. Grades PreK - 6. Learn about chores of the mid-1800s through hands-on activities, candle making, clothes washing, butter churning, quill writing, rug beating and more. Crafts and games round out the fun. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. $5 per child, free for teachers and parents with a paid child

Old Fort Park Pavilion 3
1025 Old Fort Pkwy., Murfreesboro; 893-2141 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Beads and Animals with Sculpty Clay Tuesday, May 8. Ages 5 - 9 with a parent. Wear clothes you can get dirty and have fun with a creative project. 4:30 - 6 p.m. $3 per child

Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary
545 Beech Creek Road, Brentwood; 370-4672 or owlshill.org

• Knee High Naturalist: Big and Little! May 7 or 8. Ages 3 - 5 with a parent. Decide on a favorite big and small animal to share and discover. 10 - 11:30 a.m. $10 per child/adult in advance/$15 at the gate

The Park at Harlinsdale Farm
239 Franklin Road, Franklin,  franklinfarmersmarket.org

• FREE The Growing Kids Education Garden  Tuesdays and Wednesdays in May. Ages 5 - 11. Children can learn about gardening through different activities and themes. May’s schedule is as follows (check website for times):
    • May 1: The Spring Green Fling
    • May 2: Way to Grow!
    • May 8: Which Seed You Be?
    • May 9: To Seed or Not to Seed
    • May 15: Mind Your Own Bees-ness
    • May 16: Germination Domination
    • May 22: Compost Happens
    • May 23: The Scoop on Garden Poop
    • May 29: Global Worming
    • May 30: Garden Heroes
• Run Like a Mother 5K  Sunday, May 13. Regisration deadline is Monday, May 7. This 5K race’s mission is to fuel a woman’s journey toward health and wellness. 8 a.m. kids’ one-mile run, 8:30 a.m. 5K. $45 for the 5K, $15 kids’ run. To register, visit runlikeamotherrace.com

Patterson Park Community Center
521 Mercury Blvd. Murfreesboro; 893-7439 or murfreesborotn.gov/parks

• A, B, C, 1, 2, 3  ... Let’s Go  Every Tue and Thu. Ages 2 - 5. Sing songs, play games, listen to stories and do crafts. 10 - 10:45 a.m. $3
• Wee Play Every Monday. Ages 1-and-a-half to 2. Enjoy stories, puppets, instruments, crafts and more. 10 - 10:45 a.m. $3
• Busy Bees  Every Tue and Thu. Ages 3 - 5. This class focuses on following directions, participating in a group environment, improving coordination and practicing good sportsmanship. 10:45 - 11:15 a.m. $3
• Homeschool P.E. Mon, Tue, Wed or Thu. Grades 1 - 9. Participate in physical education activities. 1 - 2 p.m. $3

Pleasant Green Pool
360 Pleasant Green; 851-2231 or goodlettsvilleparks.com

• Mother/Son Splash & Dash Saturday, June 9. Registration deadline is Friday, June 1. All ages. Enjoy pool games, pizza and ice cream. 5 - 7 p.m. $20 per couple, $10 each additional son

Saint Thomas Hospital
4220 Harding Road, Nashville; 800-588-3270

• FREE Heart Healthy Cooking Class Tuesday, May 1. All ages. Learn how to cook healthy food for Father’s Day next month. 3 p.m.

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center
1900 Davidson St., Nashville; 862-8539 or nashville.gov/parks

• FREE Back Porch “Mammal” Movie Marathon Friday, May 25. All ages. Watch movies about mammals and get started on Jr. Naturalist badge requirements. 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• FREE Camouflage in the Wild Saturday, May 26. All ages. Learn how animals hide themselves in nature. 10 - 11 a.m.
• FREE Intro to Nature Play Friday, May 25. All ages. Play in the mud, sand and gravel pits and discover the new Nature Play area. 10 - 11 a.m.
• FREE Sunset Picking Party Friday, May 4. All ages. Enjoy string instrument music (bring an instrument if you play) surrounded by nature. 5 - 7 p.m.
• FREE What Predator are You? Saturday, May 12. All ages. Go on a hike looking for signs of predators and prey, take a ferocious predator test, then make a treat for wild animals. 10 - 11 a.m.
• FREE Wild About Flowers Saturday, May 19. All ages. Embark on a short hike to discover common flowers of the season. 2 - 3 p.m.

Sports*Com
120 DeJarnette Lane, Murfreesboro; 895-5040 or murfreesborotn.gov/parks

• FREE Drown Proof Murfreesboro Saturday, May 19. Ages 5 - 13. Take free swim lessons, learn CPR and participate in other safety awareness activities. 1 - 5 p.m.
• Princess Training Class Saturday, May 5. Registration deadline is Friday, May 4. Ages 3 - 6. Learn the basics of being a true, strong princess. 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. $3
• Tumbleweeds Mondays and Wednesdays. Ages 3 - 5. Learn tumbling basics. 10:30 - 11:15 a.m. $3

Warner Parks Nature Center
7311 Hwy. 100, Nashville; 352-6299 or nashville.gov/parks/wpnc

• FREE Bluebirds in My Backyard Saturday, May 5. All ages. Ten-year-old Nathan Lewis will present a PowerPoint program about his experience monitoring and maintaining 15 eastern bluebird nest boxes in 2010 and 2011. 9 - 10 a.m.
• FREE Get LOST in Percy Warner Park Saturday, May 26. All ages. Join a naturalist to explore the closed road in Percy Warner Park. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• FREE Mushrooms in May Saturday, May 19. All ages. Spend time discovering mysterious fungi. 10 - 11:30 a.m.
• FREE Nature Storytime Friday, May 4. Ages 3 - 5. Listen to stories under the giant beech tree. 10:30 - 11 a.m.
• FREE A Rotten Place to Live Tuesday, May 8. Ages 6 - 12. Explore the various microhabitats, like rotting logs, that exist in the park. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• FREE Stay FOUND in the Woods Saturday, May 12. All ages. Learn about summer safety, basic family hiking and camping, and staying found in the woods. 10 - 11 a.m.
• FREE Wiggly Worms Friday, May 18. Ages 3 - 5. Discover worms and their importance. 10 - 11 a.m. or 1 - 2 p.m.

The Wellness Center at Baptist Hospital
2021 Church St., Nashville; 284-2348 or baptisthospital.com

• Strong Mommy  Tuesdays and Thursdays. Expectant moms. This pre-natal fitness/wellness program includes water aerobics, personalized fitness coaching sessions, pre- and post-natal massages, fitness workshops, a three-month center membership and more. 5:30 p.m. $125

The Wilderness Station
697 Barfield Crescent Road, Murfreesboro; 217-3017 or murfreesborotn.gov/parks

• FREE Bat Night Hike Saturday, May 12. All ages. Learn bat facts then go on a two-mile hike to the river to see them in action. 7 p.m.
• Fairies and Forests Saturday, May 5. Ages 4 and older. Embark on a 30-minute guided hike using all of your senses while looking for signs that fairies leave behind. 1 - 3 p.m. $3 children, free for adults
• Wild Things  Every Wednesday. Ages 1 - 4 with a parent.  Toddlers and preschoolers can enjoy programs to spark a love for the wilderness. 9:30 a.m. $3