NASHVILLE – The annual Music & Molasses Arts & Crafts Festival returns in 2017 with an array of events, music, food and fun for the entire family.

This year, the festival will take place Sept. 23-24 at Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville.

A mule works the sorghum mill at the Music & Molasses Festival. Image courtesy of TN Dept of Agriculture.

“We are excited to bring this affordable family friendly event back,” committee member Amy Ladd said. “It will be a fun-filled weekend with music and dancing on the lawn, arts and crafts, entertaining and educational activities for young and old. Plus local food trucks serving up a delicious assortment of festival favorites!”

Adults and children are invited to see and touch farm animals and witness a working sorghum mill, grist mill and blacksmith’s forge. Learn about weaving, woodcarving, spinning and quilting. Sample sorghum molasses made on site and consider purchasing an assortment of soaps, yarn, jams and jellies and fresh produce. Children can ride a pony and be a farmer for a day.

Festival patrons can tour Brentwood Hall, the former home of Rogers and Margaret Caldwell. The house was built in 1927 and fashioned after Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Known today as Ellington Agricultural Center, the estate is home to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and other agencies.

The festival also offers visitors the chance to see the Tennessee Agricultural Museum, which features thousands of artifacts related to the rural history of Tennessee.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $7 at the gate and $6 if purchased in advance online. Children aged 3 and under are free. Parking is free and kids’ activities in the paddock area and pony rides are also free. Ticket purchasing information is available online at www.tn.gov/agriculture/topic/music-and-molasses-festival.

Ellington Agricultural Center is located 10 miles south of downtown Nashville, accessible from Franklin Pike or Edmondson Pike. For more information call the Tennessee Agricultural Museum at 615-837-5197 or visit www.tnagmuseum.org.