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All Aboard! Free Miniature Train Rides Return to Maury County Park May 1–3

Issue #424

May 01, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☁️ Columbia’s Weather - Cloudy / Afternoon thunderstorms w/ high of 76 & low of 61

🚂 All Aboard! Free Miniature Train Rides Return to Maury County Park May 1–3

🐶 Find Your New Best Friend: Discounted Pet Adoptions May 1–15

🚧 Closed From 5/5 - 9/2: Intersection of S Main St & 8th St

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Thursday, May 1st

Friday, May 2nd

Saturday, May 3rd

Sunday, May 4th

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

May 1 - 18: Fiddler on the Roof at Packard Playhouse
May 29 - 31: Music City Rodeo

All Aboard! Free Miniature Train Rides Return to Maury County Park May 1–3

If you’ve ever wanted to see the miniature trains run on the track that winds through Maury County Park, now’s your chance!

For over 50 years, the Mid-South Live Steamers have been hosting rides on their 1/8 scale trains. Rides are 100% free with no tickets needed.

Fun Facts:

  • There is 14,500 Feet of 7 1/2" track with grades that reach 3.5%

  • The engines weigh anywhere from 100 to 2000 pounds, and can pull from one to 50+ people, depending on size.

  • Some engines can cost almost $50,000 while others only a few thousand.

  • In almost all cases, these trains operate just like real locomotives. They are quite powerful and sound like what they are: a miniature version of the real thing.

  • There are two meets every year, spring and fall. The next meet will be Sept. 24-28, 2024

  • The Mid-South Live Steamers is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and is supported by member dues, member donations, and donations from the public.

The wait time at the passenger station is largely dependent on weather and day of the week. The shortest wait times are on Thursday and Friday of the public meets, especially when the station opens at 10 AM. The average wait time on these days can range from none to one hour, depending on crowd size. Saturdays are the busiest day, with lines reaching over 300 passengers at times. The average wait time on a Saturday is one to two hours, depending on crowd size.

Public Ride Schedule
5/01/2024 - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
5/02/2024 - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
5/03/2024 - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM

The release waiver depot and waiting line will close at 3:30 PM each day.

Due to safety concerns, pregnant women or persons over 350 pounds are not permitted to ride trains. Children 18 months and younger must be secured to the front of an adult in a baby carrier, sling or wrap.

During inclement weather, passenger trains are not able to run. All passenger trains will stop operations and will not resume until the weather has passed and a track inspection can be completed.

Find more information on the Mid-South Live Steamers website here.

Find Your New Best Friend: Discounted Pet Adoptions May 1–15

From Maury County Animal Services post…

BISSELL Pet Foundation for their spring  #EmptyTheShelters event. We have been lucky enough to participate for many years and we appreciate their commitment to helping homeless animals find loving homes. We are grateful for their support more than we can say. As you know we are over full right now so this event is a great time to come in and adopt. We will have reduced adoption fees for dogs and cats. The event runs from May 1 to May 15.

Closed From 5/5 - 9/2: Intersection of S Main St & 8th St

Beginning Monday, May 5, the intersection of South Main Street and East 8th Street in Downtown Columbia will be temporarily closed through September 2 for construction of the Thurgood Marshall Roundabout. This project will improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety while honoring Columbia’s legacy in the Civil Rights Movement. A statue of Justice Thurgood Marshall, donated by the Columbia Peace & Justice Initiative, will stand at the center of the roundabout as a lasting tribute.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, May 1st

Madison Hughes, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Anthony Michael, McCreary’s, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Friday, May 2nd

Rob Harris, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
The Bird and The Bear, Buck & Board, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Yonder Grove, Grinder’s Switch, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
The Nature Project, McCreary’s, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
The Fletcher Brothers, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Rea Radick, The Mulehouse, 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 3rd

Kenny Durham & Crossbridges, Amber Falls Winery, 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Taylor Barton, Buck & Board, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreary’s, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Karli & James, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
The South Bond Crows, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Sunday, May 4th

Cliftones, Amber Falls Winery, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Reba’s Hairdo, Fozzy’s, 4:00 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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