Things to Do in Lawrenceburg

The Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce's Family Food Festival spotlights tasty local cuisine amid a spirited, family-friendly outdoor bash that helps support local food pantry The Well. Between bites of samples from area eateries such as Samboli's Pizzeria and Whisker's Catfish Restaurant, attendees can exercise thumbs at an arcade station and traverse an inflatable obstacle course, racing for glory against fellow guests or balloons twisted into cheetah shapes. To ensure safety, all children's activities are held under professional supervision.

When Franklin On Foot founder and guide Margie Thessin discusses the Civil War’s impact on Franklin, she shuns dry textbook summaries. Instead, she gathers groups before historic homes and battle sites, and she explains, “The war happened here. The people who lived here– this war was their 9/11. This was their Pearl Harbor.” Suddenly, she sees sets of eyes light up, as minds make the leap from musty tomes and texts to the people who lived¬—and fought and died—where they now stand 150 years ago.

To make history relevant, Ms. Thessin humanizes it, honing in on the famous and lesser-known people who shaped Franklin and the struggles they faced to do so. In that spirit, she seeks out guides who are not only passionate about history but possess a natural knack for storytelling.

In keeping with her commitment to orchestrate vivid tours, Ms. Thessin conducts them by bike or on foot. “You get so much from a place by walking it instead of looking out a window of a bus—you may as well fly at 32,000 feet,” she says. Small groups of sightseers stroll or if preferred, Charleston across the downtown area or expand their tour’s scope by cruising on one of Franklin On Foot’s 24-speed Fuji bikes.

Throughout the eight-week summer session, the School of Nashville Ballet offers a variety of dance classes for people of all skill levels. Experience is not necessary for the classes, which are all taught by professional instructors. Dance styles covered in classes include jazz dance, hip-hop, contemporary, or tap. The modern and fusion Pilates fitness-dance classes are open for all who wish to get in shape and groove at the same time, while ballet-minded individuals can choose from several options. The intro-to-ballet class teaches the basics, and intermediate and advanced ballet classes help students hone their skills and master tricky maneuvers. Beginners are encouraged to attend classes early in the session, as instruction will progress throughout the season. Check the schedule and call the School of Nashville Ballet for specific information on class availability.

Throughout the week, Ebonite Galaxy Lanes offers a spectrum of entertainment options in the forms of 32 synthetic bowling surfaces, arcade games, live DJ performances, and an outdoor volleyball court. The alley also hosts an onsite snack bar that fuels guests with bubbling pizzas while they enjoy recreational rivalries, league nights, or live broadcasts of slot-car races every Sunday. At the in-house watering hole, Front Row Sports Bar, live DJs spin digital discs and host karaoke every Thursday through Saturday.

Since 1998, ProCamps Worldwide has bridged the gap between pro athletes and their fans with a variety of instructional youth camps and fantasy camps for adults. More than 100 professional and Olympic gold-medal athletes have lent their wisdom during camps conducted across the country. For instance, the NBA's leading scorer, Kevin Durant, dishes details on his skills at a camp in Oklahoma, and Super Bowl champion and Packers linebacker Clay Matthews teaches the careful choreography of backfield disruption in Wisconsin. At fantasy camps, John Calipari and Bill Self—the two coaches who squared off in 2012's NCAA title game—give campers tours of their programs' hallowed halls.

In two theaters, Sapphire Motion Pictures projects current movies from booths equipped with 3-D image and digital sound technology. As new pictures emerge from Hollywood, Sapphire casts a line to snag the films and project them inside state-of-the-art theaters. Each theater also sells snacks from the concession booth to complement the movie-watching experience and feed the giant humans that act out scenes inside the screen.