Things to Do in Manchester

Night has chased the light out of the sky, forcing the lone figure weaving in and out of the towering corn stalks to slice through the darkness with a flashlight. The evening’s silence is broken by an eerie noise that causes the figure to break into a frantic run, but his escape is thwarted as his friends leap out of the corn into his path, giggling and hooting, “You weren’t scared, were you?!” This is not a scene from a horror movie, but instead from Shuckle's Corn Maze’s Maze by Flashlight event, which dares visitors to navigate the almost 7-acre maze with only a flashlight to illuminate their path. Dedicated to delighting visitors with family-friendly activities, Shuckle’s staff welcomes guests of all ages to spend the day celebrating autumn’s arrival.

On any given fall day, the staffers usher intrepid explorers into the maze to maneuver the numerous twists, turns, and vengeful mutant corncobs therein. The Kiddie Safari mini maze grants youngsters a chance to tackle an age-appropriate labyrinth, and events such as hayrides, face painting, and bouncy pony-hop races unleash the inner children of all those who participate. The pumpkin patch's rotund inhabitants eagerly await the moment they’ll be scooped up and taken home to a new family, while audiences nestled in the Ho-Hum theater shimmy along with an ever-changing roster of musicians belting out bluegrass, country, and gospel tunes.

When Nashville Demo Studio speaks of its team of hit songwriters and industry professionals, it is no idle boast. Company president and showbiz veteran Jimi Whitelaw oversees a staff that includes Will Rambeaux—who has worked for Faith Hill, Trick Pony, and American Idol—and Billy Montana, whose recent collaborators include Lee Greenwood, Kenny Chesney, and Martina McBride. The studio also supplies instrumentation, vocals, and recording opportunities while leaving copyright ownership and distribution rights firmly in their clients’ hands. Though the stable of musicians skews to Southern-fried genres, they can also ably handle pop, R & B, and countrified interpretations of whale calls. All services are available both in person and online via Skype.

The retreating sun paints the waters of the Tennessee River with golden streaks of light, beckoning the _Southern Belle_’s passengers onto her breezy decks to take in the resplendent evening. Making daily jaunts along the Tennessee Valley, the three-story riverboat evokes the majesty of days gone by with her snowy white exterior and elegantly appointed interior that includes a dining room, dance floor, and a crew of old-timey ghost captains. Staffed by friendly crew members, the boat regularly pushes off from Pier 2 for a daily lineup of lunch, dinner, and sightseeing cruises. Along with everyday tours, the majestic vessel also plays host to a variety of special events, from festive Thanksgiving cruises to elegant weddings and exciting school trips. Back on the dock, Pier 2, a stationary boat that functions as the _Southern Belle_’s docking facility, bustles with events ranging from teas to high-school reunions, while chefs in the 3rd Deck Burger Bar grill up succulent patties for hungry visitors.

Jose Santisteban’s artistic path has been paved with glass. He began working with it as an artistic medium in 1999 and, after earning his master of fine arts in glass sculpture in New York, chased his passion to locales around the country and globe.

Today, Jose shares his love of this ancient art at Franklin Glassblowing Studio. During lessons that focus on the basic skills of glass blowing, he demonstrates how the material can be used for more than just windows and temporary houses. Students then put theory into practice, flexing their creative muscles to create personalized keepsakes from scratch. When not hosting classes, Jose and others at the studio design their own glassy pieces, including lighting and home decor.

Live goats scamper across a verdant vista dotted with farmhouses and open prairies at Lady-K Farm, a working dairy farm. Its owner, Karen, spends much of her days shepherding the farm's goats. She supplies bottles of their milk for local families and also uses it to create fresh-smelling bars of natural soap. In addition to wrapping bars in pristine packaging for wholesale, Karen has taught soap-making classes for 15 years to help others harness the milk's skin-softening benefits. Karen also sponsors an annual Goat Husbandry Conference to teach prospective goat owners how to care for the animals, especially when they dress in sheep’s fur in blundered searches for their own identities.