Celebrate the final days of summer at Montgomery County Parks and Recreation's first Back to School Splash on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Civitan Park, 350 Bellamy Lane. This free, community-wide event is designed to bring families together for one last splash before the new school year begins. 

Guests can cool off with a variety of exciting water attractions on the Lacrosse Field, including giant water inflatables, a toddler splash zone, and a foam party running from noon to 3 p.m. 

One of the day's highlights is the Reverse Water Parade, taking place from 1 to 2 p.m. in the parking lot. Instead of watching floats roll by,  attendees will walk a designated route past stationary emergency and public service vehicles from the Montgomery County Fire Department, Montgomery County EMS, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery County Highway Department. As families make their way through the parade, each vehicle will spray water, creating a fun and refreshing way for everyone to beat the summer heat.  

The fun continues with a Balloon Battle at 2 p.m. for participants ages 8 and older. No registration is required—just bring your enthusiasm and get ready for a friendly water balloon showdown.

Food trucks will also be on site throughout the event with food available for purchase, including Bondi Bowls, Doodles Panini, Pop and Dogs, and Fross Boss, making it easy for families to enjoy lunch while spending the day at the park. 

The Back to School Splash is free and open to the public, offering the perfect opportunity for families to make lasting summer memories before heading back to the classroom. 

For more information, follow Montgomery County TN Parks and Recreation on Facebook or visit montgomerytn.gov/parks. 

Get ready for a night of music, motorcycles, and community spirit as Montgomery County Parks and Recreation presents the next Downtown @ Sundown concert, featuring Kid Kentucky, a Kid Rock tribute band, on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the Downtown Commons. 

Before the concert, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, Bikers Who Care, YAIPak, and Appleton Harley-Davidson are teaming up for a Mini Toy Run to help spread holiday joy to children in need. 

Mini Toy Run Details: 

• Kickstands up at 6:00 PM from Appleton Harley-Davidson (2501 Hwy 41A, Clarksville). 
• Riders will travel down Hwy 41-A to Riverside Drive, turn right on Commerce St, then left onto 3rd St, arriving at Downtown Commons. 
• All donated toys will go to YAIPak to help bring Christmas cheer to local children this holiday season. 
• Not a rider? Bring a toy donation directly to the Downtown @ Sundown concert! YAIPak will be on-site to collect the toys. 
• Motorcycles will arrive around 6:45 pm, and live music will begin at 7:00 pm, featuring a Kid Rock tribute band, Kid Kentucky. 

The evening will feature a variety of delicious food and drink options. Beer and other beverages will be available for purchase, with the following food trucks set up on Main Street: 

• Kadi’s Tacos 
• Fryz Wit Dat 
• Burgasm 
• E’s Squeezed Lemonade 
• L.A. Street Dogs 

The Downtown @ Sundown Concert Series is free and open to the public, running select Fridays from May through October. Bring your chairs and blankets for a night under the stars, but please leave pets, coolers, smoking/vaping products, and outside alcohol at home. 

Downtown @ Sundown is proudly brought to you by Tristar Beverage Clarksville. For more information and the full 2026 concert lineup, visit Montgomery County Parks and Recreation. 

Photo Credit: ClarksvilleNow; The 41st Annual Bikers Who Care Toy Run to support Camp Rainbow and BWC Children's Charities on Sep. 17, 2022. (Lee Erwin) 

We are buzzing with excitement in Montgomery County! On Tuesday, August 18, the Imagination Library of Montgomery County (ILMC) Bee-Lieve in Literacy: Adult Spelling Bee Showdown will once again take center stage at the Customs House Museum, 200 S. 2nd Street. The event begins with a reception and silent auction at 5 p.m. and the spelling bee kicking off at 6 p.m.

Local teams will compete for the coveted title of Ultimate Spellers of Montgomery County, but spelling is only part of the fun. Team spirit counts, too, so expect costumes, chants, and sound effects. To keep the competition lively, attendees can even influence the judges, adding another layer of fun to the competition.

Leading this year's hive of supporters is the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville, returning as the event's Queen Bee Sponsor with a generous $12,000 contribution, reflecting the club's longstanding commitment to early literacy. 

“The Imagination Library of Montgomery County, like Kiwanis, supports the advancement of literacy and quality of life for children from birth until they turn five, which helps them learn and be better prepared for school,” said Larry Schmidt, president of the Clarksville Kiwanis Club of Clarksville. “We are honored to once again be the lead sponsor for the Spelling Bee fundraiser that puts thousands of books into the hands of children every month.”

This year's judges are former County Mayor Jim Durrett, radio host Lee Irwin, and Economic Development Council Project Manager Janet Wilson, who will be watching spelling closely while remaining open to a few sweet "financial incentives" along the way - all for children's books, of course. 

Keeping the evening buzzing are emcees Kimberly Wiggins, County Trustee, known for her sharp wit and community involvement, and Kevin Kennedy, nationally recognized on TikTok and locally known as the face of The Kennedy Law Firm. 

Tickets are for those 21 and older and can be purchased through the QR code below. To become a sponsor, get printed tickets, or support the ILMC, contact event co-chairs Julie Runyon at [email protected] or Michelle Newell at [email protected] .

Every dollar raised helps provide free books each month to local children from birth to age five, building early literacy skills, home libraries, and a lifelong love of reading.

Whether you're competing, sponsoring a team, bidding in the silent auction, or cheering from the audience, the Bee-Lieve in Literacy: Adult Spelling Bee Showdown promises an unforgettable evening of laughter, friendly competition, and community generosity —all to help give every child the opportunity to begin school ready to succeed.

About the Imagination Library of Montgomery County: The Imagination Library of Montgomery County provides free, high-quality books each month to more than 9,000 local children from birth to age five, fostering early literacy and a lifelong love of reading through the generosity of community partners, donors, and volunteers.

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Last Edited: July 01, 2026 @ 7:02 pm

Montgomery County Government offices will be closed beginning at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 2, in observance of the Independence Day holiday due to increased traffic, road closures, and event equipment moving throughout the downtown area. All County offices will reopen on Monday, July 6, during normal operating hours. Please check with individual departments for specific service changes during holiday hours. Public safety services will continue as usual.

As you celebrate, remember to thank the first responders, public safety personnel, and event staff working hard to keep the festivities safe and running smoothly. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Independence Day as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

For online services available through Montgomery County Government, visit the GOV tab at montgomerytn.gov.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of National Safety Month, recognized each June by the National Safety Council, the Montgomery County Risk Management Department, in partnership with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, hosted a Safety Training Day at Civic Hall focused on practical, hands-on learning to strengthen employee safety awareness, preparedness, and situational response.

Organized by Montgomery County Director of Risk Management, Jennifer Hood, the training brought together more than 50 Montgomery County employees from 22 departments for instruction led by Sheriff's Office trainers. Participants learned safety skills, effective communication, and de-escalation techniques to help them respond confidently in workplace and public-facing situations.

Sheriff’s Office instructors Patricia Patterson and David Corder, guided by Mark Wojnarek, led demonstrations and exercises on essential law enforcement tools, techniques, and safety procedures, including the use of Tasers, OC spray, batons, de-escalation scenarios, and correctional emergency response equipment.

• A conducted energy device (Taser) demonstration, with participants observing and engaging in a controlled training exercise.
• An oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray overview to illustrate its effects and appropriate use.
• Baton training demonstrations using padded equipment to demonstrate impact and safety considerations.
• Interactive de-escalation scenarios that allowed participants to practice communication and decision-making strategies in challenging situations.
• A display of correctional emergency response equipment, with explanations of its purpose and use within correctional facilities.

Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions throughout the session, gaining insight into how law enforcement professionals evaluate situations and apply safety protocols in the field.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of hands-on learning of safety concepts to help employees better understand the realities of decision-making under pressure.

“Hands-on training like this gives employees a clearer understanding of safety tools and techniques while reinforcing how important communication and awareness are in preventing escalation, and our strong partnership with the Sheriff’s Office allows us to offer valuable, real-world perspectives that support our workforce in a meaningful way,” said Ginger Hood, from the Montgomery County Risk Management Department.

This Safety Day Training demonstrates Montgomery County’s commitment to employee readiness by offering real-world safety strategies that provide staff with practical skills to respond effectively to emergencies. 

For more about the Montgomery County Safety and Risk Management Department, visit https://montgomerytn.gov/risk-management.