Nothing to do? Let’s talk about that . . .

I usually write my columns for a general audience, but today I want to talk to a specific group: people who think there’s nothing to do in Lawrence County.

The truth is that there are a lot of things to do here, and lots of special events in the coming weeks. You can attend an antique tractor show, baseball games, concerts, a downtown festival, theater performances, and a living history event – not necessarily in that order. There’s something to fit most every interest, and pocketbook.

This weekend Steve and Lisa Grigsby are hosting a two-day music festival at their farm/event venue on Brier Hill Road in Ethridge. Headliners are Corn Potato String Band (Friday the 21st) and Blue Mother Tupelo (Saturday the 22nd). Other performers include Lawrence County’s Shellie Moore Evans and T-Bone Daniels, Muscle Shoals’ Scott Boyer and N.C. Thurman, and One Hand Dan, who plays a cigar box guitar.

The event will also feature arts & crafts and BBQ. You can camp on the property and pay one price to stay and attend Friday and Saturday’s concerts. Find out more at BrierHillFarm.com.

Main Street Lawrenceburg’s annual James D. Vaughan Quartet Festival is set for Wednesday, July 26 through Saturday, July 29. Nightly concerts feature some of the biggest names in gospel including the Chuck Wagon Gang, The Blackwood Brothers, Mark Trammell Quartet, and the Dixie Melody Boys. Local group The Kellys will get the show underway each night.

This event draws hundreds of Southern Gospel Music fans from all over, and many will buy tickets for next year’s concerts while they’re here. The festival offers free matinees at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. All are held at the historic Crockett Theatre. Learn more at MainStreetLawrenceburgTN.com.

I have written about the Bicentennial festival before, but it bears repeating. Saturday, August 5 begins with a 5K at 7:30 a.m. Downtown merchants are planning special promotions throughout the day. At 4 p.m., 30+ vendors will set up around the square with food, merchandise and information. Music on the square also begins at 4 p.m. and at 7, performers from JB Tumble and Art of Dance take the stage.

The John Paul White concert begins at the Crockett Theatre at 7 p.m. He grew up here and performed several times there with local bands, but he hasn’t been on that stage in 20 years. During those years he has been a songwriter for EMI, one-half of the Grammy-winning Civil Wars, and helped start the record label Single Lock Records. He will bring his band and perform songs from his new solo album, Beulah. You can purchase tickets at JohnPaulWhite.com.

Wednesday, August 9 is the kickoff for the 15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series, which Lawrence County is hosting after a very successful turn at it in 2015. For $5, you can attend the opening celebration at the LCHS gym at 6:30 that evening. Former Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher Scotty McGregor is scheduled to speak, and all team members will be introduced.

And if you want to see some good baseball, attend any or all of the games during the following week. Our own Babe Ruth All-Stars will be playing, along with East Tennessee Champions from Lewisburg and eight other teams that are champs in their part of the country: the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, New England, Southwest, Pacific Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Midwest Plains, and Ohio Valley.

The weekend of August 11-13 will be dedicated to our most familiar former resident, David Crockett. Re-enactors who portray people from frontier times will come to our state park for their annual “rendezvous.” For three days, they will live and work as Crockett did, with amazing attention to detail.

You cannot miss these living historians when you drive through the park. You’re encouraged to walk through their encampment, and attend demonstrations of frontier skills. Watch this newspaper for a complete schedule of events.

On August 12 and 13, members of the Lawrenceburg Community Theater are celebrating Lawrence County’s Bicentennial with performances from “Gentleman from the Cane.” Local teacher and author Dolly Leighton wrote the musical, based on Crockett’s life while he lived here.

The play was first performed in 1970 and most recently, 2013. Members representing every cast are preparing for this year‘s event, which combines live performance and a multi-media presentation. You can see it at the Crockett Theatre, free of charge, on Saturday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m., or Sunday August 13 at 3 p.m. You can also learn more at Lawrenceburg Community Theater’s Facebook page.

August 18-19 will bring the Crossroads of Dixie Antique Tractor and Engine Club’s annual Tractor Show to Rotary Park. This event draws tractor owners and enthusiasts from hundreds of miles around, but you don’t have to travel far at all to enjoy it.

Acres of antique tractors and engines will be on display in the park, restored to their original - or better - condition. Owners are always nearby and eager to talk about their hobby. Both days also feature events that test tractor power and driver skill, or that give owners an opportunity to drive their favorite toys in front of an audience. Go to CrossroadsOfDixie.com for more details.

I hope everyone can attend at least one of these events. They’re all unique to Lawrence County, but will bring plenty of folks here from outside our borders. Join them and be proud of this place we call home. Oh, and have a little fun while you’re at it.