MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) – The 24th Annual Earth Day Celebration hosted by Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) turned out to be a shining success, despite initial concerns about the weather. Organizers had prepared for rain, but the day unfolded with perfect sunshine and temperatures in the low 70s, creating an ideal setting for the festivities on Murfreesboro’s historic downtown square on Saturday, April 26.

Under the theme “Our Power. Our Planet,” the event drew hundreds of community members eager to celebrate sustainability and clean energy. Families explored booths showcasing MTE’s initiatives, including TreeWise and ProSolar, as well as energy efficiency tips and the EnergyHub trailer. The EV Car Club was a highlight, while MTE’s vegetation management team handed out 1,000 crepe myrtle seedlings, delighting attendees.

The Kids Zone was a hub of activity, offering inflatables, yard games, and interactive exhibits courtesy of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation and the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center. A scavenger hunt kept participants engaged, with winners entered into a prize drawing.

Live entertainment added to the festive atmosphere, featuring performances by Steel De Boro, Everybody Drum Some, Olivia Frances, and QuarterLife. Attendees enjoyed complimentary refreshments provided by MTE and Kroger, ensuring everyone had the energy to fully enjoy the day.

Local vendors contributed to the event’s success, hosting earth-conscious booths with valuable information and sustainable products. Additionally, the Rutherford County Library System Bookmobile and high school FFA programs offered enriching experiences, including plant sales to support student initiatives.

A special moment of the day was the announcement of the 2025 Earth Day Celebration Poster Contest winners, showcasing the creativity and talent of local students whose artwork reflected this year’s theme.

MTE’s Jay Sanders said they're honored to be the primary organizer and sponsor of the event, which will celebrate 25-years next year: 

Special thanks were extended to Amy Byers, the event committee chair and MTE’s marketing and public relations coordinator, as well as the hardworking staff and volunteers who made this event so memorable. Their dedication and effort ensured the day ran smoothly and successfully.

With worries about rain long forgotten, the 2025 Earth Day Celebration was a picture-perfect day filled with joy, learning, and a united commitment to protecting the planet.

WGNS and Big G TV's Bryan Barrett went to Earth Day to bring you some of the sights and sounds

PREVOUSLY REPORTED

MURFREESBORO, TN - Bring the whole family and join Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Murfreesboro’s historic downtown square for the 24th Annual Earth Day Celebration. Rutherford County’s Earth Day Celebration aims to educate and mobilize the community into action with this year’s theme of “Our Power. Our Planet,” focusing on the importance of harnessing clean energy to build a sustainable future and emphasizing the collective “power” of individuals and communities to make a positive impact on the planet.
 
“When we come together and take meaningful steps to make a positive impact on our beautiful planet, we can make a big difference,” said Amy Byers, 2025 Earth Day Celebration committee chair and MTE’s marketing and public relations coordinator. “This is a fun, free and educational event that we look forward to each year, and we want to encourage our neighbors and community to come out and celebrate with us.”

MTE will have booths with information about the TreeWise and ProSolar programs, energy efficiency, member service and more, along with the EV Car Club and the EnergyHub trailer.  The vegetation management team will be giving away 1,000 crepe myrtle seedlings, and MTE’s senior leadership team and board members will be present to engage with the community and answer any questions members may have.
 
Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation and the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center are partnering to offer a free Kids Zone. The Kids Zone is geared for children of all ages and will feature an inflatable, yard games and hands-on activities. There will also be a scavenger hunt for all ages; everyone who completes the scavenger hunt will be entered into a drawing to win one of several great prizes. 

The entertainment lineup includes Steel De Boro at 10 a.m., Everybody Drum Some at 11 a.m., Olivia Frances at noon and QuarterLife at 1 p.m. Attendees can enjoy complimentary refreshments and food provided by MTE and Kroger. Rutherford County Solid Waste, Murfreesboro Water Resources, MTE and the Stones River Watershed Association will give away 400 insulated bags, available at MTE’s member services booth while supplies last.
 
In addition to exploring earth-conscious booths hosted by local organizations and craft vendors selling local and organic products, attendees can visit the Rutherford County Library System Bookmobile. Students from Siegel and Blackman High Schools’ FFA organizations will be selling plants. To learn more about participating booths, visit facebook.com/RCEarthDay.
 
The 2025 Earth Day Celebration Poster Contest winners will be announced at 11:45 a.m., and the winning posters will be on display. Students were asked to design a poster demonstrating this year’s theme.  The contest is sponsored by Murfreesboro Water Resources, Rutherford County: Solid Waste, MaxShred, Consolidated Utility District and MTE.
 
As a zero-waste and free event, we are committed to reducing waste while maintaining a high-quality experience for all attendees. This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: Middle Tennessee Electric, Rutherford County Solid Waste, Murfreesboro Water Resources, the Tennessee Valley Authority, MaxShred, the Davey Tree Expert Company, Recycle Rutherford, the Stones River Watershed Association, and Clark Iron & Metal. In case of rain, the event will be relocated to Sports*Com at 2310 Memorial Blvd. in Murfreesboro. For more details, please visit RCEarthDay.com.

About Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) - Founded in 1936, MTE is the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest in the United States, serving more than 750,000 Tennesseans via 340,000+ accounts covering nearly 2,200 square miles in 11 Middle Tennessee counties, primarily Rutherford, Cannon, Williamson and Wilson. Municipalities served include Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, Smyrna, La Vergne, Lebanon and Mt. Juliet. MTE employs around 530 people in six local offices and its Murfreesboro headquarters. 
   
MTE’s subsidiary, United Communications, is a nationally recognized broadband company with a fiber network spanning more than 4,800 route miles, providing high-speed internet and other services to portions of Williamson, Rutherford, Maury, Marshall, Bedford, Franklin, Wilson and Davidson counties. 

For more information, please visit www.mte.com.