Watkins ‘Conversation’ Faculty Show. Watkins College of Art, Design & Film presents Conversation, a mixed media exhibit featuring works from faculty artists Shepherd Alligood, Dan Brawner and Ron Lambert, from today through Sept. 9 in the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery on campus. The exhibit’s opening reception today, 5:30-8 p.m, is free and open to the public. Currey Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Admission is free. Information: watkins.edu, 277-7403.

AUG. 25-26

Engineering Conference

More than 100 professional engineers will gather in Franklin at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs for the Joint Annual Meeting of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee (ACEC) and the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). Bob Martineau, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, will be the event’s opening speaker. John Schroer, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, will be the keynote speaker at the Tennessee Engineering Foundation Luncheon. Information: 242-2486, [email protected].

FRIDAY, AUG. 26

Moonlight Festival Metaphysical Fair

Symmetry will host an evening of free workshops, local vendors and metaphysical services at its upcoming Moonlight Festival Metaphysical Fair with a theme of “Intuition and Divination.” This free event is 7-11 p.m. at 212 Louise Avenue and open to the public. Symmetry is a holistic wellness and spiritual arts center. Information: 321-4040, centerofsymmetry.com.

SEPT. 3-4

22nd Annual Franklin Jazz Festival

The festival has the distinction of being not one of the longest-running and best jazz festivals in the Southeast. In addition to providing musical entertainment and food, the festival helps to raise awareness and money for the non-profit organization GEAR foundation. The 2010 festival drew an estimated 10,000 people for the two-day event. 6-10 p.m. both nights in downtown Franklin. Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the gate. Information: TNeventinfo.com.

MONDAY, SEPT. 5

VFW Labor Day Barbecue

VFW Post 1970, 7220 Charlotte Pk., will be have its annual Labor Day barbecue beginning at 11 a.m. Plates are $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 and younger. Also featured: Auction, cakewalk. Information: 352-9933.

Thursday, Sept. 8

Live on the Green

Live on the Green’s third season begins with a unique collaboration between Nashville-based artist K.S. Rhoads and the Nashville Symphony. The performance is the first in a free, six-week concert series taking place Thursday nights through Oct. 13 at Public Square Park (Metro Courthouse). The show starts at 6 p.m. with performances by Will Hoge and other local opening acts. Information: liveonthegreen.net. Additional shows:

Sept. 15: Los Lonely Boys; Rumba

Sept. 22: Robert Randolph & The Family Band; The Dirty Guv’nahs; Moon Taxi

Sept. 29: Ten Out of Tenn; Edwin McCain

Oct. 6: Brett Dennen; Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

Oct. 13: Here Come the Mummies

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10

27th Annual Fairview Nature Fest

This one-day, park-wide, family festival will celebrate the important role nature plays in our lives. A highlight on this year’s festival will be a demonstration by the Sons of Confederate Veterans re-enactors. The festival will also kick off the opening of the “1861 Civil War” exhibit in Bowie Nature Center, on loan from the Tennessee State Library. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 799-9290, fairviewchamber.org.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17

Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society

James Taulman, vice president of MTGS and genealogical researcher, will speak on “How to Publish Your Genealogicial Research.” 1 p.m., FiftyForward Knowles Center, 174 Rains Ave. Information, mtgs.org.

Hustle for the House

5K race and 1-Mile fun run to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville. The race begins and ends at the Nashville Ronald McDonald House, 2144 Fairfax Ave., and follows a scenic, certified route through the Hillsboro-West End neighborhood. Participants are welcome to run in their favorite disco attire. Information: firstgiving.com/rmhcnashville/hustleforthehouse. Only pre-registered participants are guaranteed a T-shirt. T-shirts for day-of-race registrants are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

MONDAY, SEPT. 19

GNAR New Member Orientation

Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, 4540 Trousdale Drive, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For GNAR applicants only, who must attend new member orientation in the GNAR classroom within three months of application. Lunch provided. Information: gnar.org, 254-7516.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22

Realtors Convention & Trade Show

The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Middle Tennessee Realtors Convention & Trade Show is set for the Nashville Convention Center. Realtors from throughout the Greater Nashville/Middle Tennessee region will gather for the event, which includes professional development sessions, informative presentations, a full trade show and a variety of other valuable components. 2-8 p.m. Information: 254-7516, gnar.org.

Saturday, Sept. 24

20th annual Hands On Nashville Day

The event is Nashville’s largest annual day of service to public schools and is presented in partnership with Grainger. Hands On Nashville and more than 1,200 volunteers will participate in improvement projects such as painting, landscaping and cleaning across the city at Metro Nashville Public Schools. A $25 donation per participant is suggested, and all volunteers receive a T-shirt and invitation to the post-work CMT One Country Celebration. All funds raised are tax-deductible and assist Hands On Nashville in connecting volunteers with more than 400 Middle Tennessee nonprofits, government agencies and schools each year. 8 a.m.-noon. CMT One Country Celebration, noon-2 p.m. Lunch, entertainment and prizes will be provided. Registration: Beginning Sept. 1 at hon.org. Information: 298-1108, ext. 110.

SEPT. 30-OCT. 1

‘Handmade & Bound’ Festival of Book Arts

Artists’ books, zines and comics will be celebrated at the book arts festival. All events are free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Watkins Library, the festival will launch with a juried book arts and zine exhibition titled Encoded Structures: Interpreting the Story, on display beginning Sept. 30 on campus in the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery. The exhibition runs through Oct. 28. Also on Sept. 30 is a screening of the award-winning 2004 documentary “$100 and a T-shirt,” a cultural analysis of the zine community directed by Joe Biel. The film (51 min.) will be shown in the Watkins Theater, 8:00 p.m. Oct. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., creators of artists’ books, publishers and distributors of zines and comics, and book lovers will come together to sell, trade or buy handmade and affordable publications and creations. The day will feature activities for children and adults, such as printmaking, papermaking, book- and zine-making and screenprinting, as well as local bands and a wide variety of food trucks. Information: 277-7403, handmadeboundnashville.com.

SEPT. 8-9

Nashville Predators Brent Peterson Celebrity Golf Classic

Join the Nashville Predators and Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s (PFP) for the inaugural Nashville Predators Brent Peterson Celebrity Golf Classic and Petey’s Preds Party. This event gives attendees the opportunity to raise money for The Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s. Petey’s Preds Party takes place Sept. 8, 6-9 p.m., on the floor of Bridgestone Arena. This event features dinner, live entertainment, a world-class auction and the opportunity to mingle with Nashville Predators players, coaches and other celebrities. The all-day Celebrity Golf Classic will follow on Sept. 9 at Vanderbilt Legends Club. Information: nashvillepredators.com/golf, 770-2321.

SATURDAY, OCT. 1

Nashville Beer Festival

The Festival will feature more than 60 macro and micro breweries and home brew clubs and their beers, along with cuisine from some of Nashville’s most popular restaurants. The primary charity partner is Second Harvest Food Bank. Riverfront Park, 1-6 p.m. Tickets: $30. Information: nashvillebeerfestival.com.

River Swing

The fundraising party to benefit the Harpeth River Watershed Association is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Pontotoc farm, 1407 Old Hillsboro Road in Williamson County. Tickets: $100 per person before Sept. 9, $125 after. Information: harpethriver.org/riverswing.

OCT. 16-17

Battle of Franklin Re-enactment

The Battle of Franklin 147th Anniversary Re-enactment, formerly known as Civil War Days, is set for the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. Visitors will get a glimpse into the life of a soldier during the Battle of Franklin, which was fought on November 30, 1864. This year’s event will be twice the size of last year with a battlefield twice as large and double the number of re-enactors (approximately 700). The Battle of Franklin resulted in approximately 10,000 casualties over the course of five hours in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.

ONGOING

Through Sunday

Shaker Collection at Frist

Gather Up the Fragments: The Andrews Shaker Collection, an exhibition featuring more than 200 objects, including furniture, drawings, household objects, textiles and baskets from one of the country’s most renowned Shaker collections, will be on view at the Frist Center’s for the Visual Arts. The exhibition is the largest, most comprehensive collection of Shaker material ever assembled. Information: 244-3340, fristcenter.org.