Tennessee State Fair, which runs through Sept. 18, features midway rides, motorsports, music, contests, a lumberjack show, acrobats, a celebrity cow milking contest and even a Banana Derby (monkeys riding dogs). Information: tennesseestatefair.org.

Thursday, Sept. 15

Live on the Green

Live on the Green’s third season continues with Los Lonely Boys and Rumba. The performance is the second in a free six-week concert series taking place Thursday nights through Oct. 13 at Public Square Park (Metro Courthouse). Shows start at 6 p.m. Information: liveonthegreen.net.
Additional shows:
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

Insurance ‘Lunch and Learn’

In honor of National Insurance Awareness Month, New York Life will hold a “lunch and learn” session regarding health, life insurance, long term care, annuities, pensions, 401k and Roth IRA rollovers hosted By Timothy Lee and Jerre Maynor with New York Life. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Gordon Jewish Community Center, 801 Percy Warner Boulevard. Information: 500-7992, [email protected].

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17

Tour de Bottoms

The 2nd annual bike ride and walk benefiting the Epilepsy Foundation Middle and West Tennessee will be held at Shelby Bottoms, 7:30 a.m. Registration (bike ride, $30, walk, $25, 12 and younger free), includes an official Tour de Bottoms T-shirt, food and entertainment. Information: epilepsytn.org, 269-7091, 800 244-0768.

Dog Day Festival

The Music City Mutt Strutt kicks off this day-long event at Centennial Park, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. With a goal of raising $40,000 through dog walk participants, prizes such as a weekend trip to Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400 and Brickfest, a Nashville weekend package, and a “Love your Pup” package will be up for grabs for those who raise the most money. The top fundraiser’s pooch will even earn the title of “Nashville’s Top Dog” and be pictured on all promotional materials for Dog Day 2012. Information: nashvillehumane.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.

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.

Heroes in Recovery 6K

Run/walk begins at 8 a.m. in Leiper’s Fork to raise awareness for the 22 million Americans who battle addictions. The unusual race length is a nod to the extra lengths gone to by those in recovery and the idea that no one is on that very personal journey alone. Registration is $25 through Sept. 3, $30 Sept. 4-16, $35 on race day, with online registration and information available at heroesinrecovery6k.com through Sept. 15.

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.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 20

International Business Council Breakfast

Kiichiro Sato, president, JETRO New York, is the guest speaker for a discussion of the economic impact of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Other panelists include Hiroshi Sato, consul-general of Japan in Nashville, Keisuke Honda, general manager, Mitsui Corporate Planning, New York, and moderator Eduardo Minardi, IBC board chairman and COO, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; chairman, CEO and president, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC. 8-10 a.m., AT&T Auditorium, 333 Commerce Street. Advance registration: $15 Chamber members; $30 future members. Information: web.nashvillechamber.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21

Association of Fundraising Professionals

Lewis Levine, President of the Center for Nonprofit Management, will present “Tips and Trends for Middle Tennessee’s Current Philanthropic Environment” at The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Nashville Chapter’s monthly meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Second Harvest Food Bank, 331 Great Circle Road. Information: afpnashville.org.

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.

Making Your Wishes Known

Staff from Saint Thomas Hospital and Baptist Hospital will host “Making Your Wishes Known,” a free community event offering assistance and direction on how to effectively prepare advance medical directives, such as a power of attorney for health care or a living will. 5:30-7 p.m., Saint Thomas Hospital’s first floor conference dining room. Information: 284-5446, [email protected].

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 at hon.org. Information: 298-1108, ext. 110.

Oktoberfest Celebration

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Montessori School holds its seventh annual Oktoberfest Celebration, noon-4 p.m. on the church grounds, 525 Sneed Road, Nashville. Authentic German-American lunch will be served, for $5/adult and $3/child, with children 3 and younger eating free. Games, contests and German music, as well as hay rides, a bake sale, face painting and inflatables. Information: 673-6289, holytrinitynashville.com.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27

ACEC, TSPE Breakfast

Congresswoman Diane Black will be the featured speaker at the joint breakfast meeting of the Nashville Chapters of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee (ACEC) and of the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). Congressman Black will discuss “How What Congress Does Affects Tennessee.” 7:30-9 a.m., Tennessee Engineering Center, 800 Fort Negley Boulevard, Nashville. Pre-registration is required by Sept. 21. Information: [email protected], 370-8410.

Chamber Issue Insights Coffee

Join the Chamber and the Nashville Downtown Partnership to learn more about Nashville’s draft downtown signage code. Representatives from Tolleson-McCoy, a local environmental graphic design consultant for the process, lead consultant Code Studio, and the Metro Planning Department will lead discussion about the draft code, provide insight into how the specific standards were generated and compare existing downtown signage to allowances under the proposed draft code. Advance registration is required. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3083.

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.

TUESDAY, OCT. 4

Bulletproof Documentation for Employers

Business owners, managers and HR representatives are invited to join Kim Vance for this discussion. In this session, you will learn how to develop a process of documentation to protect your company. Presented by Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3115.