Gateway Chamber Orchestra to preform Holiday Favorite The Nutcraker
October 24, 2021
Clarksville, TN – Enjoy the holidays with the Gateway Chamber Orchestra as they announce their return to the stage with a modern interpretation of The Nutcracker.
In their first live audience performance since February 2020, the GCO presents the Tchaikovsky favorite with a Duke Ellington twist featuring special guest artists from the Nashville Ballet.
Gateway Chamber Orchestra Returns to the Stage with Holiday Performance of The Nutcracker on December 11th and 12th.
Roxy Regional Theatre tells the story of Harriet Tubman with “Freedom Train”, October 15th-23rd
October 7, 2021
Clarksville, TN – The thrilling story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad will come to life upon the stage of Clarksville’s oldest professional theatre, the Roxy Regional Theatre, this month.
Eboné Amos, assistant professor of African American Studies and Theatre and Dance at Austin Peay State University, stars as Harriet Tubman in “Freedom Train”, a play with music, at the Roxy Regional Theatre, beginning Friday, October 15th, at 8:00pm. In keeping with the theatre’s pay-what-you-can opening night tradition, all tickets not pre-sold at the regular price will go on sale at 7:30pm that evening for a $5.00 minimum donation.
Eboné Amos stars as Harriet Tubman in “Freedom Train” at the Roxy Regional Theatre, October 15th-23rd.
APSU this Week: Honoring Latino Military Heroes event coming on Tuesday
September 27, 2021
Clarksville, TN – On Tuesday, September 28th, 2021, the Latino Community Resource Center (LCRC) and the Military Student Center will host the second annual Honoring Latino Military Heroes event – a part of Latinx Heritage Month – at 3:00pm-4:00pm in the Morgan University Center (MUC) Ballroom.
Montgomery County Ranks 9th in Tennessee for Tourism Spending in 2020
September 24, 2021
Clarksville, TN – Clarksville-Montgomery County visitor spending outpaced the state and nation during 2020, despite a global pandemic.
Local tourism generated $252.14 million in domestic and international travel spending in 2020, a 28 percent decline from the previous year according to newly-released economic impact data from U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. Tourism spending decreased 32 percent in Tennessee and 42 percent in the nation in 2020.
A visiting family masks up at the TSSAA Middle Cross County State Finals held in Clarksville in October 2020. (Visit Clarksville)
During the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, last week Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell announced that Tennessee’s leisure and hospitality industry was on a record track the first two months of 2020. COVID-19 was the largest crisis to hit the leisure and hospitality industry in history.
“Tennessee proved our resiliency by outperforming the nation,” he said. “During April, May, and June [2021] our tax revenue is out-performing pre-COVID numbers. And from April 2020 through January 21, Tennessee is one of only seven states with a positive percentage change in consumer spending.”
The 2020 economic impact report used a new research model that provided international data at the county level, which had previously only been available at the state level, as well as more comprehensive lodging information using mobile data. The report also breaks down spending by industry sector for the first time. All county-level reporting was adjusted back to 2015 to incorporate the more thorough and detailed data.
Between 2015 and 2019, annual visitor spending in Montgomery County increased from $281 million to $352.5 million, a 25.4 percent increase, then decreased to $252 million in 2020. Average visitor spending in Montgomery County totaled just under $689,000 per day in 2020.
“We’ve experienced record-breaking growth in tourism during the previous five years,” said Visit Clarksville Board of Directors Chairman Matt Cunningham. “And we’ve not stopped marketing, so we’re well-positioned for a strong economic rebound. Like the state, we saw the beginnings of a big bounce-back in the early summer. Visitors and residents have made excellent use of our outdoor assets and recreational opportunities. We also have such a variety of restaurants here, and most all of them adapted well to meet safety protocols. These have given visitors and residents opportunities to experience our community safely and still support the local economy.”
Data from the Tourism Economics report showed that direct state and local taxes generated by tourist activity totaled $21 million. As a result of visitor spending, each household in Montgomery County pays $290 less in state and local taxes. Counting indirect spending throughs supporting industries, that amount totals $436 per household annually.
Other report highlights for Montgomery County:
- Direct labor income, or payroll, totaled $81.46 million, with 3,300 persons directly employed in tourism sectors.
- Food and Beverage spending totaled $90.5 million
- Lodging spending totaled $44.95 million
- Retail spending totaled $36.8 million
- Recreation spending totaled $20.56 million
- Transportation spending totaled $59.3 million
Visitor spending in Tennessee’s top nine counties in 2020:
- Davidson County, $4.48 billion, down 43.2 percent
- Shelby County, $2.57 billion, down 31.7 percent
- Sevier County, $2.38 billion, down 13.5 percent
- Knox County $1.16 billion, down 31.7 percent
- Hamilton County, $1.07 billion, down 30.2 percent
- Williamson County, $775 million, down 31.1 percent
- Rutherford County, $472 million, down 27.6 percent
- Blount County, $337 million, down 33.8 percent
- Montgomery County, $252 million, down 28.5 percent
During 2020, Visit Clarksville hosted sports competitions in soccer, track & field, baseball, and softball that generated $9.3 million in visitor spending. In 2021, outdoor events kicked off again in May with baseball, track & field, and softball.
In July, Visit Clarksville hosted its first indoor sports competition with the AAU Boys National Basketball Championship, followed by another large outdoor softball tournament. This fall the TSSAA Middle School Cross Country State Finals takes place October 1st-2nd at Weakley Park, and the TACA East vs. West All-Star Football Championship happens December 7th-10th at Austin Peay State University.
“Fortunately, we weren’t completely shut down,” said Visit Clarksville Executive Director, Theresa Harrington. “Competitive sports, especially outdoor events, did still happen. We are blessed to have facilities that can accommodate those, and we worked with event organizers to make sure protocols were in place that kept everyone safe and still provided an excellent guest experience. In most cases, we are seeing fewer teams and attendance, but the good news is that people are traveling again, and that boosts the economy and benefits everyone.”
Cunningham also expressed optimism about the future of tourism in Montgomery County.
“From a tourism standpoint, we have a well-rounded economy because we’re not dependent on one primary attraction,” he said. “We have outstanding recreational assets and scenic beauty, historic attractions, family fun centers, entertainment, performing and visual arts, local shopping, a diverse food scene, and an emerging craft beverage scene. It’s been a hard year and many businesses have felt losses from reduced travel, but we’ve fared better than many places. We’ve had a good first quarter, so we’re looking ahead, planning ahead, and expecting economic prosperity again for all of our industries.”
About Visit Clarksville
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Tourism Commission was established by the State of Tennessee in 1979 to positively influences tourism in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area by promoting tourist attractions, hosting conventions and group tours, and engaging in large-scale marketing efforts. In 2015, the organization adopted the Visit Clarksville brand. Visit Clarksville is governed by a nine-member board of directors and is funded by a portion of the local hotel/motel tax.
APSU This Week: Latinx Heritage Month continues with ‘In the Heights’ showing
September 20, 2021
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) will continue a monthlong celebration of Latinx Heritage Month with a free showing of “In the Heights” at 7:00pm Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021 at the Clement Auditorium. Doors open at 6:00pm and free snacks will be available.
In the Heights
APSU’s Art+Design, CECA welcome Little Friends of Printmaking September 21st
September 16, 2021
Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Department of Art+Design, with support from the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, will kick off the 2021-22 CECA Visiting Artist Speaker Series season with The Little Friends of Printmaking.
Austin Peay State University CECA Visiting Artist Speaker Series begins 2021-22 season with The Little Friends of Printmaking. (APSU)
This Week at APSU: Latinx Heritage Month Kick-off coming Wednesday
September 13, 2021
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) will kick off a monthlong celebration of Latinx Heritage Month with free food and music on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at the Morgan University Plaza (MUC).
The event will be hosted by the Latin Community Resource Center (LCRC), which has events planned through mid-October.
Austin Peay State University to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. (APSU)
How a photo in APSU’s Art Collection connects with the discovery of famed French Photographer
September 11, 2021
Clarksville, TN – Earlier this summer, the director of the Austin Peay State University (APSU) The New Gallery and his summer research fellow discovered a striking photo of a red-haired girl with a face splashed with freckles.
The photo’s labeling indicated that the image had been captured by a well-known French photographer, Michel Thersiquel, in 1970 and that famous photographic printer Philippe Salaun printed the photo 11 years later.
Freckled Girl. (APSU)
This Week at APSU: Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization to visit military-affiliated students
September 7, 2021
Clarksville, TN – This fall, Dr. Andrew Kester, the director of the Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization (MCVSO), and his team will visit Austin Peay State University (APSU) every month to help military-affiliated students, faculty, and students navigate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system.
APSU’s Newton Military Family Resource Center
Clarksville’s First Thursday Art Walk to be held September 2nd, 2021
August 31, 2021
Clarksville, TN – It’s almost Fall and it’s a great time to get out and experience the First Thursday Art Walk in Downtown Clarksville.
Produced by The Downtown Clarksville Association, First Thursday Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour spanning a 5-block radius that combines visual art, live music, engaging events, and more in the heart of Downtown Clarksville.
Clarksville’s First Thursday Art Walk.
