One of my favorite places in Tennessee is not the flashiest or the most happening place in Tennessee, or Middle Tennessee for that matter. It’s a small, quiet town that almost seems frozen in time called Bell Buckle, established 1856. About 35 minutes outside of Murfreesboro and about an hour and 20 minutes outside of Nashville, it makes a great day trip. I live in another small, sleepy town just 15 minutes outside of Bell Buckle, so I tend to visit quite a bit! I thought I thought I’d do something a little bit different and take a walk through Bell Buckle to show you what it is all about.
So first off, don’t ask me why it’s called Bell Buckle! I’ve tried to find out, but I’ve gotten a few conflicting answers. Bell Buckle is a railroad town, and they really like to show that off. I do know that is was instead spelled Belle Buckle until the early 1900s, and for whatever reason was changed by the Railway.
Most famous for its beautiful Victorian houses, Bell Buckle residents like to show off their town by decorating their homes eclectically. The yards are just as exciting as the homes! Bell Buckle is home to various events and festivals, particularly the annual RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival, Daffodil Day, and several quilt-themed events. Yes you heard me! Bell Buckle is ALL about quilting!
There are only 620 people residing in Bell Buckle, so most days I can walk around and peacefully photograph all the sights.
Sometimes though, like on Daffodil Day, Bell Buckle is hoppin!
I often feel like a character out of Steel Magnolias here. I get my hair done in Bell Buckle, I get my nails done in Bell Buckle, I do a little shopping, and I love the coffee shop and cafe in Bell Buckle.
I LOVE bringing my daughter Caroline to this cute little park! It is always so quiet and has the best playground.
There are tons of cool little, local shops in Bell Buckle. Antiques, boutique clothing, knick-knacks, you name it! There are also plenty of sweet treats to go around for after brunch at the Bell Buckle Cafe! For a full listing of shops and eateries, visit the Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce’s website.
Noteworthy Bell Buckle Events
- Daffodil Day– Every March, Bell Buckle is decked out in endless bursts of bright, yellow daffodils to celebrate the coming of Spring. Bell Buckle has always had an affinity for daffodils. The story goes that Sawney Webb, the founder of the Webb School in Bell Buckle, began mass planting daffodils in the early 1900s, with the help of students deemed as “challenging.” So I guess this was his version of community service! It seemed to stick, and since then many people have continued on with the daffodil tradition in their own ways. In 1978, Daffodil Day was born, and continues to this day! There is a Daffodil Show and an Arbor Day Ceremony, amongst other activities for the children and adults alike.
- Annual RC Cola-Moon Pie Festival, 10 Mile and 5K Run– You might have noticed many little nods and odes to RC Cola and Moon Pie throughout the town in my photos. Bell Buckle is pretty dedicated to these two delights, and they serve as two more unofficial mascots for the town. Every June, the locals get together to enjoy a cold RC and a yummy Moon Pie, maybe even after they have run a 5K or 10 miles. The festival consists of a parade, games, music, clogging, a “Who Traveled the Furthest Contest,” and wacky contests. On top of that, you can participate in the annual 5K or 10 mile run so that you don’t have to feel guilty about downing that RC Cola or Moon Pie!
- Songwriter’s Festival- A festival celebrating local songwriters and live music. This is a new one, and has only been going on for two years as of 2025. It has been announced that it will be coming back in September for a third year, so I think it is here to stay! Plenty of food truck options will be on site.
- The Webb School Arts and Crafts Show- This may sound like another ordinary, small event, but the Webb School Arts and Crafts Show is actually a big deal in Bell Buckle! If you haven’t picked up on it yet, Bell Buckle is all about the arts and crafting! Held every October, there are usually over 100 booths presenting everything from handmade quilts, pottery, metal and wood works, jewelry, soap, lotion, decorations, and more! The food trucks are here to assist too, because the amount of walking you will be doing around the booths of Bell Buckle will stir up that appetite.
- An Old Fashioned Haunted Evening- Exactly what it sounds like! Good old-fashioned Halloween fun- including a haunted house, store-front trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, and an outdoor movie. And let’s be honest, no one does Halloween quite like an old Victorian-country town!
- A Quilted Christmas and an Old Fashioned Christmas- I had never heard of this until I went to Bell Buckle, but I instantly loved it! The town and its historic Victorian homes get decked out for Christmas and hold an annual Quilt Walk for visitors to view handmade quilts, old and new, made right here in Bell Buckle. The oldest quilt presented so far was made in 1870. This event celebrates Bell Buckle’s longstanding love and appreciation for crafting and those that left their beautiful work behind to forever share with the future residents of Bell Buckle. That night, you can also enjoy the Holiday Night Market. The very next day is dedicated to having an Old Fashioned Christmas (really trying my hardest not to invoke Clark Griswold here). There is a fun Pet Parade and Sleigh Rides with Santa for the kids, and a S’mores Pit and Gingerbread Decorating Contest for all!
Other Things to Do in Bell Buckle
There are so many events in Bell Buckle throughout the year, but what do you do in Bell Buckle on an average day???
Eat
- Bell Buckle Cafe- down-home, classic southern cooking. Nuff’ said! I have to shout out their Caramel Cake. It is the absolute best!
- Bell Buckle Coffee Shop- Great coffee, great food, and great books in one cozy, comfy environment. What could be better?
- Bluebird Antiques and Ice Cream Parlor- Just old-fashioned ice cream cones and sweet treats, with homemade waffle cones. Delicious! They serve savory food here too, but I choose to save my appetite for dessert.
- Simplicity/Simply Sweet Bakery- Because why not get your baked goods fix while you’re shopping?
Activities
- Geocaching- This activity has picked up quite a bit in Bell Buckle over the years, and there are quite a few caches scattered around the town of Bell Buckle. This is a fun town to geocache due to its quaint size and quiet, safe streets full of surprising nooks and crannies. You can start your journey by visiting the official Geocaching website and app.
- Scavenger Hunts- The Town of Bell Buckle has put together a few scavenger hunts for everyone to enjoy. You can view those on Bell Buckle’s official website.
- Shopping- There is an abundance of shopping to be had in the town square, from antiques, to boutique clothing and gifts, decorations, food, and more!
- Bell Buckle Farmers Market– In the summer time, on Fridays from 3pm-6pm, you can treat yourself to locally homegrown vegetables, fruits, canned goods, honey, eggs, and homemade treats brought to you by local farmers and gardeners.
I hope you have enjoyed this lovely little walk through Bell Buckle with me, and hopefully you will want to experience this adorable walk back into time for yourself! Stay tuned for more cute, little towns in the future.
