🪴 What’s going on with cannabis in Nashville?

🪴 What’s Going on with the Cannabis Industry in Nashville?

Why are “cannabis restaurants” popping up in a state where recreational marijuana is illegal? Host Grace Fuisz sits down with Matthew McClure, the keeper of Benny the CannaBUS, to explain what you can actually partake of here on the City Cast Nashville podcast. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🌧️ Middle Tennessee’s Drought Continues

Though Hurricane Francine will likely cause storms today and tomorrow, meteorologists warn it won’t be enough to end Middle Tennessee’s drought. The Duck River’s water levels are critically low, which has led Spring Hill, Portland, and Franklin to ask residents to conserve water. [The Tennessean]

• Nashville Severe Weather has some advice for what to do during flash floods and tornadoes. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🚨 Where Candidates Stand on Handling Crime

While violent crime is declining in Nashville, it’s still a top priority for many voters. Here’s where the Nov. 5 candidates stand on crime-related topics, from bail to guns to juvenile crime. [Nashville Banner]

• Register by Oct. 7 to vote in the Nov. 5 election. [Nashville.gov]

🦼 Adult-Changing Tables in Parks and Travel Stops

All of Tennessee’s travel stops and state parks will now have adult-changing tables, thanks to Chrissy Hood’s four years of advocacy work on behalf of her daughter and other disabled Tennesseans. “Tennessee is definitely leading the way in this,” Hood says. [Nashville Scene]

• Part of the grant money funding the adult-changing tables also go to the all-terrain wheelchairs available at some state parks. [City Cast Nashville]

It’s not too late to have a blast at the Nashville Fair, which ends Sunday. My family and I attended last weekend, and had so much fun. It’s a surprisingly cozy fair that never felt too overwhelming, unlike others I’ve been to. Here’s everything you need to know about how to have a great time at the fair.

🕠 The Deets

• Where: The Nashville Fairgrounds. Parking is at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
• When: Today-Sunday
• Time: Thursday & Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Cost: $10 for adults, $8 for kids and seniors 55+, free for kids five and under. MNPS students received a free ticket from their school, which will only be good for Thursday. All-you-can-ride wristbands are $35. I recommend swinging the wristband if you can afford it, especially if you have kids. The cost of individual rides adds up quick.

🎡 The Rides & Games

The fair has so many rides for kids of all ages. My daughter first wanted to hit up three little kiddie rides and a giant slide, then she toured the bouncy houses. We saw preschoolers and up on the kiddie rides, and the bouncy houses had toddlers and big kids jumping together.

Farther into the fair we found a mix of kid rides and roller coasters, but it still leaned heavily on rides for kids. I was feeling a bit dizzy at this point after a round on the spinning teacups, so I took a brief rest on the Ferris wheel before telling my spouse it was his turn to accompany our daughter on rides. They took a turn on the Alien UFO, and I had a good laugh when the ride ended and my daughter skipped out happily while my spouse grabbed onto the railing and slowly made his way back to Earth.

After that, my daughter went to a couple of the playground-style rides, and played some games. The games are also very kid-friendly. You pay a certain amount to play, and are guaranteed a prize based on how much you spend. Sadly, the bunny my daughter ‘won’ from playing darts had a giant hole in it and immediately started shedding stuffing, but we sewed it up once home.

While the fair leans into kid-friendly fun, several bigger roller coasters offer fun for teens and adults. So if you’re childless and thinking of attending, you’ll still enjoy it.