Downtown Murfreesboro: the 1859 courthouse on the Square, about 400 local businesses over 20 blocks, museums, the greenway, events, parking and where to eat.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Details come from Main Street Murfreesboro, the city’s parks and events pages and the venues’ own websites, linked below.

Downtown Murfreesboro is built around the Public Square and the 1859 Rutherford County Courthouse. Main Street Murfreesboro, the group behind most downtown events, counts 20 blocks and about 400 locally owned businesses: shops, restaurants, bars and offices on the Square and its side streets. The city was laid out here in 1811 as the county seat and was Tennessee’s capital from 1818 to 1826.

Who to call

  • Main Street Murfreesboro: 615-895-1887, 225 W. College St.
  • City Hall: 615-893-5210, 111 W. Vine St.
  • Police non-emergency: 615-893-1311; emergencies, 911

Getting there and parking

  • Garages: the Judicial Center garage, 223 N. Maple St., and the Civic Plaza garage, 111 W. Vine St.
  • Street parking: Main Street says there is no time limit on street spaces in the evenings or on weekends.
  • On foot or by bike: the greenway’s Lytle Creek Trail passes within a block of downtown and runs 1.1 miles from Cannonsburgh Village to Old Fort Park.
  • Maps: Main Street publishes downtown maps.

See and do

  • The Square and the courthouse: the 1859 courthouse is the centerpiece; the war memorial stands on the Square too. See our history and landmarks guide.
  • Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center, 415 S. Academy St.: a city museum in the 1917 school building that served Black students. Open Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $5 adults, $3 seniors and students, $1 ages 12 and under.
  • Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St.: the city’s pioneer village, with free self-guided tours.
  • Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 SE Broad St., and the 25-acre Murfree Spring Wetlands next door.
  • The Center for the Arts, 110 W. College St.: community theater and gallery; box office 615-904-2787.
  • Linebaugh Public Library, 105 W. Vine St.: free story times and programs; see the library system’s calendar.
  • East Main Street: a short walk east of the Square, the Main Street Historic District’s houses and churches fill Oaklands Mansion’s Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes each December. Oaklands Mansion itself is at 901 N. Maney Ave.
  • Ghost tours: Haunted Murfreesboro leads 90-minute walks of the Square’s stories, starting at Milano’s II, 114 E. College St.

Eat and drink

Downtown restaurants and bars named on our other guides, all within a few blocks of the Square:

  • Brunch and coffee: Five on Black’s Sunday all-day menu, 215 N. Church St.; OFLOW Bakery and Cafe, 115 N. Maple St.; Big Bad Breakfast is coming to 113 E. Main St. See our brunch guide.
  • Drinks and music: Happy’s Sports Lounge, 302 W. Main St.; Boro Bourbon and Brews, 124 N. Maple St.; 1 of 19 Cocktails and Raw Bar, 103 N. Maple St.; Hemispheres Wine Bar, 208 W. Main St.; and The Velvet Room speakeasy, 112 S. Maple St. See our nightlife guide.
  • Everything else: Main Street’s food and drink directory lists downtown restaurants with their own links.

Shop

Main Street’s business directory lists downtown shops. The Country Gourmet, 107 E. Main St., unveils its newest limited-edition Murfreesboro ornament at a premiere party, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. More on our holiday shopping page.

Downtown through the year

When Event
Saturdays, May to October, 8 a.m. to noon Murfreesboro Saturday Market around the courthouse
Summer and fall Fridays, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday Night Live, free concerts on the Square
Late October Trick or Treat around the Square, 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 30 in 2026
Early November Sip, Shop and Stroll Downtown After 5: Holiday Edition (Nov. 6 in 2026)
First Friday of December Celebrate Christmas Downtown and the county tree lighting
Second Sunday of December The city’s Christmas parade down Main Street to the Square

Details for each season are on our Halloween, holiday lights and Christmas and Christmas parade and tree lighting pages.

What this means for you

  • First visit: park in the Judicial Center garage, walk the Square, then Bradley Academy on a Friday or Saturday.
  • Saturday morning: the market, then brunch.
  • Evenings and weekends: street parking has no time limit.

More guides: free things to do, date night and getting around.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I park in downtown Murfreesboro?

The city’s two garages are the Judicial Center garage at 223 N. Maple St. and the Civic Plaza garage at 111 W. Vine St. Main Street Murfreesboro says street spaces have no time limit in the evenings or on weekends.

How big is downtown Murfreesboro?

Main Street Murfreesboro counts 20 blocks of historic downtown around the Public Square, with about 400 locally owned businesses.

What is in the middle of the Murfreesboro Square?

The 1859 Rutherford County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The county Christmas tree is lit beside it each December.

When is the Murfreesboro Saturday Market?

Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon around the courthouse on the Square during its season, which ran from May 2 to Oct. 31 in 2026.