Traditional fall event moves to Friday, October 2, and includes night activities
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is returning to its barnwarmin’ roots by expanding Ag Day to include an after-hours event with live music, lawn games, food, and other family-friendly entertainment. Ag Day 2026 is free and open to the public and will be held from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 2, the day before the Tennessee Vols take on the Auburn Tigers.
Recent Ag Day events have been held on Saturdays before a home football game, but this year’s celebration moves to a Friday to expand the festivities to a larger audience and harken back to its roots. First held in 1921 to celebrate the dedication of Morgan Hall, the Barnwarmin’ Dance was a festive event held annually until 1943, when it was suspended for World War II. UTIA later launched Ag Day with similar goals in mind—to welcome the local community to campus and to highlight the economic, educational, and human impacts of agriculture on the state of Tennessee.
The theme of Ag Day 2026 is “Bigger and Better Than Ever Before,” as it will carry on recent traditions of live animal exhibits, educational hands-on demonstrations and games, while introducing a new evening event, Ag Day After Hours, beginning at 6 p.m. in the UT Gardens, Knoxville. The list of performers includes Mark Taylor, a singer-songwriter from Nashville who has opened for national artists such as Big & Rich, Zach Top and others. Ag Day After Hours also will include lawn games, photo opportunities, and hands-on learning opportunities for youth.
Beginning at 1 p.m., Ag Day guests will enjoy activities for the whole family, as they visit with faculty, staff, and students from across the Herbert College of Agriculture, the College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Department-based demonstrations and exhibits will be on display, and activities are expected to include live animal exhibits, music, and an interactive selfie station. Food will be available for purchase. Registration can be completed before or at the event.
For more information about all the activities and to preregister, visit utia.tennessee.edu/ag-day.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.