Pegram’s beloved Fourth of July tradition marches on

This article was written with the help of the Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association.

This year marks the 49th annual Independence Day celebration in the Town of Pegram, and the community is ready to shine under the theme “Stars, Stripes and Pegram Southern Nights.”

The celebration, which began in 1976 when Pegram took over the tradition from Kingston Springs, has grown into a beloved summer staple for families across Cheatham County and middle Tennessee. In its early years, the event was as much about politics as patriotism — candidates for local and state office would flock to Pegram to deliver stump speeches and win over voters.

According to a 1972 article by The Daily News-Journal, seven candidates spoke at the annual 4th of July event when it was held in Kingston Springs that year, providing "their views on the needs of Cheatham" county. In 1994, the town awarded a "most unusual political candidate" float.

Live music has also always played a major role in this annual event, with the 1972 News-Journal article stating that "the C.C. Riders and the Williams Brothers Quartet, versatile and talented groups, are primed for some fine picking and singing."

Locals remember pie-eating contests, sack races and an annual tug-of-war between the town councils of Pegram and Kingston Springs — an always spirited and often muddy affair. A 1994 Tennessean article even stated that an "outhouse heat race" was scheduled in the lineup of events. Square dancing was also a major draw of the event in its early years.

But one tradition has never faded: the parade. Winding through town with decorated floats, classic cars and proud displays of red, white and blue, the Pegram Independence Day Parade remains the heart of the celebration.

This year's festivities on Friday, July 4 promise a perfect blend of nostalgia and new memories under the Southern night sky — Pegram style.