It’s a quick sample of and introduction to Murfreesboro.

Several thousand MTSU students — many of them freshmen — received a taste of the city Aug. 28-29 during Meet Murfreesboro as part of Week of Welcome activities. New Student and Family Programs sponsored the event, which featured more than 50 businesses.

Local businesses, restaurants, doctors’ offices, banks and credit unions, churches, nonprofit agencies, apartment complexes and others staffed tables under two tents in the Keathley University Center Courtyard. They shared information — and sometimes food and other goodies — about the services they offer in the Murfreesboro area to the more than 26,000 MTSU students.

Freshmen Chelsea Ross of Murfreesboro and Rachel Shaughnessy of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., members of the MT Lady Raiders’ volleyball team and roommates, were among those taking in the event.

“I like it. You get to see everything,” said Ross, who discovered new things although Murfreesboro is her hometown. “I live on the other side of town. There are still businesses I haven’t seen here, and a lot of restaurants, too.”

“It’s the free stuff and getting coupons” that Shaughnessy liked. “I’ll probably go there (Aspen Leaf),” she said. “The yogurt was really good.”

Senior Adam Yarber has spent the last three years attending Meet Murfreesboro, both as a student and an employee of The Woods at Greenland and Raiders Crossing apartment complexes.

“This is great,” Yarber said. “It gives students the opportunity to see what Murfreesboro has to offer, from food to vendors, churches and organizations around town. They will see Murfreesboro is not boring. There are a lot of places to eat and get involved and volunteer.”

Liz Waller, a marketing representative for the Sam’s Sports Grill at the Stones River Mall, said student walk-up to their booth for a sample of nachos and cheese was “amazing.”

“We want to come and touch every one of these students and let them know they can come to Sam’s and have a great meal,” Waller said.

The Meet Murfreesboro experience was nice, said freshman Timesha Cash of Memphis, who said she is trying to decide between nursing and biology as a major.

“People seem nice and welcoming,” Cash said. After buying a shirt, she said she was “impressed by the free giveaways and getting to meet different people.”