23 Things You Have to Do in Nashville This Year, from a Hot Chicken Festival to Pilgrimage Music Fest
These are the must-hit festivals, concerts, events, and most fun things to do this year in Nashville, broken down by month.
Any time is a great time to visit Nashville, thanks to four seasons that offer their individual charms and a litany of endlessly diverting evergreen activities. You can go to a museum, have a drink on a rooftop, go jump in a lake, bust out of an escape room, and much, much more. But Music City also has a calendar crammed with entertaining events that come and go, so if you’re looking to plan a trip to Nashville, make sure to consult this annual calendar so you don’t miss the most exciting things happening in Nashville at any given moment.
January
January 31 through February 2
Downtown
Home construction is booming in Nashville, and those houses need to be furnished with something special and also landscaped like the mini-manors they resemble. The annual Antiques & Gardens Show brings some of the most prestigious antiques dealers and collectors together for three days of expert decorating seminars, gala cocktail parties, and exhibitions of art, antiques, and horticulture. It’s like a dose of spring flowers in the middle of winter.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
February
Various locations
Organized by the local Convention & Visitors organization as a way to stimulate restaurant business during the pandemic, Dine Nashville has become a showcase for the local culinary scene that stretches throughout the month. Collaborative chef dinners, Restaurant Week special discounted prix fixe menus, and other dining deals make February a fantastic time to discover a new favorite dining spot or revisit an old favorite.
March
March 12 through 16
Downtown
Followers of all 14 Southeastern Conference schools descend on Bridgestone Arena for the conference championship tourney. Downtown becomes a rainbow of team colors as rabid fans pregame in Broadway bars and drown their sorrows after their teams go down in the single-elimination format tournament. The good news is that many of those fans of teams making early exits often want to scalp their tickets to locals and spend the rest of the weekend honky-tonkin’.
March 25 through 29
Various locations
At its heart, Nashville is a songwriters’ town. Odds are that your favorite radio hit was not written by the person singing it, and talented Nashville songsmiths finally get their turn in the spotlight during this celebration of musical creativity. Showcases in venues around the city offer the opportunity to hear the hitmakers perform and share the stories behind the songs that made somebody else famous. Local Instagrammer Gary Rzucildo gets it, sharing, “I appreciate the talent of songwriters, who often pass the spotlight to the recording artists. And I have always enjoyed this event that gives the behind-the-scenes talent/songwriters an opportunity to shine.”
April
April 2025, exact dates TBD
Various locations
National touring comics share the stage with local artists in every sized venue from tiny comedy clubs to the massive downtown arenas and concert halls. In addition to traditional stand-up acts, other performances include sketch comedy or experimental comedy theater. Prepare to laugh.
April 26–27, 2025
Various locations
Have you ever wanted to take a little stroll or jog around Music City with about 25,000 new friends? The Nashville edition of the Rock n’ Roll Marathon Series is the chance to tour the city along a protected route lined with supportive fans along almost the entire length of the course. Different distances are available to fit runners of all endurance abilities, from the full 26.2 miles to a one-mile walk/run.
Ready to go? Register here.
May
May 10, 2025
West Nashville
Named for the first American-bred horse to win the famous English Derby, the Iroquois Steeplechase is one of the most prestigious racing events on the national equestrian calendar. An international field of horses compete over the hedges and hurdles along the three-mile turf track, vying for glory, and big cash prizes. Spectators dressed in their striking spring finery gather in luxury boxes or in the festive infield area to eat, drink, and watch the ponies run. It’s the best chance to repurpose last year’s Kentucky Derby hat in front of a new audience.
June
June 5–8, 2025
East Nashville
Downtown venues and Nissan Stadium just across the river from Lower Broad turns into the center of the country music universe at this annual festival of concerts and fan interactions. The longest-running country music festival in the world, CMA Fest started out as a chance for fans to meet and greet the stars and has evolved into a multi-night series of concerts featuring the biggest stars of the genre along with smaller free shows on stages scattered around downtown where you might discover the headliners of future years.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
June 12–15, 2025
Manchester
Bonnaroo is more than just a concert festival; it’s a way of life for the thousands of fans that gather each year on a 700-acre farm to camp, party, dance, and share in the experience of catching the latest luminaries of musical genres ranging from hip-hop to bluegrass performing on big and small stages as well as tents on the concert grounds. Late-night shows can stretch for hours, and surprise guest stars are liable to hop on stage for epic collaborations at any moment. Impromptu jam sessions have been known to pop-up in the camping areas, so the music never stops at the ‘Roo.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
Late June, 2025
Germantown
Middle Tennessee’s LGBTQ+ community and allies join together for two days of joyous celebration with a festival featuring national and local entertainment acts on multiple stages, areas for kids and families, community art installations, and more than 225 vendors featuring non-profits, artists, and businesses. The Saturday Pride Parade down Broadway is a proud and joyful highlight of the weekend, and afterparties at local clubs have been known to stretch into the wee hours of the morning.
July
July 4, 2025
Downtown
July Fourth in Nashville has become one of the largest patriotic gatherings in the country, with hundreds of thousands of revelers gathering at the foot of Broadway to watch a spectacular fireworks display synchronized to the music of the GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony Orchestra. For those more interested in the twang than the bang, a multi-hour concert in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park features national headline musical acts and is televised live on broadcast television. Of course, it’s always better to see it in person.
July 4, 2025
East Nashville
Nashville Hot Chicken is the city’s most iconic contribution to the culinary canon, and thousands of piquant poultry fans gather every year to sample offerings from many hot chicken restaurants that have helped to popularize the fiery fowl. Organized by former Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell in 2006, Hizzoner decreed that Nashvillians should eat the hottest food on the hottest day of the year, so it has become a July 4th staple. Don’t miss the amateur cooking contest, a fierce competition to earn bragging rights for the year.
August
August 9–10, 2024
East Nashville
Nashville’s hippest neighborhood shows off its weird side at the Tomato Arts Festival in the Five Points section of East Nashville. Promoting the humble tomato as “a uniter not a divider,” the weekend celebrates the lovely red orbs with art shows, live music performances, cooking competitions and Bloody Mary contests, and a wacky parade where participants are encouraged to dress up as Better Boys, Beefsteaks, or Cherokee Purples as they strut their stuff on a march through Five Points.
September
September 14, 2024
SoBro
Although organizers have tweaked the route through the years, the NTT IndyCar Series stop in Nashville is always a dramatic race, with cars rocketing through the streets of downtown or around the oval of the Nashville Superspeedway. The weekend features races between many different classes of cars and trucks, but the flagship final race between the best drivers of the fastest cars in the country is a spectacle that is not to be missed.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
September 17–21, 2024
Various
Similar to how Music City is about more than just country music, Americana represents the intersection between folk, country, bluegrass, and rock. So Nashville is the ideal spot for the Americana community to gather for its annual celebration of the genre. Daytime events feature seminars, panels, and networking opportunities for fans and music biz professionals, and intimate nightly showcases offer hundreds of performances in venues around the city.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
September 25–October 1, 2024
Various locations
The Nashville Film Festival is the longest-running juried cinematic competition in the South and one of the oldest in the country. Panels select films from submissions ranging from tiny indie productions, documentaries, global cinema, and upcoming blockbusters for screenings at theaters and non-conventional venues all around the city. In addition to industry seminars and workshops, premiere events often bring together film artists and musicians to collaborate on unique experiences. Big-name movie stars frequently come to town for movie openings or for special recognitions, so be sure to show up red carpet-ready.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
September 28–29, 2024
Franklin
Organized by Better than Ezra frontman and Middle Tennessee resident Kevin Griffin, the Pilgrimage Music Festival attracts big-name acts and thousands of fans to The Park at Harlinsdale near the sleepy downtown of Franklin for two days of music and culture. Over the past decade, headliners have included major acts like Foo Fighters, Beck, Justin Timberlake, Dave Matthews Band, Brandi Carlile, and Chris Stapleton, earning the festival status as one of the major music events of autumn.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
October
October 9–12, 2024
Germantown
Much of downtown Nashville was constructed by German immigrant laborers during the 19th century, and the neighborhood north of the urban core where they built their own homes is still known as Germantown. Of course, that’s the perfect locale for a long weekend of Oktoberfest celebrations when they shut down the streets to cars and invite the whole city in stroll the sidewalks enjoying, beer, brats, live music, and the popular Pup Parade where owners are encouraged to dress up in complementary costumes with their pooches. It makes a lot more sense after a few lagers.
October 11 and 12
Lynchburg
Few things go together better than smoked meat and Tennessee Whiskey, so that’s why the annual world championship barbecue competition at the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg has been a high point on the competitive cooking calendar for more than 30 years. In fact, pro pitmasters simply refer to it as “The Jack,” and everyone battles to earn the chance to compete for the crown. To qualify, teams must win some sort of state championship to even be considered for the drawing to determine the entrants, but winners pocket checks worth $25,000. More than 40,000 descend on the small town for the weekend, effectively septupling the population. Visitors enjoy old-timey music performances, distillery tours, pork butt bowling and a Country Dog Contest while watching the fierce competition as pitmasters vie in seven different divisions to earn the grand prize. Sit close to the fence around the judges’ corral and one of them might slip you a sample in between categories.
October 25–26, 2024
Downtown
This regional celebration of the written word has been connecting readers and writers since 1989. Publishers offer their latest titles in tents set up around the festival grounds, and authors conduct readings, autograph sessions, and Q&As for the chance to get up close and personal with their fans. From the latest best-selling authors to delightfully obscure subject matter experts, the assemblage of Southern literary talent is unmatched in the region.
November
November 13, 2024
Downtown
While the best that the average movie fan can probably hope for is a fleeting red carpet glimpse of their favorite stars from afar at the Academy Awards, real fans can actually buy a ticket to be a part of the biggest awards ceremony in country music. As a bonus, nominees actually perform live during the event, sometimes putting together special collaborations to impress their industry peers, so attendees can experience once-in-a-lifetime performances.
December
December 30, 2024
East Nashville
Nashville’s annual college bowl game at Nissan Stadium is blessed with tie-ins with college football’s two powerhouse conferences, the Big Ten and the SEC. This ensures consistently excellent competition, and the ancillary events before kickoff like the “Battle of the Bands” downtown the night before the game are always entertaining. Many fans decide to stick around a couple extra days for a bowl game/NYE two-fer.
Ready to go? Book tickets here.
December 31, 2024
Germantown
Like a cold weather version of Nashville’s July Fourth fete, New Year’s Eve also features fireworks, live music, and celebrations across downtown. The bravest revelers gather early in the afternoon at Bicentennial Mall to stake out a spot for the five-hour celebration of the turning of the calendar, featuring big-name music acts and the dropping of the ceremonial music note over the stage at midnight.