This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Nashville’s calendar is anchored by CMA Fest in June and the Let Freedom Sing fireworks on July 4th, but there are free concerts, food festivals, and a New Year’s Eve show almost every month. Most big events cluster downtown around Broadway and Nissan Stadium. Use this list with the Nashville weather by month guide to time your trip.
Nashville Events in Spring (March to May)
St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon (April)
Held the last weekend of April, this running series draws about 30,000 runners across a marathon, half marathon, and 5K. The course crosses the Cumberland River and finishes near Nissan Stadium, with live bands at every mile. Registration for the half marathon starts around 120 USD. For a full overview of Nashville climate, quick facts, and seasonal highlights, see our Nashville travel guide.
Iroquois Steeplechase (May)
The second Saturday of May brings 30,000 spectators to Percy Warner Park for a full card of steeplechase horse racing, founded in 1941. General admission on the infield runs about 60 USD, and much of the crowd tailgates. It is a charity event benefiting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
Nashville Festivals in Summer (June to August)
CMA Fest (June)
Country music’s biggest fan festival runs Thursday through Sunday in the first half of June, drawing 95,000 people a day. Headliners play Nissan Stadium each night, while free daytime stages line Broadway and the riverfront. Four-day stadium passes sell out months ahead; the free daytime stages require no ticket.
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th (July)
Downtown Nashville hosts one of the largest fireworks displays in the US on July 4th, launched from the riverfront and synced to a live symphony. The free show typically starts around 9:30 pm, with free live music on the main stage from late afternoon. Arrive by 6:00 pm for a spot on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
Tomato Art Festival (August)
The second weekend of August turns East Nashville’s Five Points into a free, two-day street fair built around the tomato, with a parade, live music, and costume contests. It runs Saturday and Sunday and attracts about 60,000 people. Everything is free except food and drink.
Nashville Events in Fall (September to November)
Live on the Green (September)
This free outdoor concert series runs over Labor Day weekend and the following Thursday at Public Square Park, drawing national headliners and about 50,000 fans over the run. No tickets are needed. The same venue hosts the best neighborhoods in Nashville walking tours nearby.
Tennessee State Fair (September)
The state fair runs about 10 days in early to mid-September at the Nashville Fairgrounds, with livestock shows, a midway, and the traditional fried-food lineup. General admission runs about 10 USD, and the concert grandstand adds paid headline shows.
Nashville Oktoberfest (October)
Historic Germantown closes several blocks for a three-day Oktoberfest in the first half of October, with German beer, bratwurst, and polka bands. Admission is free, and it draws about 300,000 people. See the best time to visit Nashville guide to pick your travel dates.
CMA Awards (November)
Country music’s biggest awards show tapes at Bridgestone Arena in early to mid-November, bringing a red-carpet week to downtown. Public tickets are hard to get, but the surrounding bars host watch parties and after-parties all week. See the Nashville travel tips page for logistics.
Nashville Events in Winter (December to February)
Christmas at Gaylord Opryland and Cheekwood (November to December)
Gaylord Opryland Resort strings more than 3 million lights across its nine acres of indoor gardens, and its ICE! exhibit features hand-carved ice sculptures with an entrance fee around 35 USD. Cheekwood’s Holiday Lights runs select nights from mid-November through early January, at about 28 USD per adult.
TransPerfect Music City Bowl (December)
This college football bowl game fills Nissan Stadium in late December, usually December 27 to 31, pairing teams from the SEC and Big Ten. Tickets start around 30 USD and the city runs free shuttle buses from downtown. Browse the things to do in Nashville list for more sights.
Nashville’s New Year’s Eve Big Bash (December 31)
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park hosts the free Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight on December 31, capped by the city’s signature music note drop at midnight. Headliners play the main stage and the event draws around 200,000 people. For hotels near the action, see the where to stay in Nashville guide.
