Something To Celebrate: A Lineup Of The Biggest Festivals In Nashville, Tennessee
If you’re a Williamson County resident, close proximity to Nashville is a huge plus when it comes to finding things to do. Building community can be tough, no matter where you’re from. However, living in or nearby one of the most popular cities in America has its perks, especially when it comes to finding ways to gather together.
Just over the county line from Nashville, we take gathering together seriously here in Williamson County. There are ample opportunities to experience community, whether its attending special events or getting involved with collective projects. If you’re ready to take advantage of that facet of our Tennessee home this season, be sure to attend upcoming Fall Festivals And Events In Williamson County.
In addition to this, don’t forget to pay a visit to the following festivals over in Nashville that may peak your interest. In Music City, there is always something to celebrate! No matter the time of year, you have the chance to participate in some of the most vibrant festivals in our region, taking part in the storied history and culture of our neighboring communities. Follow along to learn more about some of the most frequented festivals in Nashville and make sure to mark your calendars to be a part of the lively events. There are some moments you just won’t want to miss!
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Music Festivals
It’s not called Music City, U.S.A for nothing! Nashville hosts some of the hottest events in the industry, bringing people together through the magic of live performance. Through music festivals big and small, you have the opportunity to see your favorite performers or discovering new, incredible talent, in a vibrant, dynamic setting. To learn more about music festivals in Middle Tennessee (in both Nashville and beyond), be sure to check out 2025 Music Festivals In And Around Williamson County.
Nashville’s AmericanaFest showcases established and emerging artists in the country, blues, soul, and folk genres in conjunction with a 3-day industry-based conference and The Americana Honors & Awards Ceremony. Hosted by the Americana Music Association, the 2025 event will be held September 9-13 at venues throughout the city. You can follow along the daily schedule and official showcase lineup on the festival website.
Nashville is the country music capital of the world, so it’s no surprise that CMA Fest, Country Music Association’s annual celebration of country music, is one of the city’s biggest and most famous festivals. Spanning 4 days, the festival is spread throughout Downtown Nashville as famous venues host emerging artists and some of the most recognizable names in the country music genre. The festival celebrated it’s 52nd year in 2025; Find helpful information about this year’s event here and mark your calendars for next year’s CMAs, which will be hosted June 4-7, 2026.
Deep Tropics Music, Art, & Style Festival
A vibrant celebration of music, connection, discovery, and sustainability, Deep Tropics is an immersive, electronic music festival that draws fans to Nashville every year. Hosted at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the 2025 festival took place August 15-16. A haven of electronic dance music and colorful stage designs, Deep Tropics has been praised for its emphasis on community and commitment to environmental sustainability. Check out the 2025 lineup here. 2026 dates are coming soon. In the meantime, you can stay up to date with Deep Tropics via their social media.
Nashville’s Full Moon Pickin’ Party has been a Music City tradition for almost 30 years. Under the stars at Percy Warner Park, guests can enjoy a night of bluegrass, brews, food trucks, and more. Events run May through September. In 2025, the Full Moon Pickin’ Party was hosted on May 23, June 13, July 11, August 8, and September 5. All ticket proceeds benefit Friends of Warner Parks, a nonprofit organization working to preserve Nashville’s beloved Percy and Edwin Warner Parks. Keep in mind that tickets must be purchased online through the Warner Parks website.
Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
The annual songwriters festival, Tin Pan South, is organized by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and is known as the world’s largest songwriter series. Dedicated to the art of songwriting, the festival is hosted across a variety of venues throughout the city and features incredible talent spanning multiple genres. Hosted every year in the spring, the 34th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will take place on March 24-28, 2026.
A collaboration with Nashville’s independent artists and venues, 615 Indie Live showcases over 60 local, independent musicians across 17 local and independent venues. The event, which is purposefully hosted during a slow time of year in the world of music, in partnership with Music Venue Alliance Nashville and Visit Music City, raises funds to support Nashville’s independent music scene. The event will take place on February 7, 2026 at some of Music City’s most adored independently owned venues. For independent artists looking to participate in 615 Indie Live 2026, submissions are open.
Vanderbilt University’s premier music festival, Rites of Spring, is a curated live music experience that brings together the Nashville community and Vanderbilt’s student body, with exciting line-ups in a diversity of musical genres. The 2025 event was sadly cancelled due to inclement weather. However, you can keep up to date will future festival happenings via the Rites of Spring social media.
Let Freedom Sing!
Holiday Celebrations
It’s the holiday season, all year round! Alongside seasonal Nashville staples such as A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and Cheekwood Harvest at the historic Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, there are some celebrations you won’t want to miss. From downtown extravaganzas to neighborhood parties, there are many opportunities to celebrate the holidays with friends, neighbors, or perfect strangers.
Jack Daniel’s New Years Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash
You can ring in the new year in downtown Nashville at Jack Daniel’s New Years Eve Live. The free celebration takes place at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Nashville rang in 2025 with performances by none other than Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, and Brittney Spencer. In true Music City fashion, the new year is marked by the dropping of Nashville’s New Years Eve Music Note when the clock strikes midnight. Consider welcoming the new year in Downtown Nashville and experiencing a one-of-a-kind Tennessee celebration.
Celebrate Halloween in Nashville at Music City’s biggest block party, All Hallows East, the East Nashville event that features costume contests, activities, live music, food, and more spooky-themed fun! Stop by this year on Saturday, October 25 from 2-10 p.m. Making for a scary good time, the event will feature a silent disco, carnival games, face painting, and, of course, trick or treat.
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th
Nashville is home to one of the largest 4th of July fireworks shows in the country. Let Freedom Sing! is a free, family-friendly event in Downtown Nashville, where you can celebrate Independence Day with performances from country music stars, incredible fireworks, and summertime festivities. The 2025 4th of July event featured stars like Dierks Bentley, Russell Dickerson, Niko Moon, Grace Bowers, and Keesha Rainey, plus fireworks synchronized to a live performance by the GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony.
Experience the holiday season in East Nashville at Holiday Bash, hosted December 5-7 in East Nashville’s 5 Points area each day from 4-9 p.m. Holiday Bash guests are invited to enjoy a holiday-themed cocktail while shopping for perfect gifts made by local artisans. Alongside shopping, there’s a community tree lighting, campfires, s’mores, live music, and much more cozy fun to be had. P.S. There may even be an appearance by Santa Clause himself (and family photo opportunities). On Saturday, December 7, the bash will be followed by a spirited Holiday Cocktail Bash.
Nashville Cocktail Festival
Food & Drink
Alongside its musical accolades, Nashville is also known for its impeccable food and drink landscape. Whether you’re in the mood for some expertly crafted spirits or want to taste test some of the most decorated chefs in all of Music City, there are opportunities to do just that, savoring the flavors that have put our corner of Middle Tennessee on the culinary roadmap.
Music City Food & Wine Festival
One of the biggest weekends for Nashville cuisine and culture, Music City Food & Wine Festival brings together local arts, food, and spirits, welcoming locals and visitors into the heart of the city to celebrate Nashville’s culinary masters. The inaugural festival took place April 24-27, 2025 at Centennial Park. The festival featured a food faire with over 50 vendors, chef seminars and demos, local cookbook authors, a Sunday brunch garden, and more. Other events surrounding the festival included an intimate dinner series with local chefs, an exclusive feast at 1HotelNashville, and even more food-related fun. 2026 dates are to be announced.
Hosted at East Park, Nashville Cocktail Festival is an incredible evening of live music, good company, food trucks, and craft cocktails. With a ticket purchase, you can enjoy unlimited cocktail and spirit tastings from over 50 premier vendors. The 11th annual Nashville Cocktail Festival is on September 13, 2025 from 6-10 p.m. General admission tickets are $65 pre-purchased or $75 at the door. If you choose to attend with a group of 5 or more, there are discounted group rates. Keep in mind that the festival is a 21 and over event. Admission is not permitted without a valid ID.
Tennessee whiskey is one of our state’s claims to fame, and you can enjoy it at the Nashville Whiskey Festival. 13 years in, the festival continues to be a four day celebration of craftmanship, culture, and community surrounding the drink, bringing together distillers, consumers, and industry experts for a weekend full of whiskey tasting, education, and entertainment in the beating heart of Music City. The festival, which will be held October 10-12, 2025, includes VIP gatherings, cigar lounges, curated grand tastings, and explorations of barrel-aged spirits. Learn more about programing and ticket options here.
A hit among Nashville locals, the Nashville Margarita Festival usually sells out every year. Hosted in the oneC1TY area, tickets into the event get you no less than 12 margarita samples from the city’s best makers. Guests are encouraged to vote for their favorite margaritas, enjoy DJ sets, dine at food trucks, enjoy salsa dancing, and more. The 2025 event took place on May 30 from 6-9 p.m. and benefitted TennGreen Land Conservancy (formerly the Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation), an organization that empowers landowners and communities to protect large, connected natural areas, ultimately allowing us to better steward the earth. Tickets sell out fast! Keep an eye out to secure your spot for 2026.
Craft beer is a passion in Nashville, Tennessee, and you can celebrate excellence at the East Nashville Beer Festival, established in 2011. The goal of the festival, hosted in East Park, has always been to bring the best craft beer to Nashville while simultaneously supporting local causes for good. Since the beginning, East Nashville Beer Festival has served patrons more than 1,000 unique beers, showcased local live music and live wrestling, hosted incredible food trucks, and raised over $250,000 in support of several non-profit organizations. If you’re interested in stopping by, the next event is set for April 11, 2026.
Music City Hot Chicken Festival
Nashville Hot Chicken is a Southern staple; what better way to savor its legacy that at the annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival? The free event is hosted at East Park every year on the 4th of July. The event kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a fire truck parade and is followed by a host of local vendors, cold beer, and, of course, hot chicken options from the best establishments in the city. If you make some mean hot chicken yourself, consider signing up for the 2026 amateur cooking competition, securing your spot as the reigning local monarch of the classic dish.
Oktoberfest
Heritage
Nashville, Tennessee is proud to be home to a variety of people and their collective cultures. The places we’ve come from are worth celebrating, and in Music City you can do just that, joining in authentic cultural festivities, gathering around tradition, and spending valuable time in collective community. Festivals that celebrate heritage showcase Nashville as a home for all and are certainly worth checking out.
A celebration of food, music, fashion, family, and community, Nashville’s African Street Festival is a 3 day event that will be hosted at Hadley Lillard Park on September 19-21, 2025. The free event will feature a Theme and Knowledge Village with resources for families, a Wellness Village pursuing healthier lifestyles for families, an Art Village featuring local artisans, and a Children’s Village with programming for the kids. The festival will be full of authentic food, African drumming and dance, spoken word, and live music performances in the African, Reggae, Latin, R&B, Jazz, Gospel, Neo-Soul, Country, and Blues genres.
Established in 2015, the Music City Irish Festival is a celebration of Irish culture, taking our beloved country music all the way back to its original roots. The festival takes place at 15 plus participating venues during the month of March, featuring lots of live music, specials, and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration (hosted in 2025 at Geodis Park). This year’s event took place from March 1-22, 2025. Keep an eye out for upcoming 2026 dates and schedules on the festival’s social media account
A German celebration, Nashville’s Oktoberfest takes place every year near historic Germantown, the oldest area of Nashville. Featuring incredible vendors, artisans, food, live music, a pup parade, the annual Bier Run, and plenty of draft beer, Oktoberfest is a favorite among Nashville locals and visitors alike. General admission to the event is $10. The 46th Anniversary of the festival will take place October 2-5, 2025. Stay tuned for the upcoming festival schedule and information.
Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival
Hosted at Nashville Public Square Park, the Nashville Cherry Blossom festival celebrates Japanese culture with food vendors, concerts, a cosplay contest, cultural lectures, games, and more. Highlights of the festival include a cherry blossom walk, sumo suit wrestling, Japanese board games, and the Pups in Pink Parade. Thanks to ongoing support, 1,000 cherry blossom trees have been planted around Nashville to date, filling the city with stunning pink blossoms every spring. The next festival will take place on April 11, 2026.
Tomato Art Festival
Arts
Another historic nickname for Nashville is “The Athens of the South,” a title that pays homage to the city’s illustrious culture, education opportunities, and emphasis on the arts. Creatives of all kinds flock to Nashville for a chance to make it, meaning the city is a host to some of the most impressive artistic talent in the world. You can experience the result of this massive amount of talent at arts themed festivals around the city.
A program of Humanities Tennessee, Vanderbilt University presents Southern Festival of Books, a premier event for Nashville’s literary community and one of the oldest events of its kind in the United States. Every year, the Southern Festival of Books welcomes thousands of visitors and hundreds of authors to Nashville, specifically located at the Bicentennial Mall, Tennessee State Museum, and Tennessee State Library and Archives. The event is free and is filled with publishers, book sellers, food trucks, and performance stages. This year the festival will be hosted October 18-19.
Globally recognized, the Nashville Film Festival is a non-profit organization and top cultural event. Established in 1969, it was one of the first film festivals in the United States. Celebrating the art of filmmaking, the festival features and presents the best in the world of film, including American independent films, documentaries, world cinema, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. Filmmakers and screenwriters compete for cash and prizes. Winners of the Short Documentary, Short Narrative, and Short Animation competitions qualify to be considered for Academy Awards. The 56th Nashville Film Festival will be hosted September 18-24, 2025. Learn more about tickets and festival scheduling here.
East Nashville’s Tomato Art Festival is one of Music City’s biggest annual events. The 2-day festival and concert is full of themed art, local music, delicious food, costumes, contests, shopping, kids activities, and—you guessed it—tomatoes. A Nashville staple since the early 2000s, Tomato Fest is free to attend and features an array of awesome vendors and live performances. The 2025 event took place August 8-9 in Historic East Nashville’s Five Points neighborhood. The spirit of the festival is captured in this statement: “The Tomato: A Uniter, NOT A Divider! Bringing Together Fruits & Vegetables.”
Celebrating the best acts in the game for 11 days in a row, Nashville Comedy Festival 2025 (hosted April 3-13) packed in no less than 57 stand up shows and over 100 performers on 5 different stages, including iconic venues like the Ryman Auditorium, The Pinnacle, and Zanies Comedy Club. Featuring some of the funniest people in the world, this annual event has secured Nashville as a comedy powerhouse. You can keep up to date with 2026 festival information through the festival website.
Iroquois Steeplechase
& Even More Fun
Hosted at Centennial Park, Nashville Earth Day Festival is family-friendly, free to enter event that offers visitors a chance to explore interactive exhibits, connect with local growers and makers, learn more about environmental nonprofits, and more. The festival features exhibitors, vendors, and musicians in support of the planet. Proceeds from the 2025 event, which welcomed thousands, were donated to underwrite environmental projects in public spaces across Nashville, contributing to positive environmental change in Music City. The next festival will be held on April 18, 2026.
While not exactly a festival in the classic sense of the word, Iroquois Steeplechase, known as Nashville’s Rite of Spring, is one of the city’s most impressive and well-attended annual events. The day at the races takes place at Percy Warner Park the second Saturday in May. In 2026, the event will be held on May 9. Alongside a day filled with the sport of steeplechase, the event features vendors, tailgating, premium hospitality tents, and historic events. Take an exclusive look into Iroquois Steeplechase 2025 and the iconic Raceday fashion to explore one of Nashville’s most prestigious cultural events of the year. You can secure your 2026 tickets here.
Hosted at Nashville’s famous Centennial Park (home of the Parthenon), Kidsville Family Festival is a day full of fun. The event is free to attend and perfect for children of all ages, featuring iconic character meet and greets, performances, crafts, games, face painting, food trucks, and more. The 2025 event will take place on Saturday, September 27, and will be hosted from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the park.
Good Times In Nashville And Beyond
If you’re heading into the city for an event or otherwise, you can make a day of it and explore Nashville neighborhoods to your heart’s content. Some areas to we’ve scoped out include:
- 12 South, known for it’s dining options, luxury brands, lively community, and the beautiful Sevier Park.
- The Gulch, a great way to experience (nearly) Downtown Nashville with the whole family.
- Downtown Broadway, whose famous Honkey Tonk Highway’s reputation precedes it.
- East Nashville, a local favorite full of cool venues, shops, speakeasies, and so much more.
- Bonus: For some fresh air or peach and quiet, take a hike at Nashville’s Radnor Lake State Park.
No matter where this season, or the next, takes you, we hope that you find ways to spend quality time with those you love, savoring the best that life has to offer. Attending local festivals can be a great way to fill your weekends with small adventures, combining the joys of community and entertainment, actively making the most of this wonderful place we get to call our home.
