Fall Happenings in Nashville

Experience Musical Events, Family Activities, Fall Festivals, and More in Music City

Nashville is the ultimate fall destination for travelers worldwide. Autumn in Music City offers budget-friendly entertainment including musical events, seasonal festivals, family-centric activities, and live sporting events.

Live Music

To enjoy the city without breaking the bank, Nashville is filled with budget-friendly activities for visitors to experience this fall. From 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 a.m., Nashville’s famous honky tonks feature free live music on Lower Broadway. There is never a cover charge where the music plays 365 days a year.

The Listening Room Cafe provides free musical entertainment during the day with “Lunch Time Tunes” and “Happy Hour” sessions with performers. The venue also features nightly songwriter sessions where artists connect with the audience and share the stories behind the songs. Tickets for shows can be found as low as $15.

From Sept. 9–13, the 25th annual AMERICANAFEST takes place in Nashville, gathering thousands of artists, fans, and industry professionals from all over the world for intimate showcases, networking opportunities, and seminars. Guests can purchase tickets for the Annual Americana Honors & Awards, which honors the best in the business with Lifetime Achievement Awards and memorable performances from top artists at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 10.

The fall series of Musicians Corner, a free outdoor concert series featuring local Nashville artists, takes place at Centennial Park. Each event is family-friendly, with educational activities, musical meet & greets, and local food trucks to complement the music. Stay tuned for the full lineup later this month.

Arts & Culture

Those looking to venture outdoors can head to Centennial Park, a 132-acre park with a one-mile walking trail, Lake Watauga, and the iconic Parthenon. The world’s only exact-size replica of the original Parthenon costs just $10 to visit. The park is also home to Athena, the largest indoor statue in the Western Hemisphere at 42 feet, which is celebrating its 35^th anniversary this year.

The Parthenon is currently exhibiting “Monumental Figures” by Alan LeQuire, the sculptor and creator of the Athena statue. The display features large-scale sculptures of contemporary individuals who inspired LeQuire and is onsite through September 21.

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens transforms into a fall wonderland with Cheekwood Harvest. From Sept. 13 to Oct. 30, visitors find 75,000 pumpkins, three pumpkin houses, and thousands of chrysanthemums blooming with color. Harvest Nights adds an extra sparkle to the festival this year, as the towering pumpkin topiary moves front and center to the Color Garden, elevated by jack-o’-lanterns artfully carved in Cheekwood style. New in 2025, Cheekwood is introducing special themed nights, including Pumpkinpalooza!, Salsa Night at Cheekwood, Oktoberfest at Cheekwood, and Bootanical Bash.

Visitors can experience the arts at Artville the free, annual, visual arts festival featuring public art installations and contemporary art that highlights the creative culture of Nashville from Sept. 26-28. The event takes place at Walk of Fame Park in Downtown Nashville with art-focused events in Wedgewood Houston, The Arcade/5th Ave of the Arts, and the Neuhoff District in the neighborhood of Germantown.

The 56^th Nashville Film Festival returns Sept. 18-24 as one of the nation’s longest-running film festivals. Attendees can enjoy the week-long celebration at premier venues throughout Nashville with more than 150 films from around the globe, industry panels, discussions, and Q&As with filmmakers, social events, live music, and more.

The Southern Festival of Books returns to Bicentennial Mall, the Tennessee State Museum, and the Tennessee State Library on Oct. 18-19. This festival is a celebration of the Written Word and is one of the oldest literary festivals in the country. It will feature over 175 authors, including Pulitzer winner Jonathan Eig, historical fiction writer Beatriz Williams, YA novelist David Levithan, and food writer John T. Edge. The festival will also include performance stages, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.

The 46^th annual Oktoberfest kicks off Oct. 2-5 in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. The family-friendly celebration of German tradition will feature live German music and performances, a 5K Race & Run, German food and beer from dozens of restaurants and vendors, a Stein Holding Competition, and other themed activities.

The annual Wine on the River Nashville returns to Riverfront Park Sept. 13. Patrons can sample wine, beer, and spirits from different regions around the globe, enjoy culturally themed menu items from local food vendors and listen to live music while enjoying skyline views of Music City.

Family Fun

For wholesome family entertainment, Lucky Ladd Farms hosts a Fall Festival and invites visitors to explore Tennessee’s largest petting farm and fun park. The festival features a corn maze, pumpkin picking, and seasonal snacks and drinks from Sept. 20 – Oct. 31.

Nashville’s family fun continues with Boo at the Zoo. From Oct. 17 until Nov. 1, families can explore the Nashville Zoo and discover more than 350 species while enjoying fall-themed scenes and activities, trick-or-treating for the kids, special animal shows, and other festive features.

Sports

Nashville is a year-round sports town that truly shines in the fall. Football kicks off at both the pro and collegiate level for the Tennessee Titans and Vanderbilt University, with 14 opportunities to see the home teams through November. The Predators, Nashville’s NHL team, take the ice to begin their 2025/26 regular season campaign in October at Bridgestone Arena, located in the heart of Downtown Nashville.

There’s also action on the pitch with Nashville Soccer Club’s push to the playoffs at GEODIS Park, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States and Canada. America’s Favorite Pastime continues at First Horizon Park with the Nashville Sounds and their famous guitar-shaped scoreboard, the only one in all of baseball. The Sounds have 18 home games in August and wrap up the season with a six-game homestand in September.

To stay updated on Nashville happenings, events and sneak peeks, visit www.visitmusiccity.com/explore-nashville/seasonal/fall