has assembled a complete guide to Nashville’s best free activities. Whether you’re taking an epic bachelorette road trip with your besties or you’re just a local watching your budget, we’ll make sure your time in

Tennessee

’s capital is anything but boring—or expensive!

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Free outdoor adventures in Nashville

#1. Centennial Park & the Parthenon

Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Centennial Park is situated right in the heart of Midtown, and it’s got everything a park needs—playgrounds, a pond with ducks, beautiful landscapes, quiet corners, an old airplane, pavilions—oh, and a full-scale replica of Greece’s ancient

Parthenon

, which is free to roam around on the outside.

Head to the park on Friday or Saturday throughout May and June (or Thursdays and Fridays in September) to catch the free, multi-genre live music at

Musicians Corner

, perfect for all ages and complete with local drinks and fares, art, and activities.

#2. John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

Address: 100 1st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201

If you’re downtown, stroll toward the Cumberland River and you’ll find Riverfront Park, a quiet spot to see the water and escape the bustle of Broadway. Stroll across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge—one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world—for some of the best views of the Nashville skyline.

On the other side of the bridge, you’ll find another cool spot—Cumberland Park, the location of the free

Jazz on the Cumberland Concert Series

, happening on select Sundays from May through October.

#3. Warner Parks

Address: 50 Vaughn Rd, Nashville, TN 37221

Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, together known as “The Warner Parks,” are full of forests, fields, hills, and hiking and horse trails spanning over 3,100 acres right outside of the city. You can grab a picnic to eat at a pavilion, check out the scenic overlooks and winding paths, or even stop to see a few historic spots.

The parks are also the location of the famous

Iroquois Steeplechase

horse race that happens every spring.

#4. Shelby Park

Address: Shelby Ave & S 20th St, Nashville, TN 37206

Another sprawling and gorgeous green haven in the city is Shelby Park, situated along the Cumberland in East Nashville. The park has everything from a fascinating nature center, several playgrounds, casual fishing spots, baseball fields, a dog park, golf courses, and superb walking and biking trails—both paved and unpaved.

You’re also almost guaranteed to see some wildlife at Shelby Park, from deer, squirrels, and foxes to a wide variety of birds!

#5. Arrington Vineyards

Address: 6211 Patton Rd, Arrington, TN 37014

Arrington Vineyards

is where all of your Instagrammable-charcuterie-picnic-dreams come true. Situated on a quaint hill 30 minutes south of Nashville, the vineyard gives you the perfect wine country experience—from wine tasting flights, full bottles, snacks, and picnic tables.

What would a hip Nashville spot be without seasonal live music? Head to Arrington for Music in the Vines every Saturday and Sunday from April through October. Unless you buy yourself some Arrington Wine or snacks, it’s always free—even parking!

#6. Radnor Lake State Park

Address: 1160 Otter Creek Road, Nashville, TN 37220

Yes, another park—but Nashville is full of so much natural scenery you’ll forget you’re in a metropolitan city! Radnor Lake is protected as a Class II Natural Area, so it’s chock-full of unique flora and fauna, from mink, otters, and chipmunks to hundreds of species of wildflowers, mosses, fungi, ferns, and vines.

You can get educated at the environmental center, take a bike ride around the park, or just stroll on one of the many hiking and walking trails. The Lake Trail is accessible for all-terrain wheelchairs, too!

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Music City’s free events and festivals

#7. Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live

Address: Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

When: December 31

When you’re in Music City, you can expect epic live music for just about any occasion—especially on New Year’s Eve. Nashville’s annual

Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve

event is a massive six-hour marathon of free performances from big-name artists—plus food trucks, local vendors, and craft beer all night long. The night ends with a bang—or several hundred—when the fireworks light up the sky and the Music Note drops at midnight.

#8. Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th

Address: Downtown Nashville

When: July 4

Nashville is home to one of the largest

July 4th celebrations

in the country, often attracting around 250,000 people to downtown Nashville. Similar to New Year’s Eve, the day is packed with live performances, food, fun, and a massive fireworks show—one of America’s biggest! To add even more excitement, the whole show is accompanied by the outstanding Nashville Symphony orchestra.

#9. Live on the Green

Address: 3rd Ave N and Union St Nashville, TN 37201

When: Labor Day weekend

Nashville’s beloved local radio station Lightning 100 presents this free multi-day outdoor concert series every year at Public Square Park over Labor Day weekend. As with any good music festival, there are always food trucks and local fares to enjoy while you jam out to local, regional, and national artists.

#10. Summer Shakespeare Festival

Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

When: Thursdays through Sundays, mid-August to mid-September

When it comes to the arts, Nashville’s home to more than just music. Experience some outdoor theater performances with the

Nashville Summer Shakespeare Festival

every summer at Centennial Park. Performances often feature a pre-show concert, scholarly discussions, apprentice company performances, food trucks, and more! It’s technically free, but there is a suggested $10 donation.

#11. Tomato Art Fest

Address: Five Points neighborhood, East Nashville

When: Usually the second weekend of August

Said to be the uniter of “fruits and vegetables since 2004,” the

Tomato Art Fest

is a giant neighborhood festival in the historic Five Points neighborhood of East Nashville. Drawing around 65,000 in 2021, the event is a hodgepodge of local art, music performances, silly contests, shopping, kids’ activities, and of course, delicious food. The festival and performances are free, and costumes are highly encouraged!

#12. Oktoberfest

Address: Bicentennial Mall, 600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243

When: October 6th-9th, 2022

Oktoberfest

is Nashville’s oldest festival and America’s second-biggest Oktoberfest, so it’s bound to be a good time. With free admission, you’ll get access to the party’s live music, a brat-eating contest,

Masskrugstemmen

, and the Dachshund derby. You may want to bring along a few dollars to try out the local breweries and tasty food!

#13. First Saturday Art Crawl

Address: Instagram @firstsaturdayartcrawl for updates

When: First Saturday of every month from 5 pm to 8 pm

Get a free glimpse of Nashville’s art scene with the

First Saturday Art Crawl

, where downtown galleries open up to give art-lovers the opportunity to appreciate a wide variety of art exhibitions—from local artists to the world-renowned. Some galleries may even offer light refreshments. Head to their Instagram account for updates on what galleries are on the roster!

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Only in Nashville: museums, monuments, and more

#14. Broadway

Address: 1111 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

As one of Nashville’s most famous attractions, Broadway is a hub of near-constant excitement. Sure, the honky-tonks, bars, and live music are a huge hit, but the area has way more than just exciting nightlife and cowboy boots. You can kill two birds—or 20!—with one stone by visiting these cool spots up, down, and around Broadway:

Historic Union Station

Ernest Tubb Record Shop

Riverfront Station

Fifth & Broadway

Printer’s Alley

Ryman Auditorium

Goo Goo Shop

Not all of these places are free to enter, but including them on a walking tour is worth the extra steps!

#15. Tennessee State Museum

Address: 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

As the capital of Tennessee, Nashville is home to the free

Tennessee State Museum

, which depicts the history of the state. The museum features everything relating to Tennessee, from prehistoric times to today. Exhibits and artifacts include historic military uniforms, Native American history and cultures, natural history, the Civil War era, and more.

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#16. Nashville Public Library

Address: 615 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

Right down from the State Capitol building sits the

downtown public library

—but this is no average library. The Modern Classical-style stone building houses a grand marble staircase in the lobby and plenty of other gorgeous architectural features. Different reading rooms and collections include exhibits on the Civil Rights and women’s suffrage movements—and the kid’s area is what dreams are made of!

#17. Fort Negley

Address: 1100 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203

Fort Negley

was the biggest inland stone fort built in the Civil War and served as the center of Union-occupied Nashville. Today, you can visit the Fort Negley Visitors Center and learn about Nashville’s history during the Civil War through the Depression-era Works Progress Administration. The center aims to educate and emphasize the connection between history and our role in it today.

#18. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Address: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214

The Gaylord Opryland Resort is way more than just a hotel—the sprawling resort has several massive atriums complete with waterfalls, a river, bridges, restaurants, shops, and thousands of plants. The inside is open to the public. It’s also just a short jaunt to the Grand Ole Opry. Don’t miss it at

Christmastime

—it’s even more magical covered in lights!

Pro Tip To avoid paying for expensive parking around the convention center, park at Opry Mills mall and walk over!

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#19. Murals

You’ve probably seen the “I Believe in Nashville” wall and the “What Lifts You” wings mural all over Instagram, but Nashville has dozens of other

cool murals

and photogenic walls for your perfect profile photo. Head to the 12 South neighborhood for the most iconic murals in one place!

#20. Farmer’s markets

Address: 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. Nashville, TN 37208

The

Nashville Farmers Market

is the best place to find fresh produce, multicultural food, artisan fares, and locally-made crafts and products all year round. Head to the south end to visit the

Gardens of Babylon

, a plant nursery with an extensive collection of greenery and pottery.

Nashville has several great neighborhood farmers markets, like the

Richland Park Farmer’s Market

, the

12 South Farmers Market

, and the

East Nashville Farmers’ Market

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FAQs

When is the best time to visit Nashville?

While certain spots like Broadway are generally packed all year, you can avoid crowds by coming in the late fall or winter. However, all the best events happen from April through October—but be prepared for the heat and humidity!

How close is Nashville to good hiking?

Nashville has quite a few trails in or near the city, like Radnor Lake and Narrows of the Harpeth—but driving about an hour and a half east will get you to some of the best waterfall hikes in the state, like Greeter Falls, Falls Creek Falls, Cummins Falls, and Rock Island State Park.

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