Nashville Free Things to Do

wander free

NOT EVERY ATTRACTION, TOUR, AND EVENT HAS TO BREAK YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET. WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING TO TAKE IN MUSIC AT ONE OF NASHVILLE'S ALMOST 100 FREE MUSIC STAGES OR GRAB A SAMPLE OF A LOCALLY-MADE CHOCOLATE, WE HAVE YOUR ULTIMATE LIST OF FREEBIES AROUND TOWN RIGHT HERE.

MUSIC

FESTIVALS

ART

WANDERINGS

PARKING

DON'T JUST WANDER- CRAWL.

NASHVILLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOME TO AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT- BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE MUSIC PLAYED NIGHTLY IN MUSIC CITY IS FREE. LIKE, FREE FREE. THE WORLD FAMOUS HONKY TONK HIGHWAY (LOWER BROADWAY) IS HOME TO OVER 100 FREE LIVE MUSIC STAGES. MOST SPOTS FOLLOW A SIMILAR 3-STAGE FORMULA- ON THE FIRST FLOOR YOU'LL FIND A LIVE BAND PLAYING NOTHING BUT COUNTRY AND ROCK, THE SECOND BOASTS MORE OF AN ACOUSTIC OR "UP-AND-COMING" VIBE, AND THE THIRD WILL WELCOME NASHVILLE'S BEST DJ'S, KARAOKE, AND TRIBUTE BANDS. CREATE YOUR OWN BAR CRAWL PRO BONO SINCE THERE'S NOT A SINGLE COVER CHARGE TO BE FOUND WITHIN LOBRO. JUST REMEMBER, WHILE ADMISSION IS FREE, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO TIP THEIR BANDS (IF YOU LIKE THEM...IF YOU DON'T, THERE'S 99 OTHER STAGES TO CHOOSE FROM.)

MUSIC IS NOT THE ONLY ART FORM THAT YOU CAN ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY. NASHVILLE HOSTS A NUMBER OF FESTIVALS, ART CRAWLS, AND FAIRS THAT DON'T REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR ADMISSION. THE MOST BELOVED REOCCURRING EVENT IS LOCATED RIGHT ON NASHVILLE'S FAMOUS "AVENUE OF THE ARTS." THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH MUSIC VENUES, CHURCHES, ART GALLERIES, AND STUDIOS OPEN THEIR DOORS TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE. GRAB A GLASS OF WINE ON-THE-HOUSE AND STROLL THE STREETS BETWEEN THE DOWNTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND THE TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. OR SIMPLY GRAB A SPOT ON ONE OF THE MANY OPEN-AIR PATIOS AND SPEND YOUR EVENING PEOPLE WATCHING.

THE DOWNTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IS ALSO HOME TO THE NATION'S MOST BREATH-TAKING ASSORTMENT EGYPTIAN ECCLESIASTICAL REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE. NOT SURE WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS? HOP OF ONE OF THEIR FREE PUBLIC TOURS TUESDAYS AND THURSDAY AT 2:00PM. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED, SO CONTACT THEM IN ADVANCE.

PICTURED LEFT: THE DOWNTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - 5TH AVENUE NORTH

BITES AND SITES- ON THE HOUSE

IT'S HARD FOR VISITORS TO BELIEVE THAT NASHVILLE COULD BE KNOWN FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN MUSIC. WE'VE BOASTED NICKNAMES LIKE "THE ATHENS OF THE SOUTH," "MURAL CITY USA," AND "THE BUCKLE OF THE BIBLE BELT." STEP A FREE TRIP BACK IN TIME AND LEARN ABOUT NASHVILLE'S PREHISTORIC CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE, SPORTS HISTORY, AND MORE AT THE TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM. BE FOREWARNED THOUGH, TIME CAN ESCAPE YOU ONCE YOU'RE INSIDE, SO PLAN FOR AT LEAST 3 WHOLE HOURS OR MULTIPLE SMALL VISITS DURING YOUR TRIP.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE IS ALSO HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST PRISTINE PARKS IN THE COUNTRY. FIND YOURSELF ON A STROLL DOWN 8TH AVENUE AND VISIT THE LEGENDARY FORT NEGLEY, UP BROADWAY TO CENTENNIAL PARK AND PARTHENON, OR A LITTLE FURTHER OUT TO RAGNOR LAKE STATE PARK. A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE MANY OUTDOOR OFFERINGS AROUND NASHVILLE CAN BE FOUND ON THE TENNESSEE STATE PARKS WEBSITE.

AFTER GETTING YOUR FILL OF HISTORY AND TAKING A LITERAL HIKE, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE LOOKING FOR A PICK-ME-UP THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK. SNACK ON SAMPLES OF NASHVILLE'S FINEST FOODS AND DRINKS AT ONE OF THE MANY CANDY SHOPS, BREWERIES, WINERIES, AND DISTILLERIES IN TOWN. PICK UP A BITE OF PRALINE AT SAVANNAH'S CANDY KITCHEN, A SNIPPET OF GOOEY GLORY AT THE GOO-GOO CLUSTER STORE, OR A COMPLETE COOKIE AT CHRISTIE'S. BOOK A $5 TOUR AT A NUMBER OF LOCATE ALCOHOL PURVEYORS AND FIND YOURSELF BARRELING UP TO A HALF DOZEN TASTINGS EACH.

NASHVILLE ALSO HOSTS A NUMBER OF FREE FESTIVALS AND FAIRS ANNUALLY THAT BRING VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO EXPERIENCE OUR ARTS AND CULTURE FIRST HAND. MOST FAMOUS AMONG THEM IS OUR ANNUAL COUNTRY MUSIC SPECTACULAR- CMA FEST. YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY FREE MUSIC WITH THE SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS, FREE CRAFT LESSONS AND CLASSES AT CENTENNIAL CRAFT FESTIVAL, AND MORE AT THE GULCH NIGHT MARKET. FOR MORE FREE FESTIVALS AND FAIRS, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK YOUR GUIDE WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND TOWN OR FOLLOW US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WEEKLY EVENTS.