10 Things to do in Nashville this Fall

We invite you to experience for yourself what makes Nashville special during the fall months. It’s a city that resonates with life and vibrates to the beat of every kind of song. It’s a town that harvests American music, Southern hospitality, unbelievable cuisine, and a boundless spectrum of nightlife. Come join us and together we will keep the music playing!

1. Hit the Hall — Kick off your Nashville experience with a day at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The world’s largest popular music museum offers ever-changing exhibits featuring the legends of country music past and today’s hottest stars. Grab a bite to eat inside the museum at 2|22 Eatery, a full-service restaurant serving Southern favorites, or at Bajo Sexto, an authentic Mexican taqueria. Then take some time to explore the museum’s two retail stores offering locally-made gifts, clothing, and a comprehensive selection of books and music.
   


2. Ride the Row — Take a tour of Music Row and visit historic RCA Studio B, the famous recording studio where Elvis recorded more than 200 songs. Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, and many more recorded classic hits here. Not surprisingly, the heartbeat of Music City is driven by music — from country to classical. Tours of RCA Studio B depart daily from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum.
   


3. Visit The Parthenon — In Nashville’s Centennial Park, you’ll find the world’s only full-scale reproduction of the ancient Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The Parthenon houses an art gallery and museum as well as Alan LeQuire’s Athena Parthenos. Standing at almost 42 feet in height, Athena is the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western world. Just a mile from The Parthenon is the LeQuire Gallery, where you can visit Alan in his studio and witness one of the nation’s premier sculptors.
   


4. Take In A Songwriters-In-The-Round Show — One of the most unique ways to hear music in Nashville is at a songwriters show. Typically called a “writers night,” songwriters are put somewhere they are not used to being — in the spotlight. Several singer/songwriters will play ‘in-the-round’ as they sit on stage accompanied only by a microphone, a guitar, and their immense talent. These shows can be found in small, intimate clubs all over town, including the famous The Bluebird Cafe in Green Hills and downtown’s The Listening Room Cafe.
   


5. Get Artsy — Nashville’s art scene is booming with art galleries, festivals, art crawls, and more. Be sure to head over to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Downtown 5th Avenue art galleries, OZ Arts Nashville, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, the Wedgewood/Houston galleries, the First Saturday Art Crawl, Shakespeare in the Park, Fall Craft Fair, and more.
   


6. Nashville's Newest Sounds — Honoring musicians from stars to studio players that represent all genres of music, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is housed in the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. From Hank Williams, Sr. to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Motown to Southern Rock – there is truly something of interest to everyone. Pay homage to the Man in Black at The Johnny Cash Museum located on 3rd Avenue. Featuring the most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world, this is THE Cash venue to visit for all ages. Just upstairs is The Patsy Cline Museum which holds never before seen artifacts from the songstress. Then stroll up to the George Jones on 2nd Avenue, which offers visitors a never-before-seen look into the life and career of the musical icon. Also, you need to see Madame Tussauds Nashville! The world-famous family friendly wax attraction will provide an interactive experience, allowing you to step into immersive iconic scenes and musical performances that cannot be found anywhere else.
   


7. Take a Timeless Journey — The Ryman Auditorium, also called the “Mother Church of Country Music,” has had artists as diverse as Elvis Costello and Patsy Cline perform on its legendary stage since 1892. You can take a backstage tour and record your own song in the Ryman studio. The stars of the Grand Ole Opry take the stage every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday night (at the Ryman Auditorium November-January; at the Grand Ole Opry House February-October) with guest appearances by the biggest names in music. With 90 years of history, the Opry is the world’s longest-running broadcast and shows no signs of slowing down.
   


8. Salute — Three U.S. Presidents call Tennessee home: Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. You can revisit the past at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the People’s President. Polk is buried on the grounds of the historic State Capitol building in downtown Nashville.
   


9. Visit Honky Tonk Highway — Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Legends Corner, The Second Fiddle, The Stage, Layla’s Bluegrass Inn, and Robert’s Western World are all experts at serving up cool longnecks and hot country music. You never know who you’ll see in these Lower Broadway clubs in the shadow of the Ryman. Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Gretchen Wilson, Dierks Bentley, and other stars began their careers on Lower Broadway.
   


10. Special Events — Handmade crafts, music and food festivals, Tennessee Titans football, Nashville Predators hockey, beer festivals, and a variety of college sports are all on Nashville’s fall calendar. Music takes center stage with events like the Americana Music Festival, Full Moon Pickin’ Parties, and Musicians Corner. The Music City Food + Wine Festival in September includes demonstrations from world-class chefs, tastings from local restaurants, wine and beer tastings, and more. In early November, “Country Music’s Biggest Night” comes to Nashville during the Country Music Association Awards followed by the CMA Country Christmas taping later in the week.