There’s no shortage of events and activities in Nashville to fill these long summer days, but the season can slip away quickly without an itinerary in place.
Since the only version of a cruel summer we want is Taylor Swift’s smash hit, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Music City happenings to help you plan a summer to remember.
CHEEKWOOD ESTATE & GARDENS
Stroll Among the Trolls
Step into a world of wonderment at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens’ new exhibition, Trolls: Save the Humans by artist Thomas Dambo. Open now through September 1, this extraordinary installation features six giant trolls intertwined throughout Cheekwood’s gardens and historic landscape. Blending art, nature, and an important message of sustainability, the exhibit serves as a unique story-telling experience that kids and adults alike can enjoy. Dambo, a Denmark-based recycle artist, aims to create art that inspires people to have adventures in nature, while also showcasing how trash can be turned into something beautiful. Each troll’s tale expresses the shared goal of the tribe to help humans rediscover nature and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth — a message that all ages can appreciate. (cheekwood.org)
GAYLORD SOUNDWAVES
Opryland Oasis
Nashville’s iconic resort, Gaylord Opryland, invites guests to experience new entertainment and experiences this season with a fresh lineup of summer programming. Home to nine acres of gorgeous indoor gardens, the upscale water attraction SoundWaves, a variety of cuisine, and a full-service spa, the resort offers tons of seasonal activities for every member of the family all under one, fun-filled roof. Make a splash at the 4-acre aquatic attraction, SoundWaves. While the indoor portion is open year-round, the outdoor attraction is now open daily through August 11, then weekends through Labor Day. Both areas feature multiple rides, a lazy and rapid river, several water slides, a wave pool, multi-level play structures, and adult- only pools. On select dates, guests can enjoy Sound Raves: Late Night at SoundWaves from 8:30 p.m. until midnight, when the attraction transforms into a vibrant venue with a glow DJ, themed food and beverages, and a hair braiding and neon body and face painting station. On select Fridays, hotel guests can visit the Magnolia Lawn for a dazzling Sounds of America Fireworks Spectacular Show along with live entertainment, food trucks, and more. There are also imaginative scavenger hunts for the kids, lively indoor riverboat cruises, an all-new free nightly Luminosity Light Show inside the Delta Atrium, and so much more. (gaylordopryland.com)
THE PEACH TRUCK
Peachy Keen
With the arrival of summer comes the equally anticipated arrival of peach season, and local foodie favorite, The Peach Truck, is providing the ultimate fruity fix to satisfy your summer cravings. Anyone who has acquired one of The Peach Truck’s infamous brown bags of goodness knows these are not your average grocery store peaches. Instead, they are thoughtfully grown, hand-picked, perfectly ripe, and packed full of delicious flavor and nutrients. Whether you’re incorporating these peaches into your favorite seasonal dish, a crafty summer cocktail, or sinking your teeth into one straight out of the bag, The Peach Truck embodies that sweet taste of summertime in every bite. Peach Truck peaches are available at multiple locations around Nashville throughout the season with the complete booth schedule available online. You can also order fresh peaches to be delivered right to your door, all season long. (thepeachtruck.com)
CMA FEST
Country Music Craze
It wouldn’t be summertime in Music City without one of Nashville’s most defining and beloved traditions, CMA Fest. Music lovers from near and far flock downtown to experience the city’s signature country music event, and this year’s lineup is not to be missed. The 2024 CMA Fest runs June 6 through 9, featuring countless performances spanning numerous stages, including four nightly concerts held at Nissan Stadium. The four-day festival features an impressive variety of performances from remarkable up-and-coming acts to some of country music’s biggest stars including Kelsea Ballerini, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Brothers Osborne, Megan Moroney, Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, and many more. Fans can also get a more personal look into the lives of artists at Fan Fair X, located inside the Music City Center, with meet and greets, indoor performances (air conditioning!), interviews, and more. In addition to the many show-stopping performances throughout the festival, there’s also plenty of free offerings for the whole family to enjoy as all daytime, outdoor stages and activities are open to the public. (cmafest.com)
THE ADVENTURE PARK AT NASHVILLE
Thrill Seekers
Ramp up your summer with a healthy dose of adrenaline at the city’s largest zipline and climbing adventure experience, The Adventure Park at Nashville. The park offers outdoor fun for all ages Wednesdays through Sundays, running through August 4, with the complete schedule available online. The park includes 13 trails that consist of various challenges in the trees, including bridges, tightropes, ladders, and 31 ziplines. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an acrobat to enjoy the fun. Trails range from beginner, to intermediate, to advanced, and participants wear harnesses with clips that connect to the trail’s safety system, ensuring that they are always locked onto the course until they reach the end. The main trails are designed for ages 7 to adult, and an Adventure Playground provides a low-to-the-ground adventure experience for little climbers ages 3 to 6. Along with the many aerial activities, there are also three lanes of outdoor axe throwing, nature trails, picnic tables, and a community fire pit. Schedule your visit online and choose from day or evening time slots, including the popular Glow in the Park-themed event held on Saturday nights, featuring music and glowing lights. (myadventurepark.com/NAP)
LET FREEDOM SING! JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
Baby, You're A Firework
Nashville knows how to throw a party, and our annual July 4 celebration, Let Freedom Sing, is unlike any other. The free, family-friendly event located downtown attracts thousands of attendees every year to celebrate Independence Day the Music City way. Multi-platinum country star Chris Young will headline this year’s event, along with other can’t- miss performances from artists, including six-time GRAMMY-nominee Yola, Girl Named Tom, Blessing Offor, and more. The night goes out with a bang, concluding with one of the largest fireworks shows in the county synchronized to a live performance by the GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony. Prior to the evening festivities, bring the family out to enjoy The Amazon Family Fun Zone at Music City Walk of Fame Park for family-friendly activities taking place all day long. (visitmusiccity.com/july4th)
PUTTSHACK NASHVILLE
On Par
Beat the heat this summer with some indoor fun at Puttshack Nashville. Perfect for family outings, group parties and hangs, or even date nights, Puttshack is the place to be for air-conditioned entertainment all season long. Located in The Gulch, Puttshack offers mini golf like you’ve never played it before. The tech-infused, nine-hole course ditches old-school pencils and paper. Instead, each ball is linked with your personalized game profile to track your gameplay, enabling you to focus on the fun rather than keeping track of the score yourself. There’s also a live DJ on the weekends, a plethora of Instagrammable photo ops, and delicious food and cocktails to keep the good times going. Event packages for group bookings are also available to accommodate celebrations big and small and provide fun for all. (puttshack.com/locations/nashville)
NIGHTLIGHT 615 MOVIES IN THE PARK
Cinema Under the Skyline
Movie lovers, mark your calendars — Nashville’s 21+ outdoor movie series returns to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Amphitheater and Lawn for a summer full of your favorite films set against the backdrop of Music City’s skyline views. Movie screenings take place on select evenings throughout the summer and early fall. Beyond the incredible lineup of movies (which changes every year), NightLight 615 provides an all-encompassing social experience at every showing. Each night features a pre-movie DJ to get movie-goers in the spirit; several tasty rotating local food trucks offering a variety of cuisines; a curated event bar featuring a rotating selection of beer, wine, seltzers, and nonalcoholic beverages; plus, classic snacks like popcorn and candy. Snag a spot for your blanket and chair, grab the bites and bevs of your choice, and enjoy a summer night under the stars watching your favorite on-screen stars. (nightlight615.com)
12 SOUTH FARMERS MARKET
So Fresh
Nothing says summer quite like fresh air, locally grown food, and neighborhood comradery; and the 12 South Farmers Market provides all of that and more all season long. The weekly community farmers market runs every Tuesday afternoon through October, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sevier Park. Shop and explore the best locally grown and baked produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, treats, and more, along with live music and food trucks. It’s a fun-filled, family-friendly environment welcoming the whole neighborhood (and beyond) to celebrate and enjoy the deeply rooted agricultural and creative ways that are true to life in Tennessee. (12southfarmersmarket.com)
NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY
All Gas No Brakes
Buckle up, because NASCAR’s most exhilarating weekend of racing returns to Nashville Superspeedway this summer. The tripleheader weekend runs June 28 through 30, welcoming fans to experience adrenaline-inducing speeds, pulse-pounding competition, and unforgettable memories. The 2024 race schedule kicks off on Friday, June 28 with the Rackley Roofing 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race followed by the Tennessee Lottery 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday. Then, the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race closes out the action-packed weekend on Sunday. Nashville Superspeedway is the largest concrete-only track in NASCAR, boasting a 1.33-mile D-shaped track with 14 degrees of banking to provide the ultimate course for high-speed drivers and high-energy fans. Tickets can be purchased online and are available for individual races or weekend packages to soak up every moment of the excitement. (nashvillesuperspeedway.com)