16. Living History Tour
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 862-7970
Address: 1001 Fourth Ave. S. at Oak Street
Description: For one afternoon only in late Sept, the Nashville City Cemetery is transformed into a theater of sorts, with actors portraying notable Nashvillians who were laid to rest at the historic cemetery. Visitors walk along the paths, taking in miniskits throughout the graveyard. At dusk a candlelight tour begins. The whole thing lasts about 90 minutes and is suitable for children. The event, which began in 1999, raises money to support the cemetery. Admission is $5.
17. Southern Festival Of Books
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 770-0006
Description: More than 30,000 book lovers attend this annual 3-day event sponsored by the Tennessee Humanities Council. Some 200 authors from around the country, with an emphasis on those from the Southeast, gather for readings, panel discussions, and book signings. A children’s area features children’s authors and activities. Admission is free. Tickets to the Friday-night dinner and awards presentation are approximately $40 a person. The festival is usually held the second weekend of Oct.
18. Oktoberfest
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 256-2729
Description: Live German music, German food and drink, plus dozens of booths full of German and American arts and crafts are featured at this annual event. It’s held on the second Sat in Oct in historic Germantown. The festival opens with worship services at the Church of the Assumption Catholic Church and the Monroe Street United Methodist Church, which cosponsor the event. Admission is free. To get there, take I-65 to the MetroCenter exit and proceed to Eighth Avenue. The festival site is 2 blocks north of the Bicentennial Mall.
19. Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 889-3060
Address: 2804 Opryland Dr.
Description: Grand Ole Opry fans gather each Oct to celebrate the birthday of America’s longest-running radio program. The 3-day party is held in mid-Oct and includes concerts, a Grand Ole Opry performance, and autograph and photo sessions with the stars.
20. Heart Of Country Antiques Show
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (800) 862-1090
Address: 2800 Opryland Dr.
Description: This popular antiques show is one of two Heart of Country shows held in Nashville each year. The other event takes place in Feb.
21. Naia Pow Wow
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 232-9179
Address: 2910 Hobson Pike
Description: The Native American Indian Association sponsors this annual event that brings together Native Americans from throughout North America. As many as 25 tribes are represented, and the general public is invited. It’s held on the third weekend of Oct. Competitive dancing, arts and crafts, storytelling, demonstrations, and fine-art displays are among the festivities. Food booths feature traditional foods from various tribes. Admission is $6 for ages 12 and older and $3 for those under 12.
22. Hands On Nashville Day
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 298-1108
Description: One day a year, usually on a Sat in Oct, Nashville’s volunteer-services organizations plus thousands of volunteers get together to provide community service at nonprofit agencies and schools. While some paint and clean schools, clean up parks, landscape school grounds, and build small play areas at schools and community centers, others organize intergenerational parties for senior citizens and walk dogs at the humane society. In addition to providing needed services, the event raises the community’s awareness of Nashville’s nonprofit organizations.
23. Community Of Many Faces
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 862-5800
Address: 615 Church St.
Description: The annual celebration of the diverse cultures and communities of Nashville features multicultural, music, and dance performances; puppet shows; craft workshops; book talks and story hours; movies; and entertainment by local performers. All events are family friendly, free, and open to the public.
24. Christmas Village
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 256-2726
Description: This annual event at the fairgrounds features more than 250 merchants with seasonal and gift items. You’ll find Christmas ornaments, handpainted and personalized items, clothing, pottery, jewelry, toys, and food items. Kids can also visit with Santa. The 3-day mid-Nov event benefits the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Hearing & Speech Center and Pi Beta Phi philanthropies. Admission is $10 for anyone 10 and older; children 9 and younger get in free. Advance tickets are available for $8 (call or visit the website for details).
25. Christmas Pastimes
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 356-0501, (800) 270-3991
Address: 5025 Harding Rd.
Description: Belle Meade Plantation decks the halls the way they did it in the late 1890s, offering a look at how Nashvillians—at least some of them—celebrated Christmas more than a century ago. Admission is $7 per person. Wassail tours are available by reservation. The exhibit runs from mid-Nov through early Jan.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 2800 Opryland Dr.
27. Christmas At Belmont
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 460-5459
Address: 1900 Wedgewood Ave.
Description: Belmont Mansion, on the campus of Belmont University near Music Row, is decorated in Victorian style during the holidays, trimmed with hundreds of yards of garland, fruit, and dried flowers. Christmas at Belmont begins around the Fri after Thanksgiving and continues through Dec 31. Tours of the 1853 mansion are available Tues through Sat. A free classical and folk music concert is held once during the event (usually on the second Mon in Dec). Admission is $10 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6 through 12.
28. Goodlettsville Antique Festival
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 859-7979
Description: Goodlettsville’s numerous antiques malls and shops have a Christmas Open House with special decorations, refreshments, and sales. It takes place usually the last weekend in Nov. From downtown, take I-65 N. to exit 97, then go west to Dickerson Pike. The malls are on Main Street.
29. Tribute To African Americans In The Battle Of Nashville
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 963-5561
Description: A lecture, tour, and wreath laying are highlights of this event, which takes place over 3 days in mid-Dec. The tour includes stops at locally significant sites such as Fort Negley and Shy’s Hill. National Cemetery is at 1420 Gallatin Rd. Admission is free.
30. Dickens Of A Christmas
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 591-8500
Description: You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to a Charles Dickens Christmas during this event, held the second full weekend in Dec in historic downtown Franklin. For those 2 days, 2 blocks of Main Street are themed to the 1800s. You’ll see carolers in Victorian costumes as well as characters such as Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future. In the store windows, artisans dressed in period clothing demonstrate crafts of the 1800s. Shopkeepers dress in period clothing, too. Take a free ride in a horse-drawn carriage, then visit a street vendor for a bag of kettle corn, some sugarplums, plum pudding, tea, or hot cider. Admission is free.