What to do in Nashville this Summer
There is nothing quite like summertime in the South. Whether it is the simple pleasures like the sound of crickets chirping at sunset or spending time on the lake with friends, you can’t beat Tennessee in the summer months. It's no wonder that this time of year is one of the most popular for visitors of Nashville, and the city is full of activities and experiences for guests of all ages.
We’ve compiled a list of the New Boots’ staff’s favorite summertime activities in Nashville. We will cover everything from the largest tourist attractions all the way to off-the-beaten-path adventures that will be sure to bring memories for years to come. Follow along for the best summertime attractions that our city has to offer!
CMA Fest
June 8 to June 11
Perhaps the largest attraction in Nashville is CMA Fest, which is a country music festival that overtakes the entirety of downtown Nashville every June. Country music fans travel from all around the world to experience their favorite country music artists performing and meeting fans at meet & greets in the Nashville Convention Center. Stages are placed throughout downtown Broadway during the day with performers and the evening headliners perform at Nissan Stadium. If you dont mind crowds and love country music- CMA Fest is for you!
Moon Pie Festival
June 17
While we’re on the subject of southern junk food, we can’t go without mentioning the Moon Pie Festival. Did you know Tennessee is home to the Moon Pie? The festival is just a short drive outside of Nashville in Bell Buckle Tennessee and will provide food and fun for the whole family. The festival is held every June and offers activities, live music & contests that will have you feeling full of Tennessee’s favorite dessert.
Nashville Pride
June 24 to June 25
New Boots prides itself on being an LGBT-owned small business and supporting our local LGBT community and performers. Nashville Pride Festival is held annually and full of live music, drag shows and food trucks- you may even find some line dancing there if you’re lucky! The event is held every June at Bicentennial Mall Capitol State Park and tickets are available at nashvillepride.org
Let Freedom Sing! July 4th Celebration
July 4th
Perhaps one of our favorite events in Nashville is 4th of July purely because of its absolutely unrivaled fireworks show on the Cumberland River. The festivities include live music from some of the city’s most popular country music artists which air on CMT channel and the weekend caps off with some of the best sparkling visuals you can find in the southeast. Nothing says summertime like the 4th of July in Tennessee!
Music City Grand Prix
August 4th to August 6th
Do you like to see cars go fast… like REALLY fast? Consider coming down to Nashville for the annual Grand Prix! The NTT INDYCAR Series is always a hot ticket and not just because it happens in August. This is a rowdy weekend, complete with races and entertainment, is brought to you by one of Nashville’s biggest record labels, Big Machine Records, so they make sure to include some top notch live music. Get your tickets here.
Tomato Art Festival
August 11th to August 12th
Nashville is know to celebrate great music but we also like to celebrate something else great - the tomato! This East Nashville festival does it all - live music, art shows, food trucks, and even a parade. Nothing is better on a hot August weekend then enjoying some fresh produce while catching one of the cities most beloved traditions.