Major Events & Festivals in Nashville, United States

1. CMA Festival

A multi-day country music festival held in downtown Nashville featuring top artists and new talent.

Large Scale: Attracts over 100,000 attendees and hosts more than 1,500 musicians
Outdoor Performances: Features outdoor stages along the Cumberland River and in various downtown locations
Free Stage Shows: Includes free stage shows at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage

A celebration of Nashville's LGBTQ+ community with music, food, and art.

Community Gathering: Brings together thousands for a weekend of events promoting inclusivity and diversity
Parade: Includes a large parade through downtown Nashville
Art Exhibitions: Features visual arts exhibitions by local and national artists

A culinary and music festival showcasing Nashville's top chefs and musicians.

Celebrity Chef Appearances: Offers opportunities to meet and learn from renowned chefs
Live Music Performances: Features live music performances by popular artists throughout the event
Tasting Events: Includes tastings from local and regional restaurants, wineries, and breweries

A celebration of music and guitars, including a parade, concerts, and a guitar-making competition.

Guitar Themed: Centered around all things related to the guitar
Parade and Concerts: Includes a parade and multiple concerts featuring local musicians
Guitar Making Competition: Hosts a competition for guitar makers to showcase their craftsmanship

A premier film festival showcasing local and international films in various genres.

Industry Professionals: Offers networking opportunities with industry professionals
Award Ceremony: Features an award ceremony to recognize filmmakers and their work
Variety of Genres: Showcases films from a wide range of genres, including documentaries, short films, and feature films

A celebration of craft beer featuring tastings from local and national breweries.

A holiday tradition featuring floats, marching bands, and Santa Claus.

Holiday Spirit: Celebrates the holiday season with cheer and festivity
Community Participation: Encourages local schools, businesses, and organizations to participate in the parade
Historic Route: Takes place along a historic route through downtown Nashville

A multi-venue festival featuring American roots music, including country, blues, and folk.

Variety of Venues: Takes place at various venues throughout downtown Nashville
New Talent Showcase: Highlights emerging talent in American roots music
Conference Sessions: Offers conference sessions on the music industry and networking opportunities

A literary festival featuring authors, booksellers, and writing workshops.

Author Appearances: Offers opportunities to meet and hear from bestselling authors
Writing Workshops: Provides workshops for aspiring writers to learn from industry professionals
Book Sales: Features book sales by independent booksellers and publishers

A celebration of the cherry blossoms in Centennial Park featuring Japanese culture and food.

Cherry Blossoms: Centers around the beautiful cherry blossom trees in Centennial Park
Japanese Culture: Highlights Japanese culture through performances, demonstrations, and exhibits
Food and Drink: Offers food and drink from Japanese restaurants and vendors

A race event to celebrate Nashville's LGBTQ+ community during the annual Pride Festival.

Run Event: Includes a 5K run and fun walk for participants of all ages and abilities
Community Support: Raises funds for local LGBTQ+ organizations and charities
Costume Contest: Features a costume contest for participants dressed in creative attire

A celebration of Nashville's famous hot chicken featuring tastings and competitions.

Hot Chicken Tastings: Offers opportunities to taste different variations of hot chicken
Competitions: Hosts competitions for chefs and restaurants to showcase their hot chicken recipes
Hot Chicken History: Provides educational sessions on the history and cultural significance of hot chicken

A fashion event showcasing local and national designers, runway shows, and networking events.

Designer Showcases: Features runway shows by local and national designers
Networking Opportunities: Offers networking events for fashion industry professionals and aspiring designers
Community Engagement: Engages the community through educational workshops, pop-up shops, and charity events

A German-themed festival featuring beer, food, music, and dance.

German Culture: Celebrates German culture through food, drink, music, and dance
Beer Tastings: Offers beer tastings from local and imported breweries
Traditional Entertainment: Features traditional German entertainment, such as polka music and dance demonstrations

A fundraising event for the Nashville Jazz Workshop featuring live music and silent auctions.

Live Music Performances: Includes live performances by renowned jazz musicians
Silent Auctions: Features silent auctions for unique experiences and items
Support for Local Music Education: Supports the mission of the Nashville Jazz Workshop to educate young musicians