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Things to Do in Nashville in April

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In this post, you’ll find all the best events and things to see and do in April, updated for 2023. 


TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN APRIL

You’ll never run out of choices for activities and things to see in Music City.

That’s why we’ve listed our Top 10 Things to Do in April for Nashville, Tennessee. 

Don’t forget to check out our popular Nashville posts:


1. Attend a Concert

If you’re looking to hit up a concert in Nashville, April is the perfect time to go.

The Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry House, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and Bridgestone Arena, all have events scheduled with big-name artists and local acts alike.

A few of the artists appearing are:

You can see more of the Ryman Auditorium with a backstage tour

Find all of the April concerts here.


2. Catch a Sporting Event

April is a great time to catch a game in Nashville.

The NHL is starting the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Nashville Sounds open their minor league baseball season.

Hockey

Baseball

Soccer

Click here to find all the sporting events in April.


3. Nashville Comedy Festival

Nashville’s annual Comedy Festival with well-known comedians dominating the stage is happening April 15th-23rd, 2023.

There will be several well-known and beloved comedians performing during this event, giving you a great opportunity to see some of the most famous comics in the world and enjoy a good laugh.

The week-long lineup is constantly growing, as the festival is spread out over the Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee PAC, The Opry House, and other venues.

Here are some of the biggest names performing either during this event or in Nashville throughout the month of April:

Ticket prices vary depending on the comic and the venue. 

Outside of the festival, there will be other comedians performing in Nashville in April. You can find them here.


4. Go on a Sightseeing Tour

Take a tour of Nashville’s famous Old Town Trolley Tours.

The hop-on-hop-off tours have bus stops at all the best landmarks in the city center.

Your driver is also equipped with a headset so you can learn about Music City’s history.

You can also take this tour as a GPS-enabled audio tour!

Self Guided Tour to Downtown Nashville

If you want to take advantage of some nice weather, take a bicycle tour of downtown or a walking tour of Nashville's honky-tonk history.

Take a half-day to learn about Nashville’s Southern food scene and how it is intertwined with Civil Rights and music history on this all-inclusive food tour.


5. See More with a City Pass

See more of Nashville in April with a city pass that includes entry to all the most popular attractions.

The passes are a great way way to get a bulk discount on museums, venues, and historic estates.

Depending on the pass you purchase, you could get entry to:

Find all the information about the Nashville city passes here.

Or click here to purchase a pass: Day Pass - Nashville Sighting | Flex Pass - Nashville Sightseeing | Nashville Fun Pass


6. Celebrate Record Store Day

Record Store Day is a nationwide celebration of independent record shops on April 15th, 2023. Why not celebrate it in Music City?

The celebrations will include live music, special record releases, and limited-edition promo products from participating stores.

Record Stores to Check Out:

  • Grimey’s New & Preloved Music
  • Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop
  • Jack White’s Third Man Records
  • Mckay Books
  • Found Object Records
  • The Great Escape

Click here for the full list of participating record stores in Nashville.


7. East Nashville Beer Festival

Looking for a convenient way to taste-test Music City’s beer options? The East Nashville Beer Festival is one of the few springtime beer events in Nashville.

Go to East Park on April 15th, 2023 to taste samples of beer from local and regional breweries.

Food trucks and a full lineup of live music will be included.

General admission has in the past run around $60 including a 5-ounce tasting glass and beer samples. Last year the festival was open from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

You must be 21+ to attend.

Tip: If you aren’t a fan of beer but want to join your friends, $25 designated driver tickets are available that come with a $10 food truck voucher.

Tickets will be posted soon.


8. Find a Festival or Event

Come to Nashville in April to find festivals or events happening throughout the month.

The first festival of the month will be the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Enjoy free music, a parade, food trucks, and street performers.

There are also some interesting events taking place such as:

Take a look at our free things to do post for more free activities.


9. Ragin Cajun Crawfish Boil

Experience Nashville’s largest young professionals party on Saturday, April 29th, 2023.

The Junior Chamber of Commerce puts on the Ragin Cajun Crawfish Boil at Cumberland Park.

This annual event has been going on for 21 years and is always packed.

The Cajun crawfish boil offers 4,000 pounds of crawfish and a stage with live, local music.

General Admission is between $20 - $95, depending on whether you want to eat or have VIP access.

If you want to enjoy some Nashville staples but aren’t in town during these events, try this downtown Nashville walking food tour.


10. Go on a Day Trip to Memphis

Nashville might be the Music City of Tennessee, but Memphis is the home of none other than the King himself, Elvis Presley.

Fans often make it a point to visit his former house, known as Graceland, at least once in their lives.

If you're in Nashville to see some of the most notable sites tied to musicians, chances are you'll relish the opportunity to see important landmarks in Memphis as well.

Thankfully, there is an organized day trip you can take which includes VIP access to Graceland. You'll also receive a guided tour of Sun Studio and free time on Beale Street!

This organized tour of Memphis is approximately 15 hours long, so you'll have plenty of time to see the most notable landmarks and explore the city.

Purchase tickets or learn more.


Honorable Mentions:

Whiskey Warmer Charity Tasting

Whiskey Warmer is an annual fundraiser for the Westhaven Foundation, which provides grants and scholarships to local charitable organizations.

This charity whiskey tasting is a 20-minute drive south of downtown.

The event is only open to attendees who are 21 years old or above.

You can sample up to 15 whiskeys from different distilleries, including Bulleit, Tin Cup, Tennessee Legend, Chattanooga Whiskey, Bushmills, and more.

The event takes place on April 1st, 2023.

Additional information can be found here.

Check out our other ideas for things to do at night here.


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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: February 7th, 2023
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