This post covers the top things to do in July in Nashville (updated for 2022), including nighttime activities, free things to do, and family-friendly options.
Be sure to read our master post on things to do in Nashville for even more ideas.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN JULY
This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out during July. Don't forget to check out our popular Nashville posts:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
- Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
- Country Music Hall of Fame Discounts
- Madame Tussauds Nashville
- Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Discounts
1. See a Concert
If you’re looking for a concert, Music City is the place to find it. We've listed the highlights below.
For other shows, look into the famed Ryman Auditorium and of course the Grand Ole Opry House.
- Ben Folds | July 1st, July 2nd
- Morris Day/Zapp/Cameo | July 2nd
- Rod Stewert/Cheaptrick | July 5th
- Brandi Carlile | July 8th, July 9th
- Steely Dan | July 13th
- PJ Morton | July 17th, July 20th
- Josh Groban | July 19th
- Norah Jones | July 20th
- Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo | July 25th
- Third Eye Blind | July 27th
- Ricky Skaggs | July 28th
- The Righteous Brothers | July 30th
Check out all the Nashville events in July on Stubhub.
2. Take a Food Tour
There are a lot of great places to eat in Nashville, but if you're not familiar with the best dishes in Music City, you might want to consider taking a food tour to learn more.
One of the best options available this year is the Nashville BBQ, Beer, and Bourbon tour.
This outing includes stops at three popular hotspots with several samples to enjoy.
Read more about food tour options from our post on various types of tours of Nashville.
3. Take a Sightseeing Tour
July in Nashville is a great time to explore the city on a guided tour, be it on a walking tour or a bus tour.
There are a number of walking tours in Nashville, including pay-what-you-like tours, self-guided tours, and paid small group tours.
On days that are warmer than you'd like, you can stay cool and still see the city by taking an air-conditioned bus tour or a hop on hop off trolley tour.
4. Celebrate the Fourth of July
Celebrate America's independence in the Music City at the annual free celebration Let Freedom Sing: A Nashville July 4th.
The Nashville Symphony will perform at Ascend Amphitheater during the fireworks show. Before the fireworks, there will be food vendors and kids' activities to enjoy.
Also on July 4th, there is the Hot Chicken Festival an annual tradition since 2007.
This free event takes place at East Park, 700 Woodland St., rain or shine and includes plenty of music and kids' activities.
As the name implies, this festival celebrates a favorite Nashville food -- hot chicken!
There will be free samples of hot chicken from a variety of restaurants.
5. Activities at Cheekwood
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens plans to host multiple fun and interesting activities and events during the month of July in 2022
On July 17th, the Annual Bonsai Show will be taking place.
This event will include 30 bonsai trees as well as demonstrations of how they are trimmed.
Bluegrass Under the Stars will take place from July 1st - July 2nd, with performances by grammy winning bands and singers.
Cheekwood Estate admission is included in many of Nashville's tourist discount passes so if you plan on seeing a number of Nashville attractions, including Cheekwood, you may want to consider a pass.
6. Go to a Sporting Event
Nashville is a competitive city that loves its sports! July is a great time to catch a game, especially baseball!
It is also an excellent way to spend the day with the family.
For more family-friendly activities, check out our full post.
Baseball
Soccer
Take a look at StubHub to see all the events happening in Nashville in July.
7. Music City Brewer’s Festival
Music City Brewer’s Festival is one of the longest-running annual beer festivals in Nashville.
In 2022, this event is currently scheduled to take place on July 23rd from 5 pm to 9 pm at Walk of Fame Park.
There will be tastings from more than 40 local, regional, national, and international breweries.
You can also dine on food from various and enjoy live music.
Your beer will taste even better as a portion of ticket sales will go to assist the Nashville Humane Association.
Ticket prices are $49 general admission; $75 VIP (includes early entry at 4 pm and free tastings) and $20 entry without drinks. This event is 21+ only.
Beer lovers who miss this event nay want to look into taking a brewery tour or pub crawl of Nashville.
8. Bluegrass Along the Harpeth
Bluegrass Along the Harpeth is a two-day celebration of bluegrass music.
Along with music performances, there will be food and craft vendors. It takes place on July 22nd - 23rd, 2022.
This annual Nashville tradition is in it's 31st year!
To see the lineup and plan your trip, check out their website.
9. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame
As you're in Nashville, there might be a chance you're interested in what the city is most known for: country music.
Where better to visit than the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The museum's goal is to teach audiences "about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music"
They do this through photographs, movies, digital collections, a library, special exhibits, and collections. You'll find information on Hall of Fame members such as Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, Tammy Wynette, and a host of other brilliant musicians.
Hours are Monday - Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
10. Save Money with a Nashville Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
With all the exciting things there are to do in Music City, we suggest getting a tourist city pass for Nashville.
All-inclusive passes are available, and others can include up to 55% discounts on retail prices for select attraction admission, gift shops, and restaurants.
Here are some of the attractions included in at least one of Nashville’s tourist passes:
- Ryman Auditorium Backstage
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage & Gardens
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Madame Tussauds
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Tours
- and more!
Read more about Nashville tourist discount passes.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN NASHVILLE
July is a lovely month weather-wise so spending some time outside after the sun goes down is a treat!
Several items throughout this post are ideal for the nighttime, like the Under the Stars Concert Series at Cheekwood, the Music City Brewers Festival, and the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Here are a few more night time activities for the month of July.
For more nighttime activities, visit our post on things to do at night in Nashville.
Enjoy the Theatre
Music City isn’t only about concerts. You can find theatre and ballet too. One highlight this month is Hamilton at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
This musical tells the story of American Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, and it's an excellent opportunity to see a tour of a Broadway show.
You can see it from July 26th - 31st, 2022.
Cinema by JW
This is a free movie series hosted on the hotel’s new 17,000 sqft outdoor event lawn in downtown Nashville.
July's movies include:
- A League of Their Own | July 1st
- Hitch | July 15th
- My Best Friend’s Wedding | July 29th
Bring your blankets and chairs. No outside food is permitted, but there will be options for dining there.
Gates open at 6 pm and movies start between 8-8:45 pm depending on sunset.
While the event is free, attendance is limited to 500 so be sure to RSVP here.
Gulch Night Market
The Gulch Night Market takes place monthly on Thursdays from May to December.
The market takes place from 5 pm to 9 pm at 11th Avenue South and Laurel Street.
Come out and wander the market and see artists stalls, vendors, food and drink. There will be live entertainment too. It's all for free!
NOTE: 2022 dates have not been announced yet but are listed as "coming soon".
Find Live Music
There is live music everywhere at almost every time of day, but Music City lights up with even more options when the sun goes down.
The Honky Tonk Highway and its close-by SoBro neighborhood are the two most walkable areas to sample the largest variety of music.
Honky Tonk Highway: Walk down the famous Upper and Lower Broadway streets to find street performers, free music venues, saloons, and restaurants with their own live music.
SoBro Neighborhood: Turn off of Broadway to find the SoBro neighborhood. There is plenty of history with converted industrial buildings, some of which are now bars with music.
Bluebird Cafe: Thanks to the Nashville TV show, the Bluebird is now one of the most famous places to find up-and-coming singers in the Nashville area.
Tickets go on sale one week in advance, but you better be quick. Shows sell out year-round.
Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar: If you’re looking for an interactive and improvisational show, go to the Big Bang Bar.
Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 pm until 2:00 am, two piano players will be dueling it out to your requests. You’ll hear every genre, from country to pop to 90s alternative.
The Douglas Corner Cafe is one of the more well-known establishments for those wanting to start their music career.
Starting Tuesdays at 8:00 pm, singers perform two songs each. The night doesn’t end until every registered singer has sung.
Take A Night Tour on a Trolley
This two-hour night tour in an Old Town Trolley is narrated by an entertaining guide.
You’ll see the neon signs lit up and learn about all the genres of music, and the history of those genres, that make up the Nashville music scene.
Tickets are $39.29 when purchased online.
Note: This tour is for guests 18 and older. Photo ID is checked before boarding the trolley.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN JULY IN NASHVILLE
Nashville has a bunch of free stuff to do year-round. We've mentioned some in our other sections but here are more free things to do in Nashville in July.
For even more budget-friendly ideas, check out our post on free things to do in Nashville.
Crockett Park Concerts
On select dates, head to the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater in Crockett Park for the Brentwood Summer Concert Series.
The family-friendly concert series runs June until July.
In 2022 you'll find The Smoking Section Band on July 4th, and Brentfest featuring Rubiks Groove on July 23rd.
Watertown Jazz Festival
Located at the Historic Watertown Square, outside of Nashville, is the Watertown Jezz Festival.
There's not just live entertainment but dancing and a variety of food vendors.
The festival starts at 1 pm on July 16 and is completely free.
For a list of performers, click here.
First Saturday Art Crawl
Across the city center, art galleries open their doors to the public on the first Saturday of every month. This event is free!
The participating galleries for the First Saturday Art Crawl swap out and are easily accessible by walking and using the Gray Line Trolley.
Most offer refreshments, including wine. Many of the galleries are at the Nashville Arcade Mall.
Music in the Vines
Arrington Vineyards hosts Music in the Vines, a free event taking place every Saturday and Sunday from April through October.
July is the perfect month to come out and enjoy the music, the wine, the whole atmosphere!
You can bring your own picnic or order a gourmet one there so you don't have to prep.
There's something different happening every weekend, so we encourage you to check out their calendar to plan your visit.
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN JULY
Nashville is super family-friendly! Other activities listed throughout this post are suited for kids, like seeing a family-friendly musical, attending the Hot Chicken Festival and seeing the fireworks on July 4th.
Below are a few more kid-friendly things to do in July.
Be sure to read our master post on things to do with kids in Nashville for even more ideas.
Get Creative at the Country Music Museum
The Country Music Museum offers activities for kids and teens.
You can find everything from hat making, banadana and braid making, song writing workshops, a musical petting zoo, dancing, and more.
Check their calendar for a schedule of activities.
Visit the Frist Art Museum
Head to the Frist Art Museum where kids 18 and younger get in for free!
They offer free family programs throughout the year. It also has Martin Art-Quest, a hands-on art experience for kids offering ways to draw, animate, printmake, and paint.
To learn more and plan your visit, see the museum's website.
Visit the Adventure Science Center
The science center "offers engaging learning experiences and science fun through hands-on, interactive exhibits, innovative programs, and full-dome productions in the state-of-the-art Sudekum Planetarium"
You'll find live demonstrations, permanant exhibits, seasonal events... and a 63 foot dome theatre in the planitarium. It's not possible for kids to be bored here!
To plan your adventure, click here.
Storytime at the Nashville Libruary
The Nashville Libarary offers story times at various locations.
They have Preschool StoryTime, Babies and Books Storytime, Muisc and Movement classes, Stary Night Story Time, Family Story Time and more.
Visit their calendar for a list of locations and times.
Attend the Music City Jerk Festival
This fesival brings authentic Jamaican and Caribeean food vendors to Walk of Fame Park
In addition to some delicious eats, there's a Kids Zone with face painting and family entertainement.
This fun happens with a background of great music. Tickets can be purchased here.
Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair
The Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair is one of the most popular summertime events in Tennessee and is belebrating their 47th year!
Hosted in the Gatlinburg Convention Center this event has live music, plenty of beautiful handmade items to peruse and purchase, as well as demonstrations.
It takes place July 8th - 17th, 2022.Admission is $10 for adults and FREE for children 17 and under.
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