Events and Things To Do in Nashville in July (2024)

This post covers the top things to do in July in Nashville (updated for 2024), 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 ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES 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:

We also have a post on the weather in July in Nashville.

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.

Concerts

Check here for even more concerts taking place in Nashville in July including Def Leppard and Journey, Charley Crockett, and Donny Osmond.

Music Series

Full Moon Pickin' Party | Warner Park | July 19 | bluegrass
Under The Stars | Cheeckwood | July 19 | jazz
Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman | June 13-July 15

Music Shows

Backstage Nashville | Saturdays at 3rd & Lindsley

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 on 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.

Finally, the 13th Annual Firecracker Pub Crawl takes place on the 4th for those 21+.

5. Activities at Cheekwood

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens plans to host multiple fun and interesting activities and events during the month of July 2024.

As part of their annual Under the Stars concert series they are having The Diry Dozen Brass Band & Ryan Middaugh Jazz Orchestra on July 19.

The dates of the Annual Bonsai Show haven't been released yet but it usually takes place in July.

This event usually includes 30 bonsai trees and demonstrations of how they are trimmed.

Cheekwood Estate admission is included in many of Nashville's tourist attraction passes so if you plan on seeing several 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 has a number of sporting-related events to be enjoyed.

Taking in a game is a great way to spend the day with the family. For more family-friendly activities, check out our full post.

Baseball

Nashville Sounds

Soccer

Nashville SC

Check here for even more sporting events 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. .

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.

Note that the date for the 2024 festival has not been released as of March, but we expect it will take place in July again.

Beer lovers who miss this event may 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 in Franklin, TN, just 30 minutes outside Nashville

Along with music performances, there will be food and craft vendors. It takes place July 26-37, 2024 at Town Square

This annual Nashville tradition is in its 33rd 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 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% savings 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:

THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN JULY

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.

For more nighttime activities, visit our post on things to do at night in Nashville.

Here are a few more nighttime activities for the month of July.

Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival

Held every summer, this annual festival is a great way for newcomers and longtime enthusiasts to hear the best of the blues here in Nashville.

This is a celebration of not just music, but the history of the neighborhood.

Along with music, there will be a kick-off block party, music, and activities to celebrate the entire culture.

The Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival is taking place on July 20th, 2024. It usually starts around 4 to 5 PM.

For more details, check the festival's website.

Enjoy Wine

l’Eté du Vin vintners tasting, dinenr, and silent auction takes place over three nights, from July 25-27th.

The wines come from regions in the 45th Parallel, incliding France, Italy, and Oregon's Willamette Valley.

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 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, 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.

Two piano players will be dueling it out to your requests.

You’ll hear every genre, from country to pop to 90s alternative.

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 can be 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

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, around 15 minutes from Nashville, for the Brentwood Summer Concert Series.

The family-friendly concert series runs from June until July.

In 2024, on July 4th, a band will play from 7-10 at their Red, White, and Boom event.

Watertown Jazz Festival | Cancelled in 2024

Located at the Historic Watertown Square, outside of Nashville, is the Watertown Jazz Festival.

There's not just live entertainment but dancing and a variety of food vendors.

The festival is free to attend.

For a list of performers, click here.

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, and 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.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES 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, bandana and braid making, songwriting 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, printmaker, 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, permanent exhibits, seasonal events... and a 63-foot dome theatre in the planetarium. It's not possible for kids to be bored here!

To plan your adventure, click here.

Storytime at the Nashville Library

The Nashville Library offers story times at various locations.

They have Preschool StoryTime, Babies and Books Storytime, Music and Movement classes, Stary Night Story Time, Family Story Time, and more.

Visit their calendar for a list of locations and times.

Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair is one of the most popular summertime events in Tennessee and is celebrating its 48th 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 12-21, 2024. Admission is $10 for adults and FREE for children 17 and under with a paid adult.

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