This post covers the top things to do in July in Nashville (updated for 2021), 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.
- Alabama, The Charlie Daniels Band, Martina McBride | July 2nd, 3rd
- The Black Crowes | July 6th, 7th
- The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Dirty Dozen Brass Band | July 24th
- Justin Bieber | July 26th
- Alicia Keys | July 30th
- Luke Bryan | July 30th
- Lindsey Stirling, Kiesza, and Mako | July 31st
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.
NOTE: Some tour companies have been limiting space for their outings to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Please keep in mind that tickets might be more difficult to obtain in 2021.
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.
The 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.
NOTE: These events are scheduled to take place in 2021, but that could change if Covid-19 numbers don't improve before the 4th of July.
5. Activities at Cheekwood
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens plans to host multiple fun and interesting activities and events during the month of July in 2021.
From July 17th to 18th, the Annual Bonsai Show will be taking place. This event will include 40 different displays and over 50 bonsai trees to see, as well as demonstrations of how they are trimmed.
Sean Kenney's Nature POP! will be available to enjoy throughout the month of July. This display features more than 40 sculptures made from over 800,000 LEGO bricks.
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.
NOTE: Minor League Baseball will be welcoming fans back to the ballpark in 2021, but seating will likely be limited to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
There are no plans announced as of yet for Nashville SC.
7. Music City Brewer’s Festival
Music City Brewer’s Festival is one of the longest-running annual beer festivals in Nashville. In 2021, this event is currently scheduled to take place on July 31st 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 that includes music, dancing, food, and art.
Along with music performances, there will be contests, all of which will be great fun to see. It takes place on July 23rd-24th, 2021.
This event has been going on for over 20 years and it a Nashville tradition.
To see the lineup and plan your trip, check out their website.
9. Nashville Cocktail Festival
Although they have yet to announce dates for 2021, there's a possibility you will have the opportunity to attend the Nashville Cocktail Festival to celebrate the art of cocktail-making this month.
Over five days there will be an array of events and activities. The main events are the Polynesian Pop and Art Deco Night.
Some of the other experiences offered at the festival are a pop-up Jazz bar, a Tequila dinner, a pool party and an opportunity to build your own bottle of bourbon!
This will be a very memorable event to enjoy in Music City.
NOTE: This event was canceled in 2020, and they have yet to announce their plans for 2021.
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 Chihuly Nights 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 Summer: The Donna Summer Musical at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
This musical is based on the life and times of performing artist Donna Summer, and it's an excellent opportunity to enjoy an Off-Broadway show.
You can see it from July 6th to July 11th.
Cinema by JW
This is a free movie series hosted on the hotel’s new 17,000 sqft outdoor event lawn in downtown Nashville.
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.
NOTE: This event has not yet been scheduled for 2021.
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: Market dates have yet to be announced for 2021.
Music City Jazz Festival
Public Square Park is hosting the annual Music City Jazz Festival full of great music and incredible musicians.
Visitors flock from all around the world to enjoy this event, which is sure to impress everyone.
Bring a blanket or chairs and relax to the soothing music. You can grab your tickets here.
NOTE: Dates for this festival have not yet been confirmed in 2021.
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, like Waterfest. Here are a few 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 series runs June until mid-July.
NOTE: This event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and they have yet to announce their plans for 2021.
Franklin Farmers Tomato Festival
Spending the day at a farm is a great summer activity, and Franklin Farmers is hosting its annual Tomato Festival for everyone to enjoy!
Come out from 8 am-1 pm for tomato tasting and a number of other fun activities. Learn about eating local as you enjoy farm-fresh foods.
There are a number of events and festivals going on all summer long, so be sure to check out their website.
NOTE: This event was canceled in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, and they haven't announced any dates for 2021.
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.
NOTE: As of writing this update, Nashville is in phase three of re-opening, and it is very likely they will be in phase four by July of 2021. There are tentative plans to bring this activity back during phase four.
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.
NOTE: This concert series is currently still scheduled to take place in 2021.
Attend a Titans' Open Practice
It's a little early for football, but you can attend a Titans' open practice for free!
Starting in July you can attend their practice from about 10 am-12 pm (check times and schedule here) at Nissan Stadium.
This is great for the whole family! For more sports happening in Nashville in July, check out our Top Ten section above.
NOTE: While this event is likely to take place again in 2021, they haven't announced dates for open practice as of yet.
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.
Waterfest
Who knew water awareness could be so much fun? Waterfest is a free annual event that aims to inform the public about the importance of water quality.
There'll be interactive and enjoyable environment-based activities, music, educational exhibits, waterslides, and more!
Come out to Waterfest at Cumberland Park from 1-4 pm.
NOTE: This event had to be canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic, and they have yet to announce their plans for 2021.
Family Mondays at Frist Art Museum
Head to the Frist Art Museum where for the price of one admission ticket ($15) you can bring the whole family.
From 10 am-2 pm enjoy special programming that everyone will love, including trilingual storytime. This is a great way to escape the sun a bit and enjoy some art!
To learn more and plan your visit, see the museum's website.
NOTE: This activity has yet to be announced for 2021.
Tales at Twilight
Tales at Twilight is a free event series of performances put on for a younger audience. They are held on Friday evenings in July.
These performances take place at Cumberland Park from 7-8 pm and are aimed for parents and their children under 8.
NOTE: This event has yet to be scheduled for July of 2021.
Storytime at the Tennessee State Museum
The Tennessee State Museum is a free museum and has the most comprehensive display of the state's history.
While great for all ages, they also host a storytime for children every Thursday and Saturday.
This event is geared towards children ages 3 to 6, and a staff member will read to the children. Free crafts are also supplied!
NOTE: While this activity isn't available during phase three, it will probably be brought back in phase four. Hopefully Nashville will be under phase four of the recovery by July of 2021.
Vintage Market Days
This market is great for the whole family. You can browse the of vintage items including repurposed and salvaged goods, clothing, jewelry, unique items and more.
There will be food vendors on site. For the little ones, there's a kids zone. For the grown-ups, drinks are available for purchase.
Tickets range from $5-$15 and children 12 and under get in for free! See the Vintage Market Days website details.
NOTE: Market dates have yet to be announced for 2021.
Taco Tuesday and Live Music
Come out to Peg Leg Porker, Nashville's award-winning barbecue restaurant every Tuesday from 7-10 pm for live music and tacos. This is a great place to relax with the kids for dinner!
For the grown-ups, there's also a happy hour on their Pig Pen Roof Deck beforehand, which is a great view overlooking Nashville.
NOTE: This activity has yet to be confirmed for 2021.
Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair
The Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair is one of the most popular summertime events in Tennessee. It happens from July 19th -18th, 2021.
Hosted in the Gatlinburg Convention Center this event has live music, plenty of beautiful handmade items to peruse and purchase, as well as demonstrations.
Admission is $8 for adults and FREE for children 12 and under.
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