This post includes free activities, family-friendly things to do, and evening entertainment in Nashville in September.
It's been updated for 2023.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER
This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out during September.
For even more ideas, check out our master post on things to do any time of year.
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 Major Concert
If you’re looking for a concert, Music City is the place to find it.
Of course, in Nashville, you can find concerts happening every night of the week.
Concerts
- Lil Baby | September 9th
- Arctic Monkeys | September 12th, 13th
- Squeeze/Psychedelic Furs | September 17th
- Pink | September 22nd
- Ringo Star | September 24th
- Thomas Rhett | September 29th
Music Festivals
- Outlaw Music Festival | September 10th | FirstBank Amp | Featuring: Willie Nelson, Bob Weir, the Wolf Bros, and more
- Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Fest | September 23rd, 24th | The Park/Franklin | Featuring: The Black Crowes, Lumineers, Better Than Ezra, and more
- Live on the Green (free) Music Festival | September 1st-5th | Public Square Park | Sheryl Crow, Santana, Danielle Ponder, and more
- Full Moon Pinkin' Parties | September 15th | Percy Warner Park | various bluegrass bands
Music Award Shows
- Nashville Songwriter Awards | September 20th | Ryman
Venues
Check out all of the Nashville concerts here, or read our post What to do at Night in Nashville.
2. Go to a Sporting Event
Nashville is a competitive city that loves its sports! And September is a great time to catch a game since there are several teams playing during the month.
It is also an excellent way to spend the day with the family.
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Take a look at other sporting events happening in September here.
For more family-friendly activities, check out our post What to Do with Kids in Nashville.
3. Enjoy the Theatre/Stand-up Comedy
Music City isn’t just about concerts. You can usually find other stage productions in the city.
Musicals
Comedy
Family-Friendly
If you're in need of a good laugh, make sure to purchase tickets to these shows before they sell out!
4. Go on a Sightseeing Tour
One of the most popular ways to see Nashville is with a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour.
Trolley Tours have 15 stops throughout the city.
If you’re looking for a more exciting mode of transportation, September is the perfect time for a pleasant horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown.
Of course, this is the perfect time of year for a walking tour, now that the weather is beginning to cool off.
There are walking tours for every traveler, including food tours and spooky ghost tours.
5. Check out a Free Museum
You can find multiple interesting museums in Nashville that have no admission fee or some free days to take advantage of.
The Tennessee State Museum has a comprehensive timeline of Nashville’s history, beginning with the First Peoples.
Kids will also be entertained with the interactive Children’s Gallery and twice-weekly storytimes.
Fans of The Dukes of Hazzard can also see show memorabilia, costumes, and props at Cooter’s Place for free.
For more free things to do, check out our post What to do for Free in Nashville.
6. Head to Music in the Vines
Arrington Vineyards hosts Music in the Vines, a free event taking place every Saturday and Sunday from April through October.
September is the perfect month to come out and enjoy the music, the wine, and the whole atmosphere!
There will also be food trucks selling food and drink, or you can take a picnic along.
Best of all, this entire concert series is free to the public! All you have to do is show up and enjoy the tunes.
Check the Music in the Vines calendar for more details.
7. Nashville Brew Festival
Food trucks, lawn games, 50 breweries, 150 beers, and live music? Yes, please!
All of this can be found The Nashville Brew Festival on September 29th at First Horizon Park.
General Admission tickets are $50, and Early Admission/VIP tickets, which give you an extra hour and access to special beers, are $65.
8. Nashville Cocktail Festival
The annual Nashville Cocktail Festival takes place in East Park.
Tickets include things such as access to food trucks, live cooking experiences, gift bags, and private tastings.
The event takes place on September 9th, and tickets can be purchased on the Nashville Cocktail Festival website.
If you’re looking for other evening activities, read our post What to do at Night in Nashville.
9. AmericanaFest
If you're a music fan, this would be the festival for you.
It's "the must-attend event for anyone who loves the melting pot of Americana's influences including roots, folk, country, blues and soul-based music".
There are panel discussions during the days, night-time concerts, an award ceremony, and many other special events.
All of this takes place between September 19th-23rd
Visit the AmericanFest website for more details and for ticket information.
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.
Featured on Various Passes:
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
- Musician’s Hall of Fame
- Madame Tussauds
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Tours
- Hard Rock Cafe
See our complete tourist attraction discount pass comparison here.
Nashville Film Festival
This festival has been around for over 50 years and has been named one of the top film festivals by MovieMaker Magazine.
The festival takes place over 7 days and includes screenings, music showcases, panels, parties, and more.
First-time filmmakers, up-and-coming directors, and veteran masters present American independent films and documentaries.
Events take place September 28th-October 4th. For more information, visit the Nashville Film Festival website.
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
The Hermitage is the former mansion and estate of Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States.
The mansion has been restored with original artifacts and you can tour it as well as the grounds.
September, when the weather is beginning to cool off, is the perfect time to take a tour of the grounds and learn about the plantation and lives of the people who lived there - including the approximately 150 enslaved people working there at the time of Jackson's death.
