This post includes free activities, family-friendly things to do, and evening entertainment in Nashville in September.
It's been updated for 2022.
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. Many big-name artists come through larger venues on a frequent basis.
Here are the highlights for September:
- Jack Harlow | September 6th
- Stereolab | September 6th
- Robert Plant/Alison Kraus | September 7th
- Backstreet Boys | September 8th
- Brian McKnight | September 9th
- Modest Mouse | September 10th
- The Killers | September 17th
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band | September 17th
- Crowded House | September 18th
- Florence + The Machine | September 20th
- Slipknot/Others | September 20th
- Brian Wilson/Al Jardine | September 21st
- Alicia Keys | September 24th
The Grand Ole Opry will also be hosting several shows throughout the month of September.
Of course, in Nashville, you can find concerts happening every night of the week! Check out all the Nashville events here, or see what other nightlife you can find on our full post.
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.
A football or baseball game is the perfect family outing for your trip to Nashville.
NFL Football
Soccer
College Sports
Take a look at all the events happening in September here. For more family-friendly activities, check out our full post.
3. Enjoy the Theatre/Stand-up Comedy
Music City isn’t just about concerts. You can usually find theatre and ballet too!
Unfortunately, there won't be any major productions hosted in Nashville this month, but there will be a few notable comedians performing stand-up.
- Terry Fator | September 2nd
- Kevin Hart | September 10th
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 free activities post.
6. Head to Music in the Vines
If you're not interested in any of the other concerts this month, the Arrington Vineyards will be hosting this concert series every weekend in September.
Fans of jazz will definitely want to consider attending at least one show, as there will be multiple jazz ensembles and even bluegrass bands performing this month.
In addition to the music, there will also be food tricks available where you can purchase food and drinks to enjoy while you're at the vineyards.
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 9th, 2022, 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.
Tickets can be puchased here.
8. Nashville Cocktail Festival
Taking place from September 16th-17th, 2022, this festival will include multiple nights of activities including tastings, a gin master class, a sherry wine specialist course, and even a pool party!
Some events are free to attend, and prices for everything else range from $25 - $150, with most classes and activities coming in at around $30.
The main events are themed based on artistic movements such as Polynesian Pop and Art Deco.
Purchase tickets or learn more about the Nashville Cocktail Festival.
If you’re looking for more things to do in the evenings, check our full post.
9. AmericanaFest
If you're a music fan, this would be the festival for you.
It's described as "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 13th - 17th.
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 full tourist attraction discount pass comparison here.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
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.
Green Hills Park Festival
This festival, now in it's 6th year, is fun for both adults and children.
For adults, there are food and beer trucks, live music, and college football games on a large screen.
For children, there is free face painting, an obstacle course, baby goats, and other fun activities.
All of this takes place in Green Hills Park on September 10th
