This post covers the top things to do in Nashville in May.
We include nighttime activities, free things to do, and family-friendly options, all updated for 2024.
Be sure to read our master post on things to do in Nashville for even more ideas, as well as our post on the weather in May.
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
TOP 14+ THINGS TO DO IN MAY
There's no shortage of things to do in Nashville in May.
On the list of best things to do are a few of the city's annual festivals, theater, comedy, and of course... music!
Check out our popular Nashville posts:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
- Tourist Attraction Passes
- Country Music Hall of Fame Savings
- Madame Tussauds Nashville
- Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Savings
1. Attend a Concert
If you’re looking for a concert, Music City is the place to find it. There are always talented musicians in town.
Rock/Pop/Country Concerts
- Morgan Wallen | May 2nd, 3rd, 4th
- Bad Bunny | May 11th
- Noah Kahan | May 24th, 25th
Opera/Classical Concerts
- Nashville Symphony throughout the month
Concert Venues
Music Festivals
- Kilgore Station Bluegrass Festival | May 17th-18th | Cross Plains, TN
Check out even more May concerts in Nashville here, or see what other nightlife you can find on our full post.
2. Go to a Sports Event
Sports are in full swing in May, and Nashville has both baseball and soccer games going this month.
You can get tickets from StubHub for MiLB or college baseball games, as well as professional soccer games.
Baseball
Soccer
Check out the other sports events in Nashville this May.
3. Enjoy the Theatre
Nashville is much more than concerts and music festivals.
There are often plays, musicals, stand-up comedians, and family-friendly performances in the city.
Musicals/Theatre
- Menopause the Musical 2 | May 4th, 5th
Comedy
- Jerry Seinfeld | May 30th
- Bill Burr | May 17th
Family Friendly
- The Wild Kratts Live! | May 1st
- Frozen the Musical | May 7th, 8th, 9th
Check out this list of other Nashville shows taking place in May.
4. Attend a Full Moon Pickin' Party
This is one of Nashville's most popular outdoor events, bringing Bluegrass music to folks of all ages.
Local musicians gather to play under the moon in Percy Warner Park on select days from May - September.
Gates open at 5:30 on August 31st and music plays from 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
You're even welcome to bring your own bluegrass instrument (in addition to a blanket or chair) and play along.
There will be food trucks and craft beer on tap as well.
Tickets can be purchased here.
5. Take a Sightseeing Tour
The weather in May makes it a great time to outside to see the Nashville sights.
You can explore the city on foot, by bus and trolley, by bike, or with self-guided tours. Hop-on hop-off bus tours allow you to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time.
Walking tours get you close to the local action and let you take in the local vibe. There are walking tours that are offered for free.
You can move at your own pace with our self-guided tour of Downtown Nashville. You can also take this tour as a GPS-enabled audio tour.
If you want to be more physically active take a bicycle tour of Downtown - May is perfect for a bike ride!
6. Hear Free Music at Musician’s Corner
Friday and Saturday nights in May and June mean free local music at Musician’s Corner.
Head to Centennial Park to enjoy the free concert series, food trucks, and roped-off kids' play area.
You can also bring your own food and have a picnic or buy food from vendors selling different cuisines.
If you are looking for more free entertainment, see our post on free things to do in Nashville year-round.
7. Enjoy YumEast!
Each year the YumEast festival takes place in East Nashville.
Come out and enjoy food, drink, dancing, and music, and help raise funds for the Fannie Battle Day Home for Children.
Check out the Yum!East website for pictures of past events, tickets, and FAQs.
If you prefer being led right to the best Nashville cuisine, consider a food tour. See just below for information.
8. Take a Food Tour
If you want help finding the most delicious dishes and the best restaurants, consider taking the Nashville Secret Food Tour.
This 3 to 3 1/2 hour tour will introduce you to some of the best foods in the authentic area of 12South/Midtown like mouthwatering barbecue, pulled pork tacos, heavenly hot chicken, plus a 'Secret Dish' you'd never find without a guide.
Here are a few other Nashville food tours you might want to consider:
- Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour
- Underground Downtown Nashville Donut Tour
- Germantown Food & Sightseeing Tour
- Downtown Nashville Pub Crawl
Read more about food tour options from our post on various types of tours of Nashville.
9. See More with a City Pass
See more of Nashville in May with a tourist attraction pass that includes entry to the most popular attractions.
The passes can save you money by providing a get a bulk savings on museums, venues, and historic estates.
Here are some of the attractions included in at least one of Nashville's tourist passes:
- Cheekwood Estates in Bloom
- Ryman Auditorium Backstage
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage & Gardens
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Read more about Nashville tourist passes.
10. RETURNING IN 2025: Sevier Park Fest
This annual festival is a celebration of the artists and imagination of two Nashville neighborhoods: Belmont/Hillsboro and 12South.
There will be live music, unique shopping by local craftspeople, and lots of yummy food, all in a jovial laid-back atmosphere.
In the past admission has been just $10 per person. That includes one free drink ticket for a craft beer at the festival bars.
If you are traveling with kids, Saturday is the best day to go, as there will be a kids' play area with games, crafts, family activities, and more.
Kids under 12 enter for free making this festival a budget-friendly activity for the family.
Check out our full post on things to do with kids in Nashville for more ideas.
11. Go to the Tennessee Craft Fair
Head out to the state's Spring Craft Fair held on May 3rd-5th.
This free event is held in Centennial Park. and takes place twice a year (May and October).
Showcasing the works of 200 crafters and makers from all over Tennessee, this excellent event brings out over 45,000 attendees each year.
Over the 3 days, you can find professional development workshops for artists, demonstrations on crafting with different materials, and exhibits on the “best of” Tennessee’s craft offerings.
There will also be a Kids' Tent with interactive crafts activities. Read more about this free event from the official website.
12. See the Horses at the Iroquois Steeplechase
Kentucky may have the Derby, but Tennessee has the Iroquois Steeplechase on the second Saturday of every May. In 2024, the event is on May 11th.
Over 25,000 people come out, dressed in their finest hats and suits, to watch the famous steeplechase.
The best horse and rider teams compete in his historic race to help support Vanderbilt’s children’s hospital.
If you’re looking for something unique to do, love horses, or love dressing up in large hats, don’t miss out on this steeplechase!
Individual Tickets are $50.00 + a small ticket fee.
13. Drink Pink at the Nashville Rosé Festival
It's all about the color pink at the annual Nashville Rosé Festival! You can sip on over 100 Rosé wines, cocktails, spirits, craft beer, and Frosé!
Pink is also the color of Breast Cancer Awareness and proceeds from the Rose Festival go to the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition.
The festival will take place on May 18th, 2024.
In addition to pink drinks, there will be pink clothes and housewares for sale. You can even get your nails done in many shades of pink.
Tickets include unlimited samples of over 100 Rosé wines, Frosé, cocktails, and craft beer.
Designated driver tickets are available and include non-alcoholic drinks. All attendees must be 21+ to enter. See their website for details!
14. Enjoy Even More Events
Here are a few more events you might like to visit while in the Nashville area.
Music City Pub Cinco de Mayo Crawl | May 5th | Guides take guests to 5 bars and entertain them along the way. There are also plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy some authentic food flavors during Cinco de Mayo.
Shop Black Fest | May 11th-12th | Support black vendors by purchasing their goods at this festival in Hadley Park.
BASF Nashville Nationals | May 17-19th | A car lover heaven with vendor exhibits, country music, barbecue, and lots of entertainment.
K-LOVE Fan Awards | May 24th-26h | The biggest names in the Christian entertainment world are promoted.
Nashville Flea Market 55th Anniversary | May 24th-27th | Visit one of the 2000 booths at one of the top ten flea markets in the country.
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