Live Music
Nashville is packed with budget-friendly activities this autumn, making it easy for visitors to experience the city without stretching their wallets. From 9:30 am to 3:00 am, Lower Broadway’s iconic honky tonks offer free live music every single day – 365 days a year – with no cover charge required.
For a more intimate listening experience, head to The Listening Room Café, where you can enjoy “Lunch Time Tunes” and “Happy Hour” performances during the day at no cost. In the evenings, the venue hosts its popular songwriter sessions, where artists share the stories behind their songs. Tickets start as low as $15, making it one of the city’s best-value entertainment options. From 9 – 13 September, Nashville will welcome the 25th annual AMERICANAFEST, drawing thousands of artists, fans, and music industry pros from around the world. The festival features intimate showcases, seminars, and networking events. Rounding out the season, the beloved Musicians Corner returns to Centennial Park with its free fall concert series.
Arts & Culture
Autumn transforms Cheekwood Estate & Gardens into a festive wonderland with Cheekwood Harvest, running 13 Sept – 30 Oct. Visitors will discover 75,000 pumpkins, three whimsical pumpkin houses, and vibrant displays of chrysanthemums throughout the grounds. This year’s Harvest Nights returns with illuminated trails and the fan-favourite pumpkin topiary, now showcased in the Colour Garden alongside intricately carved jack-o’-lanterns. New for 2025, Cheekwood debuts themed evenings including Pumpkinpalooza!, Salsa Night at Cheekwood, Oktoberfest at Cheekwood, and the spooky Bootanical Bash.
Film fans won’t want to miss the 56th annual Nashville Film Festival, running from 18 – 24 Sept. As one of the country’s longest-running film festivals, it features over 150 international films, along with industry panels, filmmaker Q&As, live music, and social events at premier venues across the city. The 46th annual Nashville Oktoberfest kicks off 2 – 5 Oct in the historic Germantown neighbourhood. This beloved, family-friendly event features authentic German food and beer from dozens of vendors, live music, a Stein Holding Competition, and the festive Oktoberfest 5K.
Family Fun
For a day full of fresh air and autumn festivities, Lucky Ladd Farms hosts its beloved Fall Festival from 20 Sept – 31 October. Families can enjoy Tennessee’s largest petting zoo and fun park, complete with a corn maze, pumpkin picking, and seasonal treats like cider and kettle corn. It’s the perfect destination for wholesome autumn entertainment just outside of Nashville.
The festive fun continues at the Nashville Zoo with Boo at the Zoo, running 17 Oct – 1 Nov. This family-friendly event features trick-or-treating, autumn-themed displays, animal shows, and opportunities to encounter more than 350 animal species across the beautifully decorated grounds.
Sports
Nashville is a year-round sports city that truly comes alive in the autumn. Football season kicks off with home games for both the Tennessee Titans (NFL) and Vanderbilt University (NCAA), offering 14 chances to cheer on the home teams through November. On the ice, the Nashville Predators begin their 2025/26 NHL season in October at Bridgestone Arena, right in the heart of downtown. Meanwhile, Nashville SC continues its push toward the playoffs at GEODIS Park – the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. and Canada, bringing high-energy action to the pitch.
Baseball fans can catch the Nashville Sounds at First Horizon Park, home to the iconic guitar-shaped scoreboard – the only one of its kind in baseball. The Sounds host 18 home games in August, wrapping up the season with a six-game homestand in September.
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