Ready to see Nashville in bloom? From flower displays and craft fairs to beer festivals and dog-friendly events, spring is where Music City thrives.
Get ready to experience the natural beauty of the region and all spring has to offer with this guide featuring 47 spring events happening between March and May.
Festivals and fairs
Tin Pan South | Tuesday, March 25-Saturday, March 29 | Times vary | Locations vary | $15+ | Over 400 songwriters perform across 11 Nashville venues — review the schedule.
Nashville Comedy Festival | Thursday, April 3-Sunday, April 13 | Times vary | Locations vary | Prices vary | Nikki Glaser, Rodney Carrington, and Wanda Sykes are just a few of the 25+ acts scheduled to perform.
Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair | Saturday, April 5-Sunday, April 6 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | oneC1TY | Cost of purchase | Over 100 artisan craft vendors showcase handmade jewelry, clothing, home decor, and other goods. Bonus: There will be food trucks, a photo booth, and craft cocktails.
Tennessee Tulip Festival | Saturday, April 5-Sunday, April 6 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Lucky Ladd Farms | $16+ | Frolic through more than one million bulbs in 100+ varieties at the you-pick tulip farm south of Nashville. Pro tip: Tulip field access (with the option to add-on the pick-you-own experience) is included with standard ticket options March 15 to April 19
Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival | Saturday, April 12 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Public Square Park | Free | Festival highlights include Japanese music and dance, sumo suit wrestling, a group cherry blossom walk, children’s activities, a pup parade, and more.
Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival | Friday, April 18-Sunday, April 20 | Times vary | Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel | $25+ | Get tattooed, meet horror film celebrities, and watch films with Full Moon Cineplex.
Nashville Earth Day | Saturday, April 19 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Centennial Park | Free | Celebrate the planet we call home with educational activities from a variety of exhibitors and vendors, including local growers and makers, nonprofits, and sustainable small businesses.
Spring Tennessee Craft Fair | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | Centennial Park | Cost of purchase | Shop finely crafted artwork made from clay, leather, wood, glass, and other materials at the 54th annual event.
Buttercup Festival | Saturday, May 3 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Nolensville Historic District | Cost of purchase | Buttercups are in bloom for this annual festival boasting vendors, food trucks, pageants, and live entertainment.
Strawberry Jam Festival | Saturday, May 3-Sunday, May 4 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Lucky Ladd Farms | $16+ | Celebrate strawberry season with a maker’s market, a pie eating contest, and strawberry-themed food and drinks.
Live music
Rites of Spring | Saturday, April 5 | Time TBD | Vanderbilt University’s Alumni Lawn | $20+ | Vanderbilt’s annual spring music festival returns to the Alumni Lawn.
Fridays by the River | April-May | 3-8 p.m. | Shelby Park’s Riverview Pavilion | Free+ | The pop-up beer garden presented by East Nashville Beer Works benefiting Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms offers live music and food trucks on six Fridays.
Musicians Corner | May-June | Times vary | Centennial Park | Free | Get in the groove as local and national musical acts take the stage. Plus, don’t forget to order food truck eats before finding a spot on the lawn.
Cornelia Airpark Concerts | May-August | 5:30-9 p.m. | Cornelia Fort Airpark | Cost of admission | Tickets include access to the show, one beer/wine ticket for attendees age 21 and older, kid-friendly activities, and access to food trucks.
Read up on the history Iroquois Steeplechase. | Photo by Wade Payne Photo via Iroquois Steeplechase
Wade Payne/Wade Payne Photo
Seasonal happenings
Cheekwood in Bloom: Love is in the Air | Saturday, March 8-Sunday, April 13 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Cheekwood | Cost of admission | Witness 250,000 blooming bulbs and weekend music performances in the Beer Garden.
Hike-a-Thon | April | Times vary | Locations vary | Free | This month-long fundraising event raises awareness for parks and natural areas — attend a local hike at Beaman Park (April 26).
Record Store Day | Saturday, April 12 | Times vary | Locations vary | Cost of purchase | A handful of Nashville’s independently-owned record stores will offer special releases, promos, concerts, and other special activities.
Eggstravaganzoo | Saturday, April 19 | Times vary | $27+ | Activities include egg hunts for kids, face painting, keeper talks, and themed animal enrichment.
St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series | Saturday, April 26-Sunday, April 27 | Start times vary | Routes vary | $30+ | Participants will be serenaded by bands along the course, followed by a post-race concert at Nissan Stadium.
Iroquois Steeplechase | Saturday, May 10 | 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Percy Warner Park | $78+ | The annual event attracts thousands for a day of horse racing and tailgating in support of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
20th Annual Tour de Nash | Saturday, May 17 | Time TBD | Routes vary | Cost of purchase | Take on the City Tour (9 miles), Local Tour (25 miles), or Grand Tour (45 miles) to suit your riding style.
Only for ages 21+
Swig Cocktail Competition | Wednesday, March 26 | 6-8 p.m. | City Winery Nashville | $42+ | Music City’s top bartenders will compete for the best craft cocktails — you’ll get to sample them and then cast your vote.
Wine Fest | Thursday, April 3 | 6 p.m. | Bridgestone Arena | $39 designated driver and $99 GA | Pair higher-end wines, beer, and spirits with food samplings from local restaurants while you bid on items in the silent auction benefiting the Preds Foundation.
Sip of History | Saturday, April 5 | 2-5 p.m. | Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage | $75+ | The festival celebrating regional spirits, wine, and local brews also boasts live music, lawn games, and access to the grounds. Bonus: The event is dog friendly.
East Nashville Beer Fest | Saturday, April 12 | 12-5 p.m. | East Park | $27 designated driver and $70 GA | Pick up your complimentary tasting glass for unlimited samples from ~50 beer, cider, and mead vendors. Use code “nashtoday” for $10 off your ticket.
Music City Food & Wine Festival | Thursday, April 24-Sunday, April 27 | Times vary | Centennial Park | $99+ | The collection of new and returning foodie events will offer something for every palate, including an Intimate Dinner Series, a multi-course seated dinner with wine pairings, and a Grand Tasting.
Sips for Species | Friday, April 25 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Nashville Zoo | $45 designated driver and $85 GA | A ticket gets you samples from 40+ alcoholic beverage vendors, as well as access to animal encounters and live music.
Bourbon & Bubbles | Saturday, April 26 | 4-8 p.m. | Steeplechase Grandstands | $31 designated driver and $94 GA | Not only will there be champagne, beer, prosecco, and other sips, you should don your big hat for the Iroquois Steeplechase Fashion Show.
Nashville Rosé Festival | Saturday, May 17 | 3-7 p.m. | East Park | $27 designated driver and $59+ GA | This year, organizers increased the selection of rosé wines and expanded the cocktail program. Don’t miss: DJs, live performance art, craft vendors, and food trucks.
Nashville Margarita Festival | Friday, May 30 | 6-9 p.m. | oneC1TY | $25 designated driver and $63 GA | When you’re not sipping on 12 margarita samples, try your hand at salsa dancing or hop in the photo booth.
Family-friendly fun
Nashville Children’s Theatre | March-May | Times vary | Nashville Children’s Theatre | Catch productions of “Dino Time” (March 1-May 18) and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” (April 5-May 18).
Nashville Outdoor Recreation Festival & Expo | Saturday, April 12 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Bells Bend Park | Free | Check out the latest outdoor equipment, attend a workshop, or try out archery and rock climbing.
Great Spring Art Hop | Friday, April 18-Saturday, April 19 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Cheekwood | Cost of admission | Around 36,000 eggs filled with treats are waiting to be found in the gardens during timed hunts by age group. Plus, there will be live music on the Arboretum Lawn Stage and art activities in the Frist Learning Center.
Jurassic Quest | Friday, April 18-Sunday, April 20 | Times vary | The Fairgrounds Nashville | $30+ | Snap photos with life-size dinosaurs (kiddos can even ride one), hop in the bounce house, or dig for fossils.
Spring Zzzoofari Slumber | Saturday, May 24 | Overnight | Nashville Zoo | Price TBA | Join the zoo for a unique camping experience that includes activities during the evening and breakfast the next morning.
Dog-friendly dates
Cocktails & Canines Mixology Workshop | Friday, March 28 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Urban Dog Bar | $60 | You’ll learn how to mix a cocktail for yourself and a mocktail for your furry friend.
Dogs and Dogwoods | Saturday, April 26-Sunday, April 27 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Cost of admission | Celebrate the blooming of Cheekwood’s dogwood collection with your pup — check the schedule for daily activities and pup-friendly vendors.
Doggie Dash | Sunday, April 27 | 1:30 p.m. | Location TBD | $30 | The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series hosts this special race for pups and their owners.
Mutt Strutt 5K | Sunday, May 18 | 7:30 a.m. | Shelby Bottoms Greenway | $25+ | This pup-friendly race (1 mile and 5K) supports the Nashville Humane Association.
Spring markets and plant sales
Nashville Vintage Market | Saturday, March 15 | 12-6 p.m. | The Fairgrounds Nashville | $5+ | Shop vintage clothing, accessories, and sneakers from 70+ vendors. Bonus: There will also be food trucks, a DJ, and tattoos.
The Great Junk Hunt | Friday, March 28-Saturday, March 29 | Times vary | The Fairgrounds Nashville | $10+ | The event showcasing vintage treasures, unique finds, and a bit of Southern charm is back and bigger than ever, spanning over 100,000 sqft across three buildings.
StateMint Nashville | Wednesday, April 2-Saturday, April 5 | Times vary | The Fairgrounds Nashville | Cost of purchase | Shop 50-80% off retail prices for major brands like Free People, Lululemon, Lilly Pulitzer, and Free Bird.
Perennial Plant Sale | Saturday, April 5 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Fairgrounds Nashville | Cost of purchase | Pro tip: Check out the list of available plants and shrubs before you go.
Spring Market | Saturday, April 5-Sunday, April 6 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Green Door Gourmet | Cost of purchase | Visit the 350-acre farm in western Davidson County for a weekend of shopping.
Markets for Makers | Saturday, April 5-Sunday, April 6 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Fairgrounds Nashville | $8+ | A one-day GA pass gets you access to 90+ vendors, a DIY station, and a free tote.
Nashville’s Annual Plant Sale | Saturday, April 12 | 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Fairgrounds Nashville | Cost of purchase | Browse over 10,000 plants across 150+ varieties.
Native Plant Sale | Saturday, April 12 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Cheekwood | Cost of admission and purchase | The Garden Club of Nashville hosts the 18th annual event benefiting The Howe Garden at Cheekwood.
