Ready for sweater weather, Nashville? From pumpkin patches and corn mazes to fall festivals and Halloween fun, consider this the ultimate fall guide featuring 30+ events happening through early November.
Festivals and fairs
Cheekwood Harvest | Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Cheekwood
Alongside a scarecrow trail and beer garden, a Pumpkin Village made with 75,000 pumpkins and 4,000 chrysanthemums sits at the heart of the festival.
International Black Film Festival | Wednesday, Oct. 2-Sunday, Oct. 6 | Locations vary
This year’s festival will screen 40+ documentaries, shorts, and narrative features.
Nashville Film Festival | Thursday, Sept. 19-Wednesday, Sept. 25 | Locations vary
In addition to 150 film screenings, make plans to attend industry panels, live music showcases, and after parties.
Artville | Friday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 29 | Wedgewood-Houston and Chestnut Hill
Expect ~20 large-scale public art installations and murals, as well as gallery shows, after dark events, artisan vendors, and more at this 2nd annual visual arts festival.
Pilgrimage Music Festival | Saturday, Sept. 28-Sunday, Sept. 29 | The Park at Harlinsdale Farm
Noah Kahan, Dave Matthews Band, Hozier, and NEEDTOBREATHE headline the annual Franklin festival.
Nashville Oktoberfest | Thursday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 6 | Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Come for the food — brats, sausages, schnitzel, strudel, funnel cakes, and more — and stay for the 5k Bier Run, live music, and stein holding competitions. Bonus: Don’t miss the dog-friendly activities, including a pup parade and the Dachshund Derby.
Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival | Saturday, Oct. 5 | Centennial Park
The annual festival offers entertainment stages, educational exhibits, food, shopping, and other activities honoring over 50 cultures.
Cumberland River Dragon Boat Festival | Saturday, Oct. 5 | Nashville East Riverfront Landing
Arrive early to find a spot for the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. before Dragon Boat races commence on the Cumberland River.
Fall Tennessee Craft Fair | Friday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 13
Shop fine crafts from jewelry, clay, and leather to wood, glass, and paintings from hundreds of Tennessee artists.
Touch of Brews | Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19 | Sevier Park
Spend the day at this Grateful Dead-inspired festival with live music, craft beer, food trucks, a kid’s zone, and vendors. Pro tip: Kids 12 and under get in free.
Light the Nations | Saturday, Oct. 19 | The Nations
The 8th annual event celebrating this West Nashville neighborhood features vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, and luminary bag decorating.
Fall Ball, Y’all | Saturday, Oct. 19 | Nashville Farmers Market
The autumn harvest party will have live bluegrass, a pumpkin patch, vendor specials, and more fall fun.
Southern Festival of Books | Saturday, Oct. 26-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
The annual literary festival welcomes 150 authors to Nashville for two days of author talks, book signings, live performances, and shopping.
PumpkinFest | Saturday, Oct. 26 | Downtown Franklin
The festival stretches along Main Street and its side avenues with 140+ arts and craft vendors and 30+ food vendors. Plus, don’t miss the children’s activities, live entertainment, and costume contests.
Kidsville Family Festival | Sunday, Oct. 27 | Centennial Park
Plan ahead for a fun-filled day of activities, including live music, character meet and greets, inflatable games, face painting, an instrument petting zoo, and more.
El Dia de los Muertos | Saturday, Nov. 2-Sunday, Nov. 3 | Cheekwood
The 25th annual festival will have music and dancing, art activities, alter displays, and more — tickets go on sale Sept. 24.
Food and drink festivals
Nashville Brew Fest | Friday, Sept. 20 | First Horizon Park
First Horizon Park transforms into a beer oasis with 50+ breweries and activities set up on the field and throughout the concourse.
Nashville Greek Festival | Friday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 29 | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Enjoy a weekend of dancing, shopping, and feasting on spanakopita, Greek-style fries, baklava, and other dishes.
Taste of West Nashville | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | Fat Bottom Brewing Co.
Arrive hungry at this annual tasting event with 20+ local vendors. This year’s gathering features everything from sandwiches and hot dogs to snow cones and cinnamon rolls.
Nashville Whiskey Festival | Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12 | Locations vary
Saturday’s grand tasting at Omni Nashville Hotel includes a tasting glass and access to masterclasses.
Pizza City Fest | Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 20 | First Horizon Park
Enjoy slices from ~40 local and national pizzerias, as well as unlimited sides, salads, and sweets. When you’re not eating pizza, watch live demonstrations and sit in on panel discussions.
Bacon & Brews Street Festival | Saturday, Oct. 19 | New Heights Brewing Company
Bacon and beer take center stage at this street festival boasting live music, food trucks, bacon-eating contests, and kid’s activities.
Tennessee Beer, Wine & Shine Festival | Saturday, Oct. 19 | Two Rivers Mansion
Admission includes a commemorative glass and 3-ounce samples from local, regional, national, and import breweries.
Nashville Tequila Festival | Friday, Nov. 1 | The Yard at oneC1TY
General admission includes a tequila sampling passport with 12 tastings, plus access to live music, food trucks, and festive photo set-ups.
Dog-friendly to-dos
Hot Diggity Dog Fest | Saturday, Sept. 7 | Capitol View
Join fellow pet lovers at this street festival featuring 15+ dog-friendly vendors.
Pups & Pints | Saturday, Oct. 5 | The Yard at oneC1TY
Bring your canine companions for a shopping spree at the Bark Market, “pawdicures and furr-cials” by a local grooming company, and pet-friendly arts and crafts.
Dog Day Festival | Saturday, Oct. 19 | Centennial Park
Join the Nashville Humane Association for a day of costume contests, agility demonstrations, live music, and food trucks.
Halloween Pooch Party | Saturday, Oct. 26-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Cheekwood
Dress up Fido for a stroll through the gardens and enjoy special treats from dog-friendly vendors.
Halloween happenings
Fear Fest | Friday, Oct. 4-Thursday, Oct. 31 | The Franklin Theatre
Grab the popcorn for 20+ movie screenings, including horror classics and seasonal family favorites — “Hocus Pocus,” “The Shining,” and “Scream,” to name a few.
BOOze at the Zoo | Thursday, Oct. 10 | Nashville Zoo
Collect treats along the Trick-or-Treat Trail, hear jokes from Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin, and sip on unlimited samples at this 21+ event.
Boo at the Zoo | Friday, Oct. 11-Thursday, Oct. 31 | Nashville Zoo
Get ready for trick-or-treating, “Scary-Go-Round” carousel rides, a “Monster Mash” dance area, and other fall-themed activities throughout the zoo.
All Hallows East | Saturday, Oct. 26 | Five Points
Spend the day in this East Nashville neighborhood for carnival games, costume contests, arts and crafts, and trick-or-treating.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Multiple dates | The Parthenon
A string quartet plays Halloween-inspired tunes from “Beetlejuice,” “Stranger Things,” and more.
Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” In Concert | Saturday, Nov. 2-Sunday, Nov. 3 | Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Watch Jack Skellington attempt to take over Christmas while the Nashville Symphony performs the score live.
Pumpkins aplenty.
Photo by @gentrysfarm
Orchards, pumpkin patches, and mazes
Nashville Fall Festival | Friday, Sept. 20-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 8687 Old Harding Pk.
General admission grants you access to the corn maze, and you can add on pumpkin picking and hay rides.
Flying Ghost Pumpkin Patch | Open through TBD | 97 White Bridge Rd. | Shop a selection of pumpkins, mums, corn stalks, and hay bales.
Shuckle’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch | Saturday, Sept. 21-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 7526 Swift Rd., Greenbrier
Visit this farm ~30 min. north of downtown to enjoy hayrides, an 8-acre corn maze, seasonal foods, and pumpkin bowling and basketball.
Honeysuckle Hill Farm | Saturday, Sept. 21-Thursday, Oct. 31 | 1765 Martins Chapel Church Rd., Springfield
Choose your adventure by adding a punch card with your purchase, and explore the 30+ attractions included with admission like the pumpkin train and zip line.
Gentry’s Farm | Saturday, Sept. 28-Monday, Oct. 28 | 1974 Hwy. 96 W., Franklin
Have some fall fun with wagon rides, a corn field maze, a general store, a tractor playground, and mini putt putt.
Lucky Ladd Farms | Saturday, Sept. 21-Friday, Nov. 1 | 4374 Rocky Glade Rd., Eagleville
Seasonal activities include a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and seasonal treats.
Walden Pumpkin Farm | Open through Thursday, Oct. 31 | 8653 Rocky Fork Rd., Smyrna | Instead of purchasing Walden Bucks like in previous years, an activity wristband ($12) now grants access to hayrides, the corn maze, and more.
