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Fall foliage driving guide in Nashville, TN
The Batman building and surrounding skyline surrounded by fall leaves.
You don’t have to travel far to see autumn leaves when fall hits its peak. | Photo by @cesar_virto
It’s hard to be-leaf we’re well into September and officially kicking off the first day of fall this week (Thurs., Sept. 22). According to this Tennessee fall foliage predication map, Davidson County should see the leaves start turning Mon., Oct. 17, hitting peak colors by Thurs., Nov. 3. Can we get a fall-elujah?

We’re branching out with three scenic fall routes around Middle Tennessee perfect for soaking up the season.

🍂 Natchez Trace Parkway

Also known as the Old Natchez Trace, the historic forest trail runs ~444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, MS, connecting the Cumberland, Missouri, and Mississippi rivers. The drive is separated into five sections, and we recommend taking the Nashville - Franklin section to Leipers Fork - Fly. Party favor: If you want a post-drive, bird’s-eye-view of the route you took, book a ride with Middle Tennessee Hot Air Adventures.

🍂 Love Circle

If you’re looking for a shorter drive within close proximity to the urban core, travel to 3300 Love Cir. off of Acklen Avenue. The short roadway makes a loop around Love Circle Park, walk to the top of the hill and take in one of the most unobstructed views of downtown without having to travel to a Broadway rooftop. Pro tip: There won’t be picnic tables and food trucks galore, so you’ll want to be sure to pack some blankets or folding chairs + snacks if you want to sit and stay awhile.

🍂 Neely’s Bend

This rural gem tucked away northeast of downtown Nashville gets its name for being a significant bend in the Cumberland River. The winding roads with several hundred acres of farmland lead you to Peeler Park. The greenway is a little over a 2-mile stretch and, if you’re lucky, you may see model airplanes taking off from the Peeler Park RC Airfield.
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Today
  • “RENT” | Mon., Sept. 19-Sun., Sept. 25 | TPAC, James K. Polk Theater | $50+ | See Nashville Rep’s production of this iconic musical about young artists struggling through life in Lower Manhattan’s East Village. 🎭
Tuesday
  • Fall StoryWalk Reveal | Tues., Sept. 20 | 7 a.m.-4 p.m. | Warner Park Nature Center, 7311 Hwy. 100 | Free | Discover which story the park has chosen for autumn on this “on your own” stroll along a short trail loop behind the nature center.
  • Florence + the Machine | Tues., Sept. 20 | 7:45 p.m. | Ascend Amphitheater | $83+ | King Princess will join the band as a supporting act + $1 of every ticket sold benefits Choose Love to aid refugees worldwide.
Wednesday
  • Nashville SC vs. Club America | Wed., Sept. 21 | 8 p.m. | GEODIS Park | $22+ | Watch the Boys in Gold in the Leagues Cup Showcase. ⚽
  • Senior Day | Wed., Sept. 21 | Nashville Zoo | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | $8+ | Adults aged 65+ will receive 50% off regular-priced admission.
  • Trainual Playbook 2022 | Wed., Sept. 21-Thurs., Sept. 22 | 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Small business owners are invited to this virtual conference ft. a lineup of entrepreneurial speakers, including Chris Ronzio (CEO of Trainual) and Allyson + Wes Felix (co-founders of Saysh).*
Thursday
  • Pedal Forward: FTW-Only-Ride | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway | Free | Meet at the parking lot by the Vinnylinks for this 6-10-mile ride.
  • Disney On Ice presents “Let’s Celebrate” | Thurs., Sept. 22-Sun., Sept. 25 | 7 p.m. | Bridgestone Arena | $25+ | Watch more than 50 of your favorite Disney characters take the ice and tell 14 Disney stories — costumes are not permitted for guests 14 years and older. ⛸️
Friday
  • Musician’s Corner | Fri., Sept. 23 | 5 p.m. | Centennial Park | Free | See performances by five different artists — like Laney Jones and Los Coast.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
100+ MORE EVENTS

Falling back in love with Cheekwood 🍂

Cheekwood Harvest: Nashville’s six-week fall fest
Presented by a NASHtoday Partner
Leave the rake behind and opt to enjoy someone else’s backyard instead. Cheekwood Harvest is Cheekwood Estate and Gardens’ six-week long fall festival featuring thousands of chrysanthemums, a pumpkin village, and friendly community designed scarecrows, making it the perfect place for a peaceful stroll, crisp fall family day, or an afternoon date.

Plus, the onsite Beer Garden will be open every weekend during the season, featuring a variety of special musical guests.

Performers at Cheekwood Fall Festival in Nashville

Weekend scenes from the 2021 Cheekwood Harvest.

Photo provided by Visit Downtown Nashville

If you’re feeling especially festive, there are plenty of unique programs to choose from including:
The harvest festival will also include exhibitions, wellness programming, and more.*

PURCHASE TICKETS

Weather
  • 93º | Mainly sunny | 5% chance of rain
Biz
  • West Nashville has another new restaurant on the horizon — Streetcar Taps & Beer Garden. The gastropub combining speakeasy and sports bar vibes will open at 4916 Charlotte Ave. in early 2023. The planned menu will feature elevated bar food made utilizing local purveyors and regional ingredients. (Nashville Scene)
Arts
  • Nashville nonprofit Conexión Américas has unveiled a new mural in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month on the north wall of Casa Azafrán — 2195 Nolensville Pk. “We All Belong” is meant to represent the country as a melting pot, while also pointing to shared experiences. 🎨 (WTVF)
Edu
  • TSU is welcoming its largest class of first-year students this fall. More than 3,400 students gathered in the Gentry Center complex for the 2022 Freshmen Convocation Friday. (WZTV)
Drink
  • The first of six “Fridays by the River” kicked off this weekend. East Nashville Beer Works partnered with Friends of Shelby Park for the pop-up beer garden series on Fridays throughout September and October. The event features food trucks, yard games, and music. 🍺
Sports
  • Construction began last week on a $7 million tennis complex on MTSU’s campus. The “state of the art” facility will host both men’s and women’s program + boast new locker rooms, offices, eight upgraded courts, and house up to 250 fans. (WTVF)

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Parking spot party 🎶

PARK(ing) Day in Nashville, TN
NASHtoday_Parking_Day_Gif_SEPT_2022
The event got its start in San Francisco, CA. | Giphy by NASHtoday
Who wouldn’t want to park it downtown on a Friday afternoon? In case you missed it, Fri., Sept. 16 was the city’s annual PARK(ing) Day.

This means those typically hard to find, 8x20-ft road boxes sported temporary vibrant art displays. The mission of the event (that’s been around globally since 2005) is to generate conversation and call attention to the need for more urban open space.

As many as 20+ pop-up installations lined 2nd Avenue this year, playing into the theme of “Housing as a Public Right.” If you didn’t make it to the one-day event, we’ve got you covered. Catch a glimpse of a few of the parklets in the clip above + start planning ahead to build your own next year.
THE WRAP
Today’s edition was written by Skylar.

Editor’s pick: While it’s sadly sold out this year, my top pick for “scenic drives” to see the fall leaves is actually by train with the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. The railway system typically offers 1-3 fall foliage-based excursions a year lasting over three hours. Bookmark this tab for next season. 🚂

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Fall more in love with Cheekwood Harvest via this guide.
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Editorial: Dylan Aycock, Skylar Webb, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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