CMA Fest 2023

• 61% of visitors were first-timers
• 9% of attendees traveled internationally
• Each visiting party spent an average of $3,244
• Top visitor states: Florida, New York, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio

Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th

• 82.7% of attendees were visitors
• 8% boost in hotel demand over last year
• Air travel accounted for 40% of arrivals, while 60% drove
• Top visitor states: New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia
  

Major sporting events

Stadium tours

• Coastal Cowboy Pop-up | Thursday, Aug. 24 | 2-6 p.m. | Bodega, 415 4th Ave. S. | Cost of purchase | Shop handmade cowboy hats, shirts, sweatshirts, notebooks, and accessories.
• Prosper Nashville Community Listening Session | Thursday, Aug. 24 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Hadley Park Regional Community Center, 1037 28th Ave. N. | Free | Share your thoughts on topics like neighborhood and community development, business attraction, job opportunities, and small business support.

• The All-American Rejects | Friday, Aug. 25 | 7 p.m. | Nashville Municipal Auditorium, 417 4th Ave. N. | $31+ | The band will be joined by New Found Glory, The Starting Line, and The Get Up Kids.
• USO Celebrity Tour: Starring Patty Loveless (1989) | Friday, Aug. 25 | 12-1 p.m. | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S. | Cost of admission | The TV special follows Patty Loveless and her band as they visit US military personnel in Alaska, Japan, and South Korea.

• Guns N’ Roses | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 6 p.m. | GEODIS Park, 501 Benton Ave. | $71+ | The rock band known for “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Welcome To The Jungle,” and more take the stage with special guest Carrie Underwood.
• Bianca Paige Day | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 2-9 p.m. | Tribe Nashville, 1515 Church St. | $5+ | The 13th annual Bianca Paige Day will feature live music, drag entertainment, vendors, and a silent auction.

• Wildweed Pop-up | Sunday, Aug. 27 | 5 p.m. | Bastion, 434 Houston St. Ste. 110 | Cost of purchase | David and Lydia Jackman bring their soon-to-open Cincinnati restaurant, Wildweed, to the big bar at Bastion — dishes will be sold a la carte until sold out.
• Movies On Tap: “Wet Hot American Summer” | Sunday, Aug. 27 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Jackalope Brewing Company - The Ranch, 429B Houston St. | $25 | Enjoy all-you-can-drink beer during the film and freshly popped popcorn — theme attire is highly encouraged.

• Drake White: Benefit for the Brain | Monday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Ryman Auditorium, 116 Rep. John Lewis Way N. | $98+ | Randy Houser, Riley Green, Jamey Johnson, and more perform at this charity concert to advance research and support networks in the field of brain and mental health.

• The owners of Cedarwood Weddings announced the impending closure of the venue — 3831 Whites Creek Pk. All scheduled 2023 events will continue as planned; the property is not expected to function as a wedding venue under the new ownership.

• The Chicago White Sox could be mulling a move out of the Windy City when their stadium lease is up in 2029, according to a report. One of the potential landing spots is Nashville. Still lots of innings left in this game, so we’ll keep you updated on the score. (Crain’s)

• BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open a third location in the Nashville area, this time in Goodlettsville near RiverGate Mall. The membership retailer’s future store is expected to open in early 2024 and will be hiring for ~150 positions. (Nashville Business Journal)

• James Lawson High School will receive a new outdoor garden as part of the Sprouts Foundations’ 24 Gardens in 24 Hours in 24 Communities campaign. The garden, which will be constructed by volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 23, will focus on nutrition education.

• Boo at the Zoo will return Friday, Oct. 13 and run through Sunday, Oct. 29. The annual Nashville Zoo event features trick-or-treating, Halloween-themed animal shows, and other fall activities like a “Scary-Go-Round” carousel and a “Monster Mash” dance area. Tickets are on sale.

• Here’s a cheesy event we didn’t see coming. Tickets are on sale now for the Mac and Cheese and Wing a Ding Ding Festival at First Horizon Park. The event on Saturday, Oct. 7 promises 30+ kinds of mac and cheese, wings, and fried chicken.

• Regional pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and hay rides
• Indoor/outdoor fall concerts and music festivals
• Fall foodie and drink events — Think: Nashville Brew Fest and Oktoberfest
• Seasonal sips at local coffee shops