J A N U A R YN A s h v i l l e A U t o f e s t

This event features a swap meet, car show, car corral and a Sunday church service sponsored by the Christian Hot Rod Association. Trophies and prizes are awarded to car show entries.

s p R i N t s o U N d & s p e e d – A c e l e b R A t i o N o f m U s i c A N d m o t o R s p o R t s

This fundraising event benefits the Vic-tory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Charities. Top stars from NASCAR and country music ap-pear for autograph sign-ing, performances and interviews.

s t e l l A R g o s p e l m U s i c A w A R d s

Now in its 24th year, the Stellar Awards has become the premier gospel event that recognizes and honors gospel and continues to showcase top gospel artists.

f e b R U A R YA N t i Q U e s A N d g A R d e N s s h o w o f N A s h v i l l e

The Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville brings together nationally and internationally renowned experts and exhibitors in the fields of antiques, decorative arts and landscape design. The Antiques and Garden Show features 150 antique and horticultural booths and 10 innovative landscaped gardens. In addi-

tion, experts on the cutting edge of home and garden style offer special lectures.

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Located at Gaylord Opry-land Resort & Convention Center, the Heart of Country

Antiques Show has over 200 dealers. See

American master furniture, art, porcelain, quilts, wood and glass. Seminars, book signings and free personal appraisals are offered throughout the event.

m U s i c c i t Y s o U l s e R i e sScheduled in conjunction with Black His-

tory Month, the Music City Soul Series brings out some of Nashville’s best musicians to rock the month of February. The series takes place at B.B. King’s Blues Club and Restaurant every Thursday night in February.

m U s i c vA l l e Y A N t i Q U e s m A R K e t

The Music Valley Antiques Market is held across the street from the Radisson Hotel Opryland and features over 150 of America’s finest antique dealers displaying a wide range of merchandise.

t A i l g A t e A N t i Q U e s s h o wLocated at the Fiddler’s Inn Hotel in

Music Valley, the bi-annual Tailgate An-tiques Show offers an “early bird” viewing of period furniture, quilts, folk art, jewelry and pottery. Merchants, from 35 states representing 180 dealers, set up their goods in hotel rooms and in adjoining parking spaces outside the hotel.

Music Cityf e s t i v A l s & e v e N t s c A l e N d A R

w w w . v i s i t m u s i c c i t y . c o m

m U s i c c i t Y s f e s t i v A l sThroughout the year, Music City

is highlighted with various festivals celebrating songwriters, music, authors, arts and crafts, food and wine, dance and holidays. Many of these festivals have received national media attention and attract large and diverse audiences. With so many options, there’s something for everyone in Music City. Check out the most up-to-date event listings online at www.visitmusiccity.com and click on “Events Calendar.”

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Find an acre of live gardens, 250 exhib-it booths, series of free lectures and a floral gallery. The Lawn & Garden Show is held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

A p R i lA w e s o m e A p R i l

Music City celebrates the month of April with Awesome April, a musical tribute to the city that promises a major event each week-end. Throughout the month visitors have the opportunity to be in the audience, attend one of the country’s longest-running film festivals, run a marathon or relax to the sounds of acoustic guitars.

c o U N t R Y m U s i c m A R At h o N & 1 / 2 m A R At h o N

Fifty bands play live on 27 entertainment stages throughout the course while hundreds of high school cheerleaders cheer on partici-pants. More music awaits at the post-race concert in downtown’s Sommet Center. Past performers include Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina and Diamond Rio. A two-day expo precedes race day with over 60 exhibits featuring free samples, the latest running shoes, sports apparel and health and nutrition products.

g m A g o s p e l w e e KFeatures seminars, workshops and con-

certs designed to enrich gospel music in-dustry professionals, artists and songwriters. Presented by the Gospel Music Association.

g m A d o v e A wA R d sThe GMA Dove Awards are dedicated

to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The awards represent all styles of gospel music in-cluding contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children’s gospel music. Past performers and hosts include Steven Cur-tis Chapman, CeCe Winans, Rebecca St. James and Kirk Franklin.

m U s i c c i t Y wA l K o f f A m e i N d U c t i o N c e R e m o N Y

The Music City Walk of Fame on Nashville’s Music Mile is a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration and made a significant contribution to the music industry with a connection to Music City. Induction ceremonies take place in April in conjunction with GMA Week and November in conjunc-tion with the CMA Music Awards.

N A s h v i l l e f i l m f e s t i vA lFounded in 1969 as the Sinking Creek

Film Celebration, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the longest-running film festivals in the country. Each year, the Film Festival receives submissions of nearly 1,500 features, documentaries, shorts, animated works, children’s and experimental films

from all over the world. After pre-screening and deliberating, over 200 top entries from all genres are selected for the competition.

R i t e s o f s p R i N gSponsored by Vanderbilt University, Rites

of Spring is a two-day festival that continu-ally provides a lineup of the freshest artists in modern music to the Nashville community.

t i N p A N s o U t h s o N g w R i t e R s f e s t i vA l

Presented by the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Tin Pan South is a weeklong celebration, spotlighting Nashville as the world capital of songwrit-ing, through the variety of songwriters who live and work here today. Club show perfor-mances are the highlight of Tin Pan South with over 80 shows at venues all over Music City throughout the week. Night after night, fans find the best songwriters in the world performing “in-the-round” in small intimate clubs. Past Tin Pan South performers include Art Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Donna Summer, Loretta Lynn, Carole King, Garth Brooks, Janis Ian, Kenny Loggins, Peter Frampton and many more.

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Over 15,000 pounds of crawfish are de-livered fresh from Louisiana for this two-day music event that has become a Nashville tra-dition. Past musical performers have included 3 Doors Down, Paramore and T-Pain.

R U N N i N g o f t h ei R o Q U o i s s t e e p l e c h A s e

Bring a picnic or tailgate to the nation’s oldest, continuously-run, weight-for-age steeplechase. The stylish event, a seven-race card with the featured Iroquois Memorial, benefits Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

tA c A s p R i N g c R A f t s f A i RThe Tennessee Association of Craft

Artists (TACA) is best known for its free, juried craft fairs. The May annual crafts fair in Centennial Park has served not only as a market for fine crafts, but as a conduit for demonstration programs, hands-on opportunities and the chance to meet and talk with professional craft art-ists. The three-day crafts festival attracts over 45,000 people to view the craftsman-ship of over 200 exhibitors.

t e N N e s s e e J A Z Z & b l U e s s o c i e t Y ’ s c o N c e R t s o N t h e l A w N

Every Sunday evening from May through October, the Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society performs on the lawns of two historic Nashville homes. Rotating each month, the TJBS ap-pears at Cheekwood and Belle Meade Planta-tion. Guests are encouraged to enjoy hot blues and cool jazz with picnic baskets and blankets.

t e N N e s s e e R e N A i s s A N c e f e s t i vA lTravel back to a time when the music of

harps and lyres filled the air. Open every week-end in May, the annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival relives a time when jousting and jesters ruled the castle. The Tennessee Renaissance

Festival is the only festival in the country that is held on the grounds of a castle residence. Castle Gwynn, a full-size replica of a 12th-

century border castle, is the centerpiece of the festivities. Tours of the castle and its displays of medieval weaponry are included in admission.

J U N eA m e R i c A N A R t i s A N f e s t i vA l

Some 160 artists from around the country are carefully selected to represent their areas of expertise which include wood, blown glass, photography, metal, quilts, stained glass, jewelry and more.

b l U e g R A s s N i g h t s At t h e R Y m A NEvery Thursday night from June through

July, the Ryman Auditorium celebrates the sounds of Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs with

the ever-popular Bluegrass Nights at the Ry-man. Each week a different bluegrass artist or group takes center stage for two hours of banjos, mandolins, fiddles and guitars. Past performers include Vince Gill, Alison Krauss & Union Station and Ricky Skaggs & Ken-tucky Thunder.

c m A m U s i c f e s t i vA lThe CMA Music Festival, formerly

known as Fan Fair, is a four-day musical event in downtown Nashville. Throughout the week over 160,000 fans converge in Music City to hear approximately 200 artists perform over 40 hours of live music. Daytime concerts are held on the Riverfront Park stage while evening concerts are held across the river at LP Field. Daytime events include autograph signings, fishing and archery tour-naments and artists’ Q&A sessions.

c m t m U s i c A wA R d sAs country music’s first fan-voted

awards show, the CMT Music Awards honors the best country music videos of the year. The awards show continues to gain in popularity among fans and in prominence among critics. The awards show airs live from Music City each year.

J e f f e R s o N s t R e e t J A Z Z A N d b l U e s f e s t i vA l

Jefferson Street comes alive when local jazz and blues musicians take over for a two-day block party celebrating the impact jazz and blues has had on Music City.

tA s t e o f m U s i c c i t YLocated on the beautiful Gateway Bridge,

Taste of Music City provides an opportunity to enjoy food and wine from some of the area’s best restaurants. Taste of Music City also features live jazz music from local musicians.

J U l Y

m U s i c c i t Y J U lY 4 t h : l e t f R e e d o m s i N g !

Each year, the city of Nashville opens its downtown Riverfront Park on the 4th of July to spectators wanting to enjoy free entertainment and fireworks for Nashville’s biggest one-day event (drawing crowds in excess of 100,000). Country music artists perform accompanied by the Grammy-winning Nashville Symphony.

A U g U s t

A N N U A l f i d d l i N ’ b R e w i N ’ b A R - b - Q ’ N c o o K - o f f

This event has finger-licking barbecue from all over the region and locally brewed

beer from Yazoo Brewing Company. There’s plenty to see and do with live music, enter-tainment, kid’s activities, and don’t forget the dessert competition! Held at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the festival offers the nation’s largest Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned grand prize for a barbecue.

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A f R i c A N s t R e e t f e s t i vA lThis three-day annual event embraces

the culture of Africa. The festival features exotic food and daily stage shows showcasing poetry, rap, reggae, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B and drama.

A m e R i c A N A m U s i c A s s o c i At i o N f e s t i vA l & c o N f e R e N c e

The AMA Festival & Conference brings over 1,000 executives, professionals and artists together from all over the world, representing all facets of our industry. The festival features over 50 showcases and performances from both established and emerging artists.

f A l l f e s tThis favorite family event has been a tradi-

tion at historic Belle Meade Plantation for years. Fall Fest features fine antiques, art, crafts, live music, food and children’s activities.

g R e e K f e s t i vA lExperience Greek dance, music, food

and culture at the annual Greek Festival at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Tours of the cathedral are included in the admission cost.

J o h N m e R R i t t c l A s s i cThe John Merritt Classic, an annual

Labor Day weekend event, sees over 20,000 fans gather for football and fun. Weekend-long festivities include Tennessee State University’s season opening football game, a charity golf tournament, concerts and special activities. The Classic is named in honor of legendary former TSU collegiate Hall of Fame coach John Ayers Merritt.

m U s i c c i t Y J A Z Z , b l U e s & h e R i tA g e f e s t i vA l

Unofficially ending summer is the annual Music City Jazz, Blues & Heritage Festival. The two-day event, that takes place over

Labor Day weekend, is a reminder that Nashville is not just about country music. The festival merges local and national artists together for a buffet of jazz, blues, reggae, funk, gospel, soul and R&B.

tA c A f A l l c R A f t s f A i RThe Tennessee Association of Craft Art-

ists (TACA) is best known for its free, juried craft fairs. The annual crafts fair in Centen-nial Park has served not only as a market for fine crafts, but as a conduit for demonstration programs, hands-on opportunities and the chance to meet and talk with professional craft artists. The three-day crafts festival at-tracts over 45,000 people to view the crafts-manship of 200 exhibitors.

w i N e o N t h e R i v e RWine on the River is an outdoor wine

festival with live jazz music. Located on the downtown Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge overlooking the Cumberland River, the festival features more than 300 domestic and international wine selections for tasting.

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c e l e b R At i o N o f c U lt U R e s Each year the grounds of Scarritt-

Bennett Center are filled with food, art and fun, from representatives of more than 50 cultures. Activities include music, dance, crafts and ethnic art.

g R A N d o l e o p R Y b i R t h d AY b A s h Thousands of Grand Ole Opry fans help

celebrate the Opry’s birthday each October. The signature event of the Opry features

autograph and picture sessions with Opry members, Grand Ole Opry Birthday Bash shows, tours of the Opry House and more.

h e A R t o f c o U N t R Y A N t i Q U e s s h o wLocated at Gaylord Opryland Resort &

Convention Center, the Heart of Country Antiques Show has over 200 dealers. See American master furniture, art, porcelain, quilts, wood and glass. Seminars, book sign-ings and free personal appraisals are offered throughout the event. The event is held twice a year in October and February.

J A c K d A N i e l’ s w o R l d c h A m p i o N -s h i p i N v i tAt i o N A l b A R b e c U e

Each year over 50 domestic and 18 inter-national championship cook-off teams vie for the Jack Daniel’s title of Grand Cham-pion, and more than 25,000 people descend upon Lynchburg to bask in the aroma of award-winning barbecue and celebrate one of America’s favorite pastimes.

m U s i c vA l l e Y A N t i Q U e s m A R K e tThe Music Valley Antiques Market is

held across the street from the Radisson Hotel Opryland and features over 150 of America’s finest antique dealers displaying a wide range of merchandise. The event is held twice a year in October and February.

N At i v e A m e R i c A N i N d i A N A s s o c i At i o N p o w w o w

The NAIA Pow Wow brings together Native Americans from across the nation and Canada. Highlights of the festival include competitive dancing, storytelling, demonstrations, fine art displays and food

booths with traditional dishes from differ-ent tribes.

N e X t b i g N A s h v i l l eNext Big Nashville (NBN) showcases the

best of the thriving Nashville music scene and artistic community with this five-day music festival featuring over 100 bands performing at several venues throughout the city.

tA i l g At e A N t i Q U e s s h o wLocated at the Fiddler’s Inn Hotel in

Music Valley, the bi-annual Tailgate An-tiques Show offers an “early bird” viewing of period furniture, quilts, folk art, jewelry and pottery. Merchants, from 35 states rep-resenting 180 dealers, set up their goods in hotel rooms and in adjoining parking spaces outside the hotel. The event is held twice a year in October and February.

o K t o b e R f e s t, N A s h v i l l e ’ s o R i g i N A l g e R m A N f e s t i vA l

Live German music, authentic polka dancing, strolling accordion players and au-thentic German food and beverages bring the historic Germantown neighborhood to life.

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The Bluegrass Fan Fest is the indoor music festival of the year featuring perfor-mances by the industry’s top performers on four stages over the course of six days. The festival also includes a 100 + booth Exposition Hall, scores of jam sessions and more! The week ends with the International Bluegrass Music Awards which salutes the year’s outstanding achievements during a fast-paced evening of fabulous performances and the music’s major awards.

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c h R i s t m A s At b e l m o N tNovember through December, Belmont

Mansion decorates for the holidays with yards of garland, fruit, dried flowers and traditional tussie-mussies. It’s a beautiful time of year to take a tour!

c h R i s t m A s v i l l A g eThe annual event at the Tennessee State

Fairgrounds showcases holiday arts and crafts from over 260 merchants and benefits the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center.

A c o U N t R Y c h R i s t m A sGaylord Opryland’s A Country Christ-

mas is proud to present the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the world-famous Radio City Rockettes, back with dazzling costumes, brilliant choreography and favorite scenes such as the “Living Nativity” and the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.” There’s Louise Mandrell’s Joy To The World Christmas Dinner & Show; Trea-sures For The Holidays Craft Show; the General Jackson Showboat; Santa’s E-mail;

Carriage Rides; Photos with Santa; Brightest Star Fountain Show; Hall of Trees and nearly two million Christmas lights.

h o l i d AY h A R m o N YThere’s something

for everyone during the holiday season. From costumed docents reenacting holiday life in the 1800s to stage per-formances bringing out the holiday spirit. Celebrate Hanukkah,

Christmas, Kwanzaa, Posada Navidad and more. Enjoy history, arts, crafts, theatre, dance and song in Music City during the holidays.

p l A N tAt i o N c h R i s t m A sEach November through January,

Travellers Rest Plantation decorates the plantation home in the style and tradition of an 1830’s Christmas.

s e A s o N o f c e l e b R At i o N From November through December,

guests enjoy the traditions of many cultures during Season of Celebration at Cheekwood. Share the magic of the season with fabulous holiday decorations, Christmas trees and multicultural exhibits.

v i c t o R i A N h o l i d AY t o U R sSee the 1853 Belle Meade Plantation

lavishly adorned in Victorian splendor and learn about the family’s traditions. Featured on “Southern Living Presents” on Turner South cable network in 2005.

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A N N U A l t R i b U t e t o A f R i c A N A m e R i c A N s i N t h e b At t l e o f N A s h v i l l e

Tour the significant battle sites where the Civil War Battle of Nashville occured on December 15 and 16, 1864, including Fort Negley and Shy’s Hill. Pay tribute to the African Americans who fought in battle with a wreath-laying at the National Cemetery.

g AY l o R d h o t e l s m U s i c c i t Y b o w l Be a part of the excitement for the

annual post-season college football game at LP Field. The bowl pits an SEC school against an ACC rival in a game broadcast nationwide on ESPN.