Welcome to September in Nashville! Fall arrives at the end of the month, and while the weather can still get pretty hot, things are starting to cool down. That makes September a great month to head outside, whether for one of September’s numerous festivals, or to hike. Spooky season is right around the corner, too, and I’ve got some tips to start prepping. Plus, Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15.
There are hummingbird costumes at the Hummingbird Celebration! (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🎉 Festivals, Festivals, Festivals!
A ton of festivals are held during September. Here are our favorites!
- Musicians Corner | Fridays Sept. 6-27 | Free | Centennial Park: When I taught at Lipscomb University, I’d always recommend my students check out this free music festival. It’s a great way to hear local musicians, and maybe even make a few new friends.
- Hummingbird Celebration | Sept. 7 | Free | Warner Park Nature Center: Parents, you gotta bring your kids to this! We have gone twice with my daughter, and it’s a delight. There’s face painting, hummingbird banding, tons of activities, and a food stand. It’s so fun to watch the hummingbirds flit between feeders and flowers, and you can check out the nature playground while you’re at it.
- Middle Tennessee Highland Games & Celtic Festival | Sept. 7-8 | $22.60+ | Sanders Ferry Park, Hendersonville: I have friends who attend this festival every year and love learning more about their Celtic heritage and watching the numerous musical and athletic events. It’s a family-friendly event.
- Cheekwood Harvest | Sept. 14-Oct. 27 | $22+ | Cheekwood: Cheekwood is gorgeous in the fall. We love visiting their pumpkin house and scarecrow trail, and they even sell pumpkins, so you can start your fall decorations early. This year they have over 75,000 pumpkins! 👀
- AMERICANAFEST | Sept. 17-21 | $125+: This musical festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary! Performers include Brandy Clark with SistaStrings, Dwight Yoakam, Fantastic Negrito, and many more. Music events happen at numerous Nashville locations, including an awards ceremony at the Ryman on Wednesday night.
- Nashville Film Festival | Sept. 19-25 | $195+: Film aficionados rejoice: With more than 150 films showing all over Nashville, the 55th anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival will be amazing.
- Nashville Greek Festival | Sept. 27-29 | $5 | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church: Expect tons of friendly people and good food. Make sure to tour the gorgeous church while you’re there!
- Kidsville Family Festival | Sept. 28 | Free | Centennial Park: This is my first time hearing about this children’s festival, and you better believe my daughter and I will be there! There’s gonna be a meet and greets with princesses, a Dolly Parton Imagination Library story time, an instrument activity from the Country Music Hall of Fame, heaps of food trucks, and lots more fun to be had. Say hi if you see me!
Spirit Halloween is officially open. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🎃 Preppin’ for Spooky Season
- Spirit Halloween is now open on White Bridge Road! We went last weekend, and my daughter had a blast looking at all the spooky Halloween decorations. They have a lot more out than last year. Some are genuinely creepy!
- Start thinking about Halloween costumes, particularly group costumes. A creative group costume takes time! However, if you have kids, I recommend waiting until October. My kid always changes her mind about what she wants to be for Halloween at the last minute.
- Friday the 13th tattoos! Many tattoo shops around Nashville offer $13 tattoos on Friday the 13th. Check out your favorite artists and studios on Instagram for designs and deals, like Sage and Serpent and Electric Hand.
We can often be found hiking along the Natchez Trace. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
Under-the-Radar Hiking Recs
I spend many weekends hiking. While we probably all know about the bigger local parks — Radnor Lake, the Warner Parks, and Shelby Bottoms — here are some great hiking locations that you may not have tried yet.
- Natchez Trace. Numerous trails dot the Natchez Trace in Williamson County. Check out Timberland Park in particular.
- Beaman Park. This beautiful park in Northwest Davidson County is like being in an ancient forest. It’s so peaceful.
- Deerwood Arboretum & Nature Center. Tucked away between sprawling Brentwood estates, this quiet certified arboretum offers 27 acres of paved and unpaved trails, and is surprisingly never busy.
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15. Here are some ways to celebrate in Nashville!
- Tour some of the numerous taco shops along Nolensville Pike.
- Attend The Latin Party at the Nashville Farmers’ Market on Sept. 13, hosted by Conexión Américas.
- Head to Plaza Mariachi on Sept. 15 for their Fiestas Patrias Celebration, honoring the independence days of many Latino countries.
- On Sept. 28, the Nashville Zoo is throwing a Hispanic Heritage Festival, also in collaboration with Conexión Américas. There will be folkloric dances, music, food, and other fun activities.
- Or you could go to the Nashville Taco & Margarita Festival on Sept. 28, with lots of live music.
