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September 11, 2026

RIP Zoolumination and O’Charley’s. Hello, FBI?

City Cast Nashville

RIP Zoolumination and O’Charley’s. Hello, FBI?

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The Nashville Zoo announced its annual Zoolumination event, which lights up the property each night during holiday season with more than 1,000 silk lanterns, has been canceled this year. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to talk about the visa issues facing the Zoo’s hired artisans from China, the nationwide closing of Nashville-founded chain O’Charley’s, and the mess at Metro Water that has overflowed into a federal investigation. Plus, don’t miss our members-only segment, Hell Naw, where this week’s rant is about the recent renderings of what a redeveloped Second Avenue might look like, six years after the Christmas Day bombing. (It’s giving The Gulch…)

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 11th episode: 

Nashville Shakespeare Fest

Hoffmann Brothers

Centennial Park Conservancy

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville

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