10 Things to Do in Nashville in July

Nashville has plenty to offer year-round, but it's during the summer that it's at its best, with street festivals, water celebrations in the Cumberland Park area and country and bluegrass music shows at various venues around the city.

Among the best things to see and do in Nashville in July you can also take part in Independence Day celebrations, the Franklin Farmers Tomato Festival, which is one of Nashville's most curious events, and artisan fairs.

Nashville is famous for its concerts and music shows and in July you can attend the Street Music Festival, which is one of the premier live honky tonk and country music events. The festival takes place on stages set up along Broadway, which is one of the main thoroughfares of Tennessee's capital city.

The festival is also one of Nashville's most traditional celebrations, attracting visitors from all over the state and an opportunity to sample the city's craft beers and famous bars and restaurants that are often included in Nashville food tours.

During the festival, the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of Nashville's finest museums and a tribute to some of the genre's historic artists, is also on display.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the festival is free.
• When... During a weekend in July.
• Where... At the bars, restaurants and stages on Broadway Street, Nashville.

Tennessee's capital city was built around the river and as such there are many festivals to celebrate it. If you plan to visit Nashville in September you can take part in the Cumberland River Festival and if you travel in July you can attend the Cumberland Park Water Fest, a green lung located next to the John Seigenthaler Bridge.

The Cumberland Park Water Fest aims to promote water awareness and also explain to visitors the importance of the river through interactive activities with environmental slogans. This festival also includes live music performances, educational exhibits, water slides, children's activities and river tours.

During the festival you can also go on river tours such as kayaking activities, dinner or lunch cruises and boat trips.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the festival is free.
• When... During a weekend in July.
• Where... Cumberland Park, Nashville.

Taking a helicopter tour to discover the city from above is one of the best tours you can take in Nashville, as the capital of Tennessee has one of the most beautiful skylines in the state and also a wealth of attractions to see, such as the Ryman Auditorium, the Capitol and Nissan Stadium, which is one of the most modern in the United States.

These tours are available all year round, but it's during the summer and especially in July that the weather is best, as there's no wind, the skyline is usually clear and the flights are safer and more pleasant.

It's also when the city has the most visitors, so you can tour Music City from above and marvel at the number of visitors Nashville attracts.

Helicopter tours depend on the service provider, but you can usually fly over Vanderbilt Stadium, Belmont University, Broadway Street and the Southern Parthenon for a sweeping panoramic view of one of the most iconic cities in the southern United States.

Details of interest

• Price... Helicopter flights start at approximately 93 euros per person.
• Duration... Helicopter tours last approximately 15-20 minutes.
• When... July is one of the best months to fly over Nashville because the winds are moderate and the skyline is usually clear.

If you're planning to visit Nashville in July you can attend the inaugural Summer Cocktail Crawl, an art and botanical garden event held each year at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, a mansion that's open to the public on the outskirts of Nashville and also includes a cocktail bar.

Admission to the event includes a walking tour of the gardens and a tasting of cocktails and local fare along the way, making it a great experience for you to relax and unwind during your visit to Nashville. During the July opening, there are usually discounts on other activities at the mansion.

The Cheekwood Estate & Gardens can be reached by public transportation on the 3 bus and the Nashville Sightseeing Bus, which includes a stop in the area near Warner Park.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the event is approximately 15 euros per person.
• When... The inaugural event is during the first week of June.
• Where... Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Nashville.

If you're planning to visit the United States in July you can experience Independence Day celebrations and Nashville is no exception. Every 4th of July the city hosts the Let Freedom Sing event, which combines music performances with a fireworks show.

This free event is held every year in East Park and also includes arts and crafts vendors, street food stalls and children's activities, making it a great alternative if you plan to visit Nashville with kids

On the 4th of July, Nashville also hosts a downtown marathon, which starts in the morning and has different categories divided by age and fitness level.

Bluegrass is one of the traditional American musical genres and its main festival is held every year during the fourth week of July in Franklin, a county just outside Nashville that is characterised by its gastronomy and art exhibitions in different parts of the city.

The Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Festival is one of the most popular events in Tennessee and is a celebration that includes dancing, food booths, art exhibits, talks by local artists and musical performance contests, making it an ideal family-friendly event.

In addition, proceeds from the event go to charity and the promotion of bluegrass music in the United States.

Useful details

• Price... Entrance to the festival has an initial cost of approximately 15 euros.
• When... During a weekend in July.
• Where... Franklin, Tennessee.

The Full Moon Pickin' Party is a bluegrass festival held every July in Warner Park that includes a series of activities around the park, plus music performances on three stages set up along the main trails.

This bluegrass event is the largest of its kind in the city and features some of the most renowned local artists, making it one of Nashville's top attractions. In addition, admission to the event includes an open bar and an evening tour of the park.

Warner Park can be reached by public transportation on Line 3 buses or the Nashville Sightseeing Bus.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the event costs approximately 25 euros per person for adults and 20 euros for children between the ages of 7 and 18.
• When... Held on a full moon night in July.
• Where... Warner Park, Nashville.

The Franklin Farmers Tomato Festival is not only one of Nashville's most eclectic events, but also one of the most traditional and a special summertime activity to do in the city's ideal weather. Tomatoes are one of the most important local products and this festival, which takes place every year in July, includes tastings and activities for the whole family.

This festival includes local food stalls, lectures to promote farm produce, music concerts and children's activities, making it an ideal activity to do if you plan to visit Nashville with children.

In addition, the Franklin Farmers Tomato Festival lasts approximately one day, so if you are planning to visit the city in July you can do so even if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that's your case, here's a list of things you can do to discover Nashville in 3 days.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the festival costs approximately 18 euros per person.
• When... Held during one day in July.
• Where... Franklin Farmers, Franklin, Nashville.

One of the most popular summer events in Tennessee is the Gatlinburg Craft Fair, held every July at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Gatlinburg, a quaint town just outside of Nashville that's worth visiting for its multicultural and artistic residents.

At the Gatlinburg Artisan Fair you can enjoy live music performances, browse the stalls selling handmade goods and participate in the workshops and demonstrations given by the artisans who are part of the fair.

You can also visit the fair in December if you plan to visit Nashville during the Christmas season, but then the Gatlinburg Convention Center becomes a Christmas market.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the fairgrounds costs approximately 7 euros per person for adults. Children under the age of 12 are free.
• When... Held every year in June for one week.
• Where... Gatlinburg Convention Center, Tennessee.

Nashville is a permanent breeding ground for artists, and most of them thrive on its streets, in street shows and in country, bluegrass and other Southern genres of music. During July in the Tennessee state capital, there is a popular tradition where artists perform shows on Honky Tonk Highway, the city's famous holiday street where music producers stroll during their holidays.

The tradition is aimed at being discovered by these producers and building a career for the artists, but it is also a meeting place for musicians from all over the state at these honky tonks, which are typical southern bars that serve drinks and host local music shows.

Whether you travel to Nashville in January, September or any other time of year, you'll find street music shows, but in July you'll have the chance to experience this tradition where artists mingle with music producers amid the neon lights of Honky Tonk Highway while you feel like you're listening to the next Johnny Cash live.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the street shows is free and most performers only ask for a contribution.
• When... July is when there are the most performers at Honky Tonk Highway.
• Where... Honky Tonk Highway, Tennessee.

July is the peak of summer and the hottest month of the year in Nashville, with temperatures reaching highs of 35° and lows of 23° and average temperatures of 28°, ensuring good weather all month long as well as clear skies, ideal for outdoor activities.

Keep in mind that even in summer Nashville is a city prone to rain and wet weather, so always pack light rain gear to avoid showers ruining your excursions.

In Nashville in August, the rains become more sporadic and the weather drier.

Nashville's peak season starts in May and ends in September, so July is one of the busiest months to visit the city, especially as the city offers plenty of summer activities and the weather is ideal for hiking along the Cumberland River.

If you prefer to visit cities with fewer visitors, you should visit Nashville in October, once autumn has set in, or during the winter months, although temperatures can be very cold at that time.

July in Nashville is summer and also part of the city's peak season, so prices are not cheap, especially for accommodation and outdoor excursions or those that include activities along the Cumberland River, although if you want to save money you can book in advance online for some discounted rates.

If you want to save money you'll want to avoid the city in summer and the best way to see Tennessee's capital at affordable prices is to visit during the winter.

Nashville's summer is hot and humid and rainy, so I recommend packing the following in your suitcase:

• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes
• Sun hat
• Lightweight T-shirt
• Lightweight coat
• Lightweight trousers
• Rain jacket
• Waterproof footwear
• Umbrella