10 Things to Do in Nashville in September
September marks the end of summer in Nashville and the start of the festivals, but it's also a good time to continue to enjoy the city's pleasant weather and catch some of the city's top music concerts.
Autumn at the Pantheon | ©Zenm
Nashville is one of the most visited cities in the American South in the summer, and as the summer season winds down and autumn begins, the Tennessee capital continues to maintain a pleasant climate and ushers in the season of festivals, music concerts and cultural fairs.
Some of the best things to see and do in Nashville in September include the Cultural Festival, the Southern Book Fair, concerts and musical performances at the Nashville Public Library and open houses on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge to coincide with the start of autumn in the city.
1. Join the tractor tour to celebrate the start of harvest.
The tractor tour is one of Nashville's signature attractions and a public festival held several times throughout the year, but if you plan to visit the city in September you can take part in a tractor tour celebrating the start of harvest by caravanning through downtown Nashville on party tractors.
On these caravans you can enjoy the music, the dance floors and the city from a different perspective, as you can soak up Nashville's agrarian spirit on one of the city's celebration dates, which begins in September during the start of the harvest season in the southern United States and ends in November with Thanksgiving.
Please note that as most of these activities include an open bar , you must be over 21 years of age to participate in the tractor tours.
2. Attend the Nashville Whiskey Festival
The Nashville Wine Whiskey Festival is one of the city's most eclectic events and brings together newcomers, aficionados and connoisseurs of the world of whiskey each September for a weekend of whiskey lectures, live music performances, food trucks and booths, and whiskey tastings.
The festival also features whisky competitions in which whisky experts compete in a blind competition and the participant who guesses the quality of each bottle wins, making it one of the event's most engaging activities. If you visit Nashville in September, the Whiskey Festival is one of the city' s best food tours
The event is hosted by Nashville's top distilleries and experts from each company provide seminars, talks and lectures for attendees, so if you're a whiskey aficionado you'll really enjoy the event.
Details of interest
- Price... Admission to participating distilleries is free.
- When... Every year on a weekend in September.
- Where... At different distilleries in Nashville.
3. Visit the Southern Book Fair
The Southern Festival of Books is one of Nashville's most popular cultural events and one of the oldest literary festivals in the country, hosting hundreds of authors and thousands of visitors from Tennessee and the surrounding area each year. This free festival is held at War Memorial Plaza on a weekend in September.
With activities for adults and children, performance stages, food trucks and booths, publisher and bookseller venues, virtual programming and evening activities, this is one of the best things to do in the city if you plan to tour Nashville at night.
War Memorial Plaza is located in the downtown area, so you can make the most of your visit to that part of town and take some of Nashville's best tours starting at the sites near the Tennessee Capitol and Legislative Plaza. There you can start Downtown walking, segway or bike tours to make the most of your tour time.
Interesting details
- Price... Admission to the fair is free.
- When... Every year on a weekend in September.
- Where... War Memorial Plaza, Union St., Nashville.
4. Enjoy concerts at the Nashville Public Library
In September each year, the Nashville Public Library opens its doors and offers free lunchtime concerts in shows that combine local and regional band shows with some national acts.
These concerts are held in the library's Robinson Courtyard and are not cancelled due to weather conditions, which is good news because September is a rainy month in Nashville.
The library also sets up tables and chairs, so you can also eat and drink, and it's one of the most interesting and popular free events in Nashville during September.
The library is located in the city centre and is accessible by the 52 bus or the Nashville Sightseeing Bus, which includes a stop near the entrance to the Robinson Courtyard.
Details of interest
- Price... Admission to library concerts is free.
- When... Every year during September.
- Where... 615 Church St, Nashville.
5. Join the Cumberland River Festival
The Cumberland River is one of the great prides of Nashville and the state of Tennessee, so the event celebrating the city's main tributary aims to celebrate the river as well as raise awareness among locals and visitors about the importance of caring for nature and clean water.
This free, family-friendly festival includes live music performances, the participation of local and regional artists, food trucks and stalls, a dragon boat race that rewards the winner with a basket of items donated by the festival sponsors, as well as activities for children.
Along with the Southern Parthenon and Nashville's best museums, the Cumberland River is one of the city's great attractions and also the perfect place for an evening cruise or riverside excursion.
Interesting details
- Price... Admission to the festival is free.
- When... Every year during September.
- Where... Cumberland River, Nashville.
6. Take in the unobstructed views on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
The John Seigenthaler Bridge, at almost 2 kilometres long, is one of the largest bridges in Nashville and one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. It connects the city's historic district with Riverside Park on the East Bank Greenway, linking two of the most important points in Tennessee's capital city. From here, on clear days in autumn, you can access some of the most beautiful open views of the city.
Since this century-old bridge was closed to vehicles, it has become a popular place for pedestrians to visit, especially during the autumn when they come to watch the sunset and sunset reflected in the city's skyscrapers and surrounding forests, as the bridge offers a sweeping panorama of Nashville.
The bridge also has a cycling and Segway lane, so you can make the most of your time in the city by touring the site in an electric vehicle, which is ideal if you're planning a short stay in the city. If that's your case, here's a list of activities to help you discover Nashville in 3 days.
7. Participate in the African Culture Street Festival
Tennessee is home to one of the largest African-American communities in the United States and most of them live in Nashville, making the African Culture Street Festival one of the city's most popular events.
The festival is held each year in September and includes African film screenings, theatre performances, food stalls and arts and crafts venues. During the festival there are also themed parades, workshops and lectures on African culture and the event closes with a music festival combining local and African genres.
The African Culture Festival is held each year for a full weekend in Hadley Park and is recognised as one of the premier events to promote cultural exchange between Africa and the United States.
Details of interest
- Price... Admission to the event is free.
- When... Every year on a weekend in September.
- Where... Hadley Park, Nashville.
8. Experience the Tennessee State Fair
The Tennessee State Fair is the state's premier event, held each year in September to promote regional culture and as a gathering place for locals. At this fair you can find children's rides, amusement parks, food trucks and booths, lectures, workshops and fun competitions.
The event is usually held each year during the second week of September, including the surrounding weekends, at the Nashville Fairgrounds and attracts local celebrities, especially during the opening and closing ceremonies, which take place on the last day of the event.
The fair also organises children's activities so it is a good alternative if you plan to visit Nashville with children or family.
Details of interest
- Price... Admission to the event is free.
- When... Every year on a weekend in September.
- Where... Hadley Park, Nashville.
9. Attend the Nashville Cultural Festival
The Nashville Cultural Festival is an event celebrating the plurality of Tennessee, the state where one in six residents is a foreigner, making it one of the state capital's most vibrant celebrations and a perfect excuse to promote the city as one of the best places in America for outsiders.
This free festival offers a multicultural dialogue and is one of Nashville's best attractions because it features a variety of music and dance performances on different stages around the city, food stalls offering dishes from around the world, children's activities, teen areas and, as you'd expect in Tennessee, music concerts.
The festival takes place every year on a weekend in September at different venues around Nashville and if you visit the city during the event you can enjoy many of the activities in open spaces and in pleasant weather.
Details of interest
- Price... Admission to the event is free.
- When... Every year on a weekend in September.
- Where... Different locations around Nashville.
10. Experience the arrival of autumn by taking a stroll through Warner Parks
Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, just outside Nashville, are Tennessee's main urbanised green lung and each year attract millions of visitors who stroll the trails, bike the nature trails and enjoy the great outdoors. But if you plan to visit the city in September, you can experience the beginning of autumn there and experience the changing of the parks, which are dressed in yellow leaves creating a magical atmosphere.
You can get to the park on the city's public transport buses or on some of the tour buses that include a stop in the park area. Admission is free and it's one of the best things to do with kids in Nashville if you're planning to see the city as a family.
The best time to visit is during the first days of autumn in late September, when the weather is still mild and the forest changes its skin from green vegetation to a blanket of dry leaves, where you can take some of the best pictures in Nashville!
Temperatures in Nashville in September
The maximum temperature in Nashville in September is 25° and the minimum is 14° and the average temperature is 19°, so you'll enjoy pleasant weather for outdoor activities.
This time of year also coincides with the beginning of autumn in the city so you'll be able to see some of the best views of the city, especially in the city's parks and green lungs.
Bear in mind that while September tends to include mostly clear days , it's also a rainy season, so always pack a waterproof coat when touring the city.
Nashville's September tourist crowds
Nashville's peak season ends with summer, so from the second half of September onwards, the number of tourists decreases substantially, ensuring that you can enjoy the city's attractions, tours and activities in peace and quiet with few visitors around.
If you're planning to visit Nashville in October, you'll find that the influx of tourists increases due to the large number of music festivals the city hosts at that time of year, so the second half of September is one of the best times to visit the city with few visitors and pleasant weather that will allow you to enjoy the tours.
Prices in Nashville in September
September is the end of Nashville's high season so prices in the city drop dramatically, especially for accommodation and tours, making it a great time to enjoy the capital of Tennessee while saving money.
You can also optimise the prices of your city tour by booking tours in advance online and planning an itinerary to get the most out of sightseeing in Nashville, which can be a big city if you don't have an organised trip.
What to pack for a visit to Nashville in September
September is a month with mild temperatures in Nashville but also some rain, so I recommend packing the following items in your suitcase:
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes
- Sun hat
- Lightweight T-shirt
- Lightweight coat
- Lightweight trousers
- Rain jacket
- Waterproof footwear
- Waterproof coat
- Waterproof boots
- Lightweight jumpers
- Umbrellas