October brings cozy sweaters, apple cider, bonfires and, of course, Halloween. The following list of Nashville events will help you fill your days before this big, spooky punctuation mark on the 31st. With celebrations of our city, live music and family fun, these fall happenings will keep you busy all month!
Swing by Cheekwood to celebrate the changing of the seasons during Cheekwood Harvest, held from September 16 through October 30. Image: Cheekwood
Nashville Events: October 2016
Through October 31, 2016: Cheekwood Harvest
Starting in mid-September and running through Sunday, October 30, 2016, Cheekwood is alive with Harvest cheer! Stop by to see more than 3,000 pumpkins, nearly 5,000 chrysanthemums and community-made scarecrows throughout the gorgeous grounds. You can also stop by the Cheekwood Beer Garden and, on Saturday, October 22, attend the first annual Halloween Pooch Parade! cheekwood.org
October 1, 2016: Nashville Whiskey Festival
Celebrate whiskey and spirits from around the world during the Nashville Whiskey Festival. Held at the Omni Nashville Hotel Grand Ballroom, the event will invite spirits enthusiasts to taste, learn, explore and experience varieties of whiskeys from around the world. General admission tickets are $105.02 and VIP tickets are $157.01. VIP ticket holders will be granted early entry, access to the Private Barrel tasting room, gift bags, lectures, a tasting glass, live music and food. nashvillewhiskeyfestival.com
October 1, 2016: Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival
Enjoy Nashville’s diversity at the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival, a reminder of what makes Music City unique. With a variety of dance, musical performances, food vendors offering authentic and exotic tastes, children’s activities, an area for teens and a marketplace, this festival offers a great Saturday afternoon! celebratenashville.org
October 1, 2016: Once in a Blue Moon
The Land Trust of Tennessee hosts a memorable evening full of bluegrass, bonfires, starry skies and friends at Glen Leven Farm for Once in a Blue Moon. This preservation celebration is a sophisticated shindig (but wear your boots and jeans) taking place on a gorgeous 65-acre farm, perfect for the celebration of Nashville’s natural beauty and historic landscapes. This is a ticketed event. landtrusttn.org/bluemoon
October 2, 2016: Fall Fest at Green Door Gourmet
Head to Green Door Gourmet’s 350-acre farm for a day at the farm with live music from John England & The Western Swingers, Scat Springs Band, Heath Haynes and The Hi Dollars, Mr. Steve, The Music Man and Sheriff Scott & The Deputies. In addition to live music, you can shop food from local food trucks (including The Grilled Cheeserie, Peg Leg Porker and Yazoo Brewing Co.) and local vendors. As you are sippin’ beers and enjoying delicious eats, the kids can enjoy music, games, face painting and a balloon artist at the Kids Zone. Entry fees are $5 per person (kids 10 and under get in free). greendoorgourmet.com/event/fall-fest
October 2, 2016: Shelby Bottoms 6 Miler
This six-mile race starts and finishes at Cornelia Fort Airpark in Shelby Bottoms. The course is fast and flat, so you can work on your speed! A portion of the race proceeds is donated to Friends of Shelby Bottoms. So lace up, head across the river and get to racin’. facebook.com/events/16
October 6, 2016: Champagne and Chardonnay and The Men’s Event
Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies is a yearly event hosted by The Nashville Wine Auction to raise money to fund the fight against cancer. This year, the event will be held at the home of Lucy McCullough and featured a cocktail party and silent auction. Tickets are $125 per person and include wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres. Enjoy a night out with the gals!
Don’t worry men, there is a gathering of gentlemen as well! In its second year, The Men’s Event will be held at Prima, where guests can enjoy a cocktail reception and five-course dinner with wine pairings. Tickets are $250 per person. nashvillewineauction.com
October 6 & 8, 2016: Nashville Opera’s Don Giovanni
Nashville Opera begins their 2016-17 season with the two-night production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Theater goers are promised a spectacular night of drama — laced with humor — on a stage that will be a work of art in itself. Follow the libertine adventures of Don Juan during this three-hour production (with a generous intermission, of course!) by Nashville Opera. Tickets start at $26. patron.tpac.org/events/detail/don-giovanni
October 7 – 9, 2016: Nashville Oktoberfest
Celebrate fall at the Nashville Oktoberfest, which takes place in the heart of Germantown. This three-day event features live music, authentic German food, family-fun activities and, of course, beer. More than 100,000 people will fill the streets of Germantown for this event, which is Nashville’s oldest running festival. Raise your stein and cheers to fall! This event is free. thenashvilleoktoberfest.com
October 7 – 23, 2016: OZ Arts Nashville presents Since I Suppose
We hear that this might just be OZ Arts Nashville’s most adventurous presentation yet. The site-responsive, immersive dramatic arts experience is based on Shakespeare’s Measure of Measure and will take place in Downtown Nashville. Unlike anything you have experienced before, Since I Suppose is sure to delight. Equipped with a smartphone, headset and custom app, each audience member is assigned a staggered start time and interacts with city inhabitants at downtown locations, from the iconic to the unusual. Details about times/tickets and production can be found online here: ozartsnashville.org/one-step-time-like-since-suppose
October 14, 2016: Full Moon Pickin’ Party
If you haven’t had a chance to attend a Full Moon Pickin’ Party, this is your last chance for 2016! The parties started in May and wind up this month. Make October 14, the last pickin’ party event of the year, your night to relax and soak up some bluegrass tunes. All funds raised by the pickin’ parties are designated for protecting Warner Parks, educational programs and special projects. friendsofwarnerparks.com
October 14 – 16, 2016: Southern Festival of Books
Join more than 200 of the nation’s and region’s most prominent authors at this year’s Southern Festival of Books, held at the War Memorial Plaza. Authors on the program take part in a session — either a solo reading or a panel discussion — followed by a book signing. The festival hosts popular book exhibitors and performances on three stages throughout the weekend. Special events for children, book sales and other literary performances are planned, providing something for everyone. With mystery writers, debut novelists, poets, biographers, chefs and children’s authors, the Nashville community will come together to celebrate a love for literature. The festival is free and open to the public. humanitiestennessee.org
October 14 – 15, 2016: City Farmhouse Pop-Up Fair
Expect to find great vintage items, artisan goods and antiques at the City Farmhouse Pop-Up Fair, featuring more than 80 vendors. This event attracts people from all over the country and it’s in our own backyard. Enjoy an amazing weekend of curated art, music, food and more! Each year brings new celebrity talent, so check back for updates and information. Day passes are $12. On Friday, October 14, you can shop the show early at the preview party from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. Tickets for this event are $25 per person and include access to Saturday’s show. cityfarmhousefranklin.com
October 14-16, 21-23 and 27-30, 2016: Boo at the Zoo
Calling all Nashville ghosts, goblins and monsters. Your little creatures are invited to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes and make their way to the Nashville Zoo! Boo at the Zoo, an annual Halloween tradition, is designed to provide delightful and frightful fun for children ages 12 and under (so not super scary!). Enjoy trick-or-treating, games, hayrides, a scary-go-round, dance party, animal showers and so much more. Tickets are $12 for zoo members and $15 for nonmembers. nashvillezoo.org
October 15, 2016: Centennial Craft Fest
The Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park invites you to celebrate the craftsmanship of local food, drinks, musicians and artisans. Held at Centennial Park, this free fall event will showcase food from local restaurants and food trucks, beer at the Oktoberfest Pub, crafts and handmade goods from local artisans, live music and activities for the kids (face painting and pumpkin decorating — just to name a few). centennialcraftfest.com
October 15, 2016: Tennessee Beer and Wine Festival
This Donelson community event brings folks together in celebration of beer and wine on the grounds of Two Rivers Mansion. Expect to see wine from vineyards such as Rex Goliath, George Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, HobNob, 1000 Stories, Fetzer, Bonterra and Myx and Jekel, and brews from regional and local breweries. Early bird tickets are avalailable through October 5 for $30 then the price jumps to $35. If you purchase tickets on the day of the festival, the price will be $45. tnbeerfestival.com
‘October 15 – November 5, 2016: Nashville Repertory Theatre’s Noises Off
Michael Frayn wrote Noises Off in 1982 and this month, Nashville Repertory Theatre will showcase their production of the play at TPAC’s Johnson Theater. The laugh-out-loud comedy is a farcical production that follows a disastrous dress rehearsal, backstage hijinks and the chaos of the show. Tickets start at $45 — and this is a show you do not want to miss! nashvillerep.org/noises-off
October 16, 23 and 27, 2016: Tennessee Titans Home Games
The Tennessee Titans come home to Nissan Stadium in October to take on the Browns, Colts and Jaguars. Check out Marcus Mariota and the team on home turf as they compete against these three rivals. Ticket prices start at $38 but get yours today because prices and availability are likely to change. titansonline.com/index.html
October 20 – 22, 2016: Something Wicked at TPAC’s Polk Theater
Watch the unraveling of Macbeth’s morals and sanity in his power-hungry quest for the throne. Just in time for Halloween, the Nashville Ballet performs this haunting tale of murder, greed and deceit. The 2013 winner of Best New Dance Performance in the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville Awards, Something Wicked is sure to delight audiences once more this year. Tickets start at $28. Snag yours today, as all four shows are expected to sell out! patron.tpac.org/something-wicked
October 21, 2016: Franklin Wine Festival
On Friday, October 21, The Factory at Franklin will house the Franklin Wine Festival benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. This grand food and wine tasting event will feature more than 300 wines from around the world and showcase culinary offerings from dozens of Middle Tennessee’s finest restaurants. Guests also will enjoy live music and a silent auction. Tickets are $89. We suggest you get them in advance because they are anticipated to sell out early! franklinwinefestival.com
October 27 – 29, 2016: Artclectic
Hosted annually by the University School of Nashville, Artclectic is a fantastic art event that showcases local, regional and emerging talent in a festive gallery setting. You can purchase a ticket ($125) to the Patrons Party on Thursday night or purchase a ticket ($10) to the Friday ArtBash, which includes a gallery party, light fare and a cash bar. Saturday is open to the public and includes POPclectic, a special market that puts lots of affordable, handmade items at your fingertips and Family Art Activities! artclectic.org
October 29, 2016: Pumpkinfest
Historic Downtown Franklin hosts one of the community’s favorite street festivals each October. Join in on family-friendly performances, free children’s activities, the Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-Off, pumpkin carving, The Great Pumpkin, a costume contest and more than 75 arts and crafts booths featuring fall and holiday products! The day’s events are free. historicfranklin.com
October 29, 2016: Off the Record Nashville
Off the Record is returning this year to The Factory at Franklin. Well-known international designers and musicians will come together for a night of fun that will include a cocktail reception, red carpet arrivals, musical performances and an intimate fashion show. Tickets range from $300-$1,000. offtherecord.com
October 29, 2016: Acme’s Halloween Party
Acme Feed & Seed’s Halloween Party is back again this year with the funky and festive music and fun. Wear your best costume and head downtown for this Halloween event. General admission tickets are $15. theacmenashville.com/acme-halloween-2016/
Happy October, Halloween and Trick-or-Treating! Get out there, embrace the cool weather and enjoy the beginning of fall in Nashville! Check out our Insider Tips for trick-or-treating around town.
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