April. How did it become April? Well, we know that this means flowering trees, green grass, and lots of fun events. Get out and enjoy Nashville with these 15 fun events!

The O’More Showhouse April 4 – 27
April 1-5, 2014: Nashville Fashion Week
Nashville Fashion Week events will take place every day April 1-5. Join NFW for a celebrations of Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community. Over 25 local, regional and national designers will be featured during the four nights of runway shoes and exclusive parties. This is not just for “fashionistas” but for everyone interested in supporting our local makers and artisans while being wowed by quality clothing all at the same time. nashvillefashionweek.
Two Events of special note during NFW:
- April 3, 7 p.m.: the “Fashion Forward Gala” at OZ featuring special guest speaker Fern Mallis, creator of New York Fashion Week. Cocktails and seated dinner at OZ. Tickets: NowPlayingNashville.com.
- April 4, 7 p.m.: the Celebration of Fashion and Art at 5th Avenue of the Arts. Cocktail hour kicks off the evening at galleries The Arts Company, The Rymer Gallery, and Tinney Contemporary, who will each showcase artistic works inspired by fashion. Then, the event will move outside for a runway event on 5th Avenue. Tickets: NowPlayingNashville.com.
April 4-27, 2014: The O’More Alumni Show House
O’More College of Design and Traditional Home magazine are hosting the 2nd Annual O’More Alumni Show House on West Main Street in downtown Franklin. Two dozen leading interior designers—all award-winning O’More alumni, have been selected to participate.
The circa 1904 Dozier Home has been rescued from decades of commercial use by builder Thrive Homes, who is returning the stunning Queen Anne Victorian to a 6,000 square-foot anchor residence in the National Register-listed Hincheyville historic neighborhood. Just a few blocks from the celebrated Main Street retail district, the Dozier Home will be a landmark for another century to come.
From April 4-27, the home will be open for public viewing. Tickets are $20, and will be available at the door. www.omorecollege.edu/showhouse
April 6-8, 2014: Women’s NCAA Final Four
Hopefully you have not missed the HUGE news that the Women’s NCAA Final Four is here in Nashville! This is so exciting for our city and for us! Go see some really amazing basketball and pretend you are on a weekend trip, right here in Nashville. For ticket information: www.visitmusiccity.com.
April 5, 2014: East Nashville Beer Festival
East Nashville Beer Festival (ENBF) will take place in East Park and promises to just what you need to enjoy a beautiful Nashville weekend. The festival will feature local craft breweries along side national breweries with knowledgeable staff to meet, greet and educate all attendees. Become educated in your beer choices! rhizomeproductions.com
April 10, 2014: Power of the Purse Luncheon
Benefiting The Women’s Fund, this luncheon is always a must-go for many Nashville women. This year’s keynote speaker is Stacey London of What Not To Wear, who regularly devotes time to organizations serving women, including Step Up Women’s Network, the American Cancer Society and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The ticket for this event includes a silent auction of more than 50 donated purses, the luncheon and keynote address. StyleBlueprint cofounders Elizabeth Fox and Liza Graves are emceeing the event; we hope to see you there! Music City Center. www.cfmt.org
April 12, 2014: Ragin’ Cajun Crawfish Boil
Each spring for the past 15 years, the Ragin’ Cajun Crawfish Boil welcomes over 2000 Nashvillians to Cumberland Park to experience New Orleans-style food: 3,000 pounds of fresh crawfish and loads of your favorite craft beer from New Belgium, Kona, Brooklyn Brewery and many more! Proceeds support Every Girl Counts, a humanitarian organization that seeks to offer basic life necessities to impoverished girls like food, clothing and sanitary supplies while also providing them a free secondary education. Enjoy this springtime feast with friends! ragincajunboil.org
April 12, 2014: Tour de Fun
Tour de Fun combines two loves: biking and music into one amazing festival. This festival, in its 4th year, features local bands and artists from the Nashville area. It all begins with a cookout and live music at 11:00 a.m. in Riverside Village. Tour De Fun participants will ride out at 1:00 p.m., visiting 15 venues and watching over 30 local bands perform. tourdefun.net
April 17, 2014: Steeplechase Lookbook Fashion Show & Marketplace
In its 4th year, this fashion show just gets better and better. Start your night with cocktails and the marketplace and then progress to dinner and the fashion show. Expect men’s and women’s fashions alike. We’re sure gorgeous hats and bow ties will be plentiful! At Hillwood Country Club. www.ticketsnashville.com
April 17-26, 2014: Nashville Film Festival
This festival, held annually in Nashville, will be held in Regal Green Hills Cinema 16 (lower level). Over ten days, there will be screenings of more than 200 films. Just buy a ticket online or at the box office at Regal Green Hills Cinemas. Free films will be shown at the Country Music Hall of Fame (April 17-19) and at the Nissan Multicultural Festival Village outdoor theater. www.nashvillefilmfestival.org
April 19, 2014: Eggstravaganzoo at the Nashville Zoo
Egg hunts, games, special guests, the Easter Bunny and MORE. Grab the whole family and head to the 16th annual Eggstravaganzoo at the Nashville Zoo. Eggstravaganzoo is included with Zoo admission, and no reservations are needed. Bunny Breakfast and Bunny Lunch are by reservation only. www.nashvillezoo.org
April 19, 2014: Conversation with John Prine
“John Prine is a renowned singer-songwriter with a knack for social commentary, free from judgment but full of poignancy, heartbreak, and humor. His debut album, released in 1971, included the songs “Paradise” and “Angel from Montgomery,” later recorded by the Everly Brothers and Bonnie Raitt, respectively. Prine has released over twenty albums, two of which won Grammys for Best Contemporary Folk Album. He also has continued to provide hit songs for other artists, including “I Just Want to Dance with You” for George Strait and “Love Is on a Roll” for Don Williams. Prine will discuss his early musical influences, creative inspiration, and his career as an artist in an in-depth interview in the museum’s CMA Theater. Hosted by journalist Peter Cooper. Presented in support of the exhibit John Prine: It Took Me Years to Get These Souvenirs.” For more information visit the website: countrymusichalloffame.org.
April 22, 2014: Dining Out for Life
Fight HIV/Aids and support Nashville Cares simply by choosing to eat at participating restaurants for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. Join thousands of people in Nashville who dine out this day knowing that a percentage of their bill will be donated by the restaurant to benefit Nashville CARES. To view a full list of participating restaurants: www.diningoutforlife.com/nashville.
April 23, 2014: Go Red for Women Expo and Luncheon
Find out how you can end the #1 killer of women: heart disease. Enjoy the expo with cooking demonstrations, health screenings and fitness tips. Then, for lunch, join an impressive panel of women and leave feeling empowered with ways to better your health. At the Music City Center. www.ahaevents.org
April 26, 2014: Listen to Your Mother
“Listen To Your Mother” is part of a 32-city series of live readings, read by local women recounting personal experiences, in honor of Mother’s Day. This first Nashville production features local women telling their own stories of motherhood in all of its complexity, diversity, and humor and passion. This truly is a show to embrace as you will be laughing, crying and fully embracing either your own role as “mom” or appreciating your own mom even more.
The Nashville cast includes: Jo Dee Prichard, Joy Tilley Perryman, Tobi Amosun, Lisa Waszkiewicz, Marcela Gomez, Leisa Hammett, Brigid Day, Liza Hippler, Jo Giordano, J’laine Vest, Tasneem Tewogbola, Joanna Montgomery, and Anne McGraw. TPAC’s James K Polk Theater. For tickets and more information: listentoyourmothershow.
April 29, 2014: Symphony Fashion Show
Showcasing the Fall 2014 Collection of acclaimed designer Christian Siriano and headlined by The Band Perry, the Symphony Fashion Show is always anticipated with much excitement. Watch Nashville’s Schermerhorn transformed into a runway unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Presented by Lexus and Gus Mayer. For an invitation, please email: [email protected].
For more happenings, including good ole standbys like like the Music City Marathon, check out our full listing of Happenings, which we add to practically everyday, here.