Schools across the area may have started, but it’s technically still summer. The calendar doesn’t switch to fall until September 22, so that gives us a few weeks to embrace this summer state of mind and all the wonderful things going on in Nashville.
Here are 13 fun things to do before summer ends, Nashville style!
1. Get an ice cream cone or a milkshake at Bobbie’s Dairy Dip.
Don’t let summer end without standing in line for a shake or cone from Bobbie’s Dairy Dip. The corner of 53rd and Charlotte has become quite the food scene, so there are many options to choose from if you want to eat dinner first, but of course Bobby’s sells excellent burgers, too, if you rather just stick with one place. Bobbie’s is located at 5301 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209. Call (615) 463-8088 for hours and to learn more.
2. Enjoy Musicians Corner on a Saturday.
Saturdays in May and June may be long gone, but Musicians Corner also takes place in August and September, so be sure to hit Centennial Park on an upcoming Saturday and check out this free gem in Music City. You’ll be serenaded by an excellent lineup on stage, and your hunger pangs will be answered by the ample food trucks on-site. There’s even beer, wine and cocktails! Bring a chair or a blanket, or simply stand and sway to the music. Plus, there are tons of Pokémon to be found at Centennial Park. TONS. Learn more about Musicians Corner here.
3. See a Sounds game
Pick August 12 through August 19 or August 29 through September 1 to catch one of the last regular season Nashville Sounds games. And, if you want another reason to visit First Tennessee Park, The Band Box will be hosting chefs throughout the remainder of the 2016 season. The line up for the rest of the season includes:
- August 14 (6:35 p.m. game): Chef Levon Wallace of Cochon Butcher
- August 18 (7:05 p.m. game): Tony and Caroline Galzin of Nicky’s Coal Fired (opening Fall 2016)
- August 29 (7:05 p.m. game): Trevor Moran, formerly of The Catbird Seat
- September 1 (6:35 p.m. game): Andy Little of Josephine
According to the folks at The Band Box, “Each participating chef will have creative freedom to produce one signature menu item to be sold at the ballpark. Each menu item will be available for purchase at The Band Box concession stand until their item runs out.”
For tickets and more information, see the Nashville Sounds website.
4. Hike in a local park, or check out a nearby waterfall.
The parks are gorgeous right now, and the peace they provide a wary mind can’t be beat! In fact, the shady hiking trails are actually far cooler than you might think. And if it’s a scorcher, just go early in the morning. Here’s a list of eight great parks to hike, all nearby. If you have a time for more than a 10 minute drive, we’ve compiled a list of eight waterfalls within a two-hour drive. That’s a nice way to cool off!
5. Dance the night away at Big Band Nights.
On Saturday nights in the summer, Centennial Park hosts a free and fabulous gift to the city: their big band, swing dance nights. Some people come and dance, while others bring chairs and just enjoy the music and the food trucks. Of course many do both. With dance lessons, string lights, live big band music and people of all ages (we’re talking kids, high school, college … all the way up to grandparents) gather together for good ol’ summer fun. There are only three dates left for the season, so better make plans to go soon. For more details, see here.
6. Enjoy the best free concert series around at Live on the Green.
It starts August 11, and we can’t wait! With a lineup too large and too good to call out any one band, check out the entire line up here. This free live-music series takes place at Public Square on Thursday nights in August and then spans Thursday, September 1 through Saturday, September 3 in an incredible final three days. If you want a little more elbow room, you can upgrade from free to VIP for $75 and get a shady tent and a couch to lounge on.
7. Visit Cheekwood on a First Thursday.
There is only one First Thursday left for the season at Cheekwood, and it’s a can’t miss event! On September 1, experience Cheekwood at night, with food, music, cocktails and art … what could be better? Experience Tobin’s sculptures at night throughout the gardens, lit up under the evening sky. This experience is the perfect time to catch up with friends and toast our city and the awesome way it embraces the arts. Find out all the details here.
8. See a show at Ascend Amphitheater.
Have you been to Ascend yet? The lawn seats are the way to go if you like a little more room, and the shows bring great names with the fabulous backdrop of the Cumberland River. Check out the remaining summer schedule here, rally your friends, and make a night of it!
9. See live theater at Shakespeare in the Park.
An annual tradition in Nashville, Shakespeare in the Park is a late summer/early fall tradition. The shows take place at Centennial Park, and though technically free, a suggested $10 donation is welcome. Shows take place Thursdays through Sundays, August 11 through September 18. This year’s performances include Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors, both with modern interpretations — Macbeth set in present time, and The Comedy of Errors “set in an Ephesus that looks a lot like Nashville in the late 1960s … ” Get more information, including times and dates, here.
10. Celebrate the tomato at Tomato Arts Fest.
Go to the Tomato Arts Fest in East Nashville this month, and you’ll have an all new appreciation for this fruit (yep, it’s a fruit). Check out the way so many are dressed (yes, tomato costumes are encouraged!), and buy some homemade goods and yummy treats. There are tons of vendors and thousands of people. If crowds aren’t your thing, celebrate the tomato anyway by picking some up at a local farmers market as tomatoes are at their best in August. We’ve got several tomato recipes waiting for you if you need inspiration.
11. Kayak the Cumberland.
Longtime residents of Nashville may still have a hard time believing this, but truly, the campaign to clean up the Cumberland has resulted in a dramatically cleaner river. So try something new and kayak the Cumberland with River Queen Voyages to see the best view possible of the Nashville skyline!
12. Sip cocktails on a rooftop and watch the sun go down.
Summer in Nashville is hot, but there are plenty of nights lovely enough to sit outdoors. Pick a favorite rooftop location and watch the sky change colors, cocktail in hand, and just embrace the fact that this is your city! Some of our favorites are ACME, with a view of the Cumberland River and Broadway, and Watermark, with a view of the Gulch. (See all our rooftop dining picks here.)
13. Walk across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and get a cone at Mike’s Ice Cream.
Walk Lower Broad and cross the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge just for the fun of it. It’s the perfect place to take your #summerselfie2016. But better yet, it’s just a great excuse to walk and enjoy a free downtown experience — well, except for the cost of parking. Afterwards, walk by the Schermerhorn, as it’s a gorgeous piece of architecture, and walk back to Broadway to Mike’s Ice Cream, where the ice cream isn’t just good for tourists, it’s actually tasty enough to bring locals in time and again!
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For more events and happenings, be sure to check out our SB Happenings page. It’s also available in our FREE StyleBlueprint App, filled with events, local businesses and more!
