10 Things to Do in Nashville in July

Nashville is the most representative city in Tennessee and in July you can enjoy the best festivals and Independence Day celebrations during the best weather time of the year in the city.
10 Things to Do in Nashville in July

More about: 10 Things to Do in Nashville in July

Nashville has many alternatives to offer throughout the year, but it is during the summer when it shows its best plans, with street festivals, water celebrations in the Cumberland Park area, and country and bluegrass music shows in various parts of 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 unusual events, and craft fairs.

1. Enjoy the Nashville Street Music Festival

Broadway Street in Nashville| ©Victor Hamberlin
Broadway Street in Nashville| ©Victor Hamberlin

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

This festival is also one of Nashville's most traditional celebrations, attracting visitors from across the state and providing an opportunity to sample the city's craft beers and visit the most famous bars and restaurants, which are often included in Nashville's food tours.

During this festival, the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of Nashville's best museums and a tribute to some of the genre's historic artists, is also open to the public.

Details of interest

  • Price**...** Admission to the festival is free.
  • When**...** During a weekend in July.
  • Where... In the bars, restaurants, and venues on Broadway, Nashville.

Book tickets for the Country Music Hall of Fame

2. Attend the Cumberland Park Water Festival

Cumberland Park| ©Daniel Lobo
Cumberland Park| ©Daniel Lobo

The capital of Tennessee was built around the river, which is why there are so many festivals celebrating 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 Festival, a green space located next to the John Seigenthaler Bridge.

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

During the festival, you can also take river tours such as kayaking, dinner or lunch cruises, and boat excursions.

Details of interest

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

3. Take a helicopter tour of Nashville in the best weather of the year

View from the helicopter| ©Vanderbilt University
View from the helicopter| ©Vanderbilt University

Taking a helicopter tour to discover the city from above is one of :::link|text=the best tours you can do in Nashville,|element=sc-49-1676::: as the capital of Tennessee has one of the most beautiful skylines in the state and also a wealth of attractions to visit, 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 year-round, but summer, especially July , is the best time to take them, as there is no wind, the sky is usually clear, and the flights are more enjoyable and safer.

In addition, this is 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 tour itineraries vary depending on the service provider, but you can usually fly over Vanderbilt Stadium, Belmont University, Broadway Street, and the Parthenon of the South to enjoy a panoramic view of one of the most iconic cities in the southern United States.

Details of interest

  • Price... Helicopter flights have an approximate starting price of €93 per person.
  • Duration... Helicopter tours last approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
  • When... July is one of the best months to fly over Nashville because the winds are moderate and the sky is usually clear.

Book a helicopter tour in Nashville

4. Experience the Summer Cocktail Crawl

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Nashville.| ©bior
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Nashville.| ©bior

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

Admission to this event includes a walking tour of the gardens and tastings of cocktails and local food specialties along the way, making it an excellent way to relax during your visit to Nashville. During the July opening, there are usually discounts on other activities at the mansion.

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

Details of interest

  • Price... Admission to the event has an initial cost of approximately €15 per person.
  • When... The event opens during the first week of June.
  • Where... Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Nashville.

Book the Nashville tourist bus

5. Take part in the 4th of July celebrations

Marathon in Nashville| ©Stephen Yeargin
Marathon in Nashville| ©Stephen Yeargin

If you plan to visit the United States in July, you can experience the Independence Day celebrations, and Nashville is no exception. Every July 4th, the city organizes 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 craft vendors, street food stalls, and children's activities, making it a great option if you plan to visit Nashville with kids

On July 4th, Nashville also organizes a marathon through the city center, which starts in the morning and has different categories divided by age and physical condition.

6. Take part in the Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Festival

Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Festival| ©Katelyn Reimers
Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Festival| ©Katelyn Reimers

Bluegrass is one of America's traditional musical genres, and its main festival is held every year during the fourth week of July in Franklin, a county located on the outskirts of Nashville that is known for its cuisine and art exhibitions found throughout the city.

The Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Festival is one of the most popular events in Tennessee and is a celebration that, in addition to music shows, includes dancing, food stalls, art exhibitions, talks by local artists, and music performance contests, making it an ideal activity for families.

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

Details of interest

  • Price... Admission to the festival costs approximately €15.
  • When**...** During a weekend in July.
  • Where**...** Franklin, Tennessee.

7. Attend the Full Moon Pickup Party

Warner Park, Nashville.| ©idintify media
Warner Park, Nashville.| ©idintify media

The Full Moon Gathering is a bluegrass festival held every July in Warner Park , featuring a series of activities around the park, as well as music performances on three stages set up along the main trails.

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

You can get to Warner Park by public transportation on bus line 3 or the Nashville tourist bus.

Details of interest

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

8. Take part in the Franklin Farmers Tomato Festival

Tomato Art Festival| ©Stephen Yeargin
Tomato Art Festival| ©Stephen Yeargin

The Franklin Farmers Tomato Festival is not only one of Nashville's most eclectic events, but also one of its most traditional and a special summer activity to enjoy in the city's ideal climate. Tomatoes are one of the most important local crops, and this festival, held every July, includes tastings and activities for the whole family.

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

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

Details of interest

  • Price... Admission to the festival costs approximately €18 per person.
  • When**...** It is held on one day in July.
  • Where**...** Franklin Farmers, Franklin, Nashville.

9. Enjoy the Gatlinburg Crafts Fair

Gatlinburg Convention Center| ©skooksie
Gatlinburg Convention Center| ©skooksie

One of the most popular summer events in Tennessee is the Gatlinburg Crafts Fair, held every July at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, a picturesque town on the outskirts of Nashville that is worth visiting for its multiculturalism and the artistic influence of its inhabitants.

At the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair, you can enjoy live music performances, browse the stalls selling handmade items, and participate in workshops and demonstrations given by the craftsmen who are part of the fair.

You can also visit this fair in December if you plan to visit Nashville during Christmas, although in that case the Gatlinburg Convention Center becomes a Christmas market.

Useful information

  • Price... Admission to the fairgrounds costs approximately €7 per person for adults. Children under 12 are admitted free of charge.
  • When**...** It is held every year in June for one week.
  • Where**...** Gatlinburg Convention Center, Tennessee.

10. Enjoy street performances on Honky Tonk Highway

Honky Tonk Highway| ©Wampa-One
Honky Tonk Highway| ©Wampa-One

Nashville is a permanent breeding ground for artists, most of whom grow up on its streets, in street performances and in bars playing country, bluegrass, and other southern genres. During July in the state capital of Tennessee, there is a popular tradition in which artists perform on Honky Tonk Highway, the city's famous street where music producers stroll during their vacations.

The tradition is for these producers to discover them and for the artists to build a professional career, although it is also a meeting point for musicians from all over the state in these honky tonks, which are typical bars in the southern United States where drinks are served and local music shows are offered.

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

Details of interest

  • Price... Admission to street performances is free, and most artists only ask for a contribution.
  • When**...** July is when there are the most artists on Honky Tonk Highway.
  • Where**...** Honky Tonk Highway, Tennessee.

Temperatures in Nashville in July

Streets of Nashville| ©Chris Connelly
Streets of Nashville| ©Chris Connelly

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

Keep in mind that even in summer, Nashville is prone to rain and humid weather, so I recommend that you always carry light rain gear to prevent showers from ruining your excursions.

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

Tourist traffic in Nashville in July

Afternoon in Nashville| ©Lynn Josse
Afternoon in Nashville| ©Lynn Josse

The high season in Nashville begins in May and ends in September, so in July you will be visiting the city during one of its busiest months, especially because the city offers many summer activities and the weather is ideal for enjoying excursions on the Cumberland River.

If you prefer to visit cities with fewer visitors , you should visit Nashville in October, once autumn has begun, or during the winter months, although temperatures can be very low then.

Prices in Nashville in July

Money in euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

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

If you want to save money, you should avoid the city in summer, and the best alternative for visiting the capital of Tennessee at affordable prices is to visit during the winter.

What to pack for a trip to Nashville in July

Luggage| ©JamesDeMeyer
Luggage| ©JamesDeMeyer

Summer in Nashville is hot and humid, and rain is frequent, so I recommend that you pack the following:

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

Reviews from other travellers

4.6
· 3973 Reviews
  • C
    C. R.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    If you are new to Nashville or just want a well tour of the city, this is the best! You should try it. Me and my loved one really enjoyed this experience.
  • K
    K. M.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Easy to navigate, great stops, fun conductors.
  • S
    S. R.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Very informative! Great way to see the highlights of the city . Nelson our driver was awesome 😊
  • J
    J. L.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Thank you
  • N
    N.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Fun visit. Nice place. It was fun to see the costumes the performers wore and the cars. The people seemed nice