10 Things to Do in Nashville in November

Many people wait until the month of November for their trips for economic convenience or perhaps for logistical organization. If that's you, read on to learn about the best things to do in Nashville during the penultimate month of the year.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Nashville in November

Streets of Nashville | ©JimmyDominico

Nashville is the capital of the state of Tennessee and within the United States is known as the Music City due to the fact that some musical genres such as Country or Rock'n'Roll have a lot to do with the history of this community. At the same time, during the month of November there are several events that can be quite entertaining for you and your companions if you decide to visit this place during this time of the year.

With this in mind I invite you to follow the recommendations of plans and activities that I have compiled in this publication, as these are the best things to do in Nashville during the month of November.

1. Take the opportunity to enjoy Opry At The Ryman

Grand Ole Opry| ©Don Sniegowski
Grand Ole Opry| ©Don Sniegowski

For many years the Grand Ole Opry was hosted at the Ryman Auditorium, however, since the venue for this famous radio show changed it is not common for this site to be open to the public beyond a few guided tours.

However, during the month of November through the month of December this site comes back to life and it is usual to start organizing a series of special concerts at the Ryman Auditorium with the intention of celebrating a little joy that defines the last months of the year.

If you want to participate in some of these concerts you have to know that it will be a Country music event. At the same time, keep in mind that this is a nighttime event and therefore the best food tours in Nashville can be a good way to explore the culinary world of downtown just before the time of this entertaining musical event.

Anyway, if you can't get tickets for any of the concerts at the Ryman Auditorium you can still have a self-guided experience. This will undoubtedly be one of the best things to do during the month because it will be a safe escape from the cold temperatures that are already beginning to be felt in mid-November.

Enjoy a self-guided experience at the Ryman Auditorium.

2. Have fun at the Zoolumination

Zoolumination| ©deldevries
Zoolumination| ©deldevries

This is an annual event held from November through early January in which Chinese artists create dozens of mythological creatures to form light sculptures around the Nashville Zoo.

Overall this is one of the largest Chinese lantern festivals in the country and is not to be missed when visiting this city during the month of November. Especially knowing that this month is the most appropriate month to participate in this activity, since December is the busiest month for tourists.

Keep in mind that this zoo, even during the day, is one of the best things to do in Nashville and is an excellent option for family entertainment. As well as for a group of adults who are looking for quiet, harmless activities to take the party down a notch.

3. Attend a Nashville Symphony Orchestra concert

Ryman Auditorium| ©Reading Tom
Ryman Auditorium| ©Reading Tom

The fall season and specifically the month of November is a prime time for concerts in Nashville. At the same time the city's symphony orchestra is right in the middle of the end of the year season and so it is usual for there to be at least six or seven recitals throughout the month by this important musical institution.

The theme of the concerts is always changing, the only thing you have to know is that it is going to be a symphonic presentation and the most usual thing is that there are always at least two presentations that focus on contemporary artists. It has become practically a tradition that there is at least one concert during this month dedicated to Frank Sinatra as well as to some other exponent of American music.

As these types of events usually take place after dark, you have to keep in mind that you will have the whole day available for other activities. For this reason, I can not fail to recommend that you participate in some of the best sightseeing tours of the city, especially those that focus on Downtown. This is due to the fact that the symphony is headquartered just down the street from Broadway Street and is usually one of the staple stops on the best Nashville tour bus tours.

Book a combination tour in Nashville

4. Visit the Nashville International Auto Show

Nashville Auto Show| ©Stephen Yeargin
Nashville Auto Show| ©Stephen Yeargin

Auto shows are one of the most typical events in the United States and are one of the best opportunities for tourists to learn about the best innovations in the American automobile industry. As Nashville is one of the most visited cities in the United States, it is logical to have this type of event and annually this one is organized in mid-November, being one of the most important in this region of the country.

In this event it is common to have the opportunity to test some of the most modern vehicles on the planet and it is an activity for the whole family that is almost always very entertaining even for the youngest in the house. In fact, it is among the best things to do in Nashville with kids, as it is an experience that can be educational depending on how you experience it and it is also completely harmless.

You have to know that this is a three-day convention and clearly you do not occupy all that time with it, as a tour of about two or three hours will be more than enough. Therefore, a helicopter ride over downtown Nashville could be an excellent entertainment alternative to accompany this event. At least if it catches your attention to continue exploring other modes of transportation that stand out for their modernity and are impressive for your whole group of companions.

5. Visit the Christmas Village to start your holiday shopping

Santa and Child| ©frogdiva214
Santa and Child| ©frogdiva214

In many places around the world Christmas shopping starts as early as November and specifically in Nashville every year a special market is organized that seeks to get locals and tourists to start organizing their wish list well in advance. This place is called Christmas Village and it is organized at the Nashville Fairgrounds in the middle of November.

This is a good opportunity for children to take pictures with Santa Claus and get into the Christmas magic in the month of November. You have to keep in mind that it is not a free event and tickets usually cost about 10 euros per person. However, the tradition is that children under 10 years old get in for free and do not usually pay any additional fee if they want to take a picture with Santa Claus.

If at the end of the tour of this fair you feel that you still have not managed to buy the things that interest you, you can still participate in a tour of downtown Nashville. Just one of those that gives you a golf cart for a completely entertaining and quirky shopping experience. Keep in mind that these are some of the best tours in Nashville and it's a great way to make the downtown shopping experience more fun and memorable.

6. See the Veterans Day Parade

Nashville Parade| ©wintersonata11
Nashville Parade| ©wintersonata11

Veterans Day is a commemorative date that occurs during November 11 every year in the United States with the intention of honoring all those who have served in the armed forces of this country.

Since it is such an important date, it is logical that Nashville organizes a parade that usually takes place during the weekend closest to November 11. It is a free event that usually takes place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the city's most famous street, Broadway Street.

Usually everyone attending the event is dressed in the colors of the U.S. flag as well as other patriotic elements. Keep in mind that the parade includes some military personnel as well as bands and orchestras from the city's schools.

At the same time, since you will be in the downtown area, it is an excellent idea to take advantage of buying one of the tourist passes in Nashville. This is because you could use their discounts to enter some of the attractions in the area paying a fraction of what you would usually pay without this advantageous service.

Nashville Fun Pass

7. Attend the CMA Awards

Bridgestone Arena| ©Jonathan Cutrer
Bridgestone Arena| ©Jonathan Cutrer

Every year at the Bridgestone Arena is usually the most important night for Country music in the United States. This is the CMA Awards and it is basically the equivalent of the Grammy Awards for this peculiar musical genre that is so famous in the southern and central United States.

If you are in town and manage to get tickets you can't miss it, since it is a high profile event that is part of one of the best musical celebrations in all of North America. It is also an excellent opportunity to visit one of the largest sports venues in the country, the Bridgestone Arena.

The exact date of the event changes every year, always in November, and it is up to you to make your visit to the city coincide with the weekend of this event. Anyway you should know that if you feel very interested in knowing a little more about the history of Country music and its cultural importance for this city you can visit some of the best museums in Nashville.

This is mainly due to the fact that the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as the Musicians Hall of Fame are two places where this musical genre is properly addressed by the exhibits available.

8. Visit the Gaylord Opryland for an afternoon among the pumpkins or Christmas trees

Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Resort| ©Dave Lanz
Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Resort| ©Dave Lanz

Undoubtedly the Gaylord Opryland is one of Nashville' s most important attractions and is a hotel and convention center located approximately 14 km from downtown Nashville. In turn, November is one of the best months of the year to visit this place because you can find it in two different ways depending on when you get there.

If you do it during the first weeks of the month you will find a completely autumnal decoration. On the other hand, from the end of the third week of November onwards you will find a completely Christmas atmosphere. This is an excellent opportunity for your children to take pictures with Santa and enjoy the typical Christmas village decorations. All this in one of the most impressive hotel complexes in the city.

9. Take the opportunity to visit the Arrington Vineyard Winery on Thanksgiving.

Arrington Vineyard| ©Denise Mattox
Arrington Vineyard| ©Denise Mattox

Nashville's surroundings are a pretty appropriate look at what the American countryside looks like. That's why a guided tour of the Arrington Vineyard winery is an excellent activity to celebrate a visit during the month of November.

Thanksgiving is celebrated at the end of this month and as a tourist you are probably looking for an entertaining activity to join this important American holiday.

So it is a good idea to book in advance if you are interested in visiting this famous winery owned by one of the stars of Country music. It is also a good idea to look into a transportation option that will take you to and from this place, since it is not exactly close to downtown Nashville.

Nashville City tours are also an excellent option to enjoy Thanksgiving Day if you are in the city. Especially since most people will not be downtown and you will have many attractions fully available to you.

Transportation to and from Arrington Vineyard winery

10. Say goodbye to the city by riding through the streets on a tractor

Event people and tractors| ©Michael Rivera
Event people and tractors| ©Michael Rivera

The country character of Tennessee is something that can be felt on many corners of Nashville despite the fact that it is a modern, cosmopolitan city. For this reason, touring the city on a tractor can be a very entertaining activity and November seems to be the ideal time for this.

That's because it's not yet cold enough to be uncomfortable and the tourist flow is low enough to make the experience unique and unforgettable.

Keep in mind that this is an adult-focused tour, as alcohol and country music with rock'n'roll are the hallmarks of the experience. In fact, this is one of the best things to do in Nashville at night because it allows you to take in the beauty of downtown while having fun on a tractor that is conditioned for you to dance your heart out.

Meet Nashville's biggest and wildest party tractor tour

Nashville temperatures in November

Nashville's Broadway Street| ©Victor Hamberlin
Nashville's Broadway Street| ©Victor Hamberlin

Nashville's average temperatures in November are usually around 10 °C (50 °F). This is due to the fact that the highs do not usually rise above 14° while the lows are usually around 5°.

The number of tourists in Nashville in November

Streets of Nashville| ©Kari Nousiainen
Streets of Nashville| ©Kari Nousiainen

November is not a month of too many tourists in Nashville except for the Thanksgiving weekend or the date of the CMA Awards.

Prices in Nashville in November

Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

November is an economical month to visit Nashville because it is not considered high season, touristically speaking. The only difference in this trend might be Thanksgiving week. However, Black Friday is an excellent opportunity for discount shopping.

What to pack to visit Nashville in November?

Luggage| ©Ezequiel Garrido
Luggage| ©Ezequiel Garrido

As November is significantly cold in Nashville despite being autumn I advise you to bring coats that are also waterproof. Rain is a frequent element throughout the month.

It is also advisable to bring comfortable shoes and you should not forget a couple of elegant clothes in case you have a sophisticated dinner in the city.