More about: 10 Things to Do in Nashville in September
Nashville is one of the most visited cities in the southern United States in summer, and as the summer season draws to a close and fall begins, Tennessee's capital continues to enjoy pleasant weather and kicks off a season of festivals, music concerts, and cultural fairs.
Among the best things to see and do in Nashville in September are the Cultural Festival, the Southern Book Fair, concerts and musical performances at the Nashville Public Library, and the open views from the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, which coincide with the start of fall in the city.
1. Take part in the tractor tour to celebrate the start of the harvest
The tractor tour is one of Nashville's most distinctive attractions and a public celebration held several times throughout the year. If you plan to visit the city in September, you can take part in the tour that celebrates the start of the harvest, which consists of a parade through downtown Nashville on festive tractors. Be sure to reserve your spot at a Nashville tractor party—you'll be surprised.
On these parades, you can enjoy music, dance floors, and the city from a different perspective, as you soak up the agricultural spirit of Nashville during one of the city's celebrations, which begins in September at the start of the harvest in the southern United States and ends in November with Thanksgiving.
Please note that as most of these activities include an open bar, you must be over 21 years of age to participate in the tractor tours.
Details of interest
- Price**...** Around €47.
- When**...** Thursday through Sunday.
- Where**...** In Nashville.
2. Attend the Nashville Whiskey Festival
The Nashville Whiskey Festival is one of the city's most eclectic events, bringing together beginners, enthusiasts, and connoisseurs of the world of whiskey every September for a weekend of lectures on the drink, live music shows, food trucks and stalls, and whiskey tastings.
The festival is also known for its whiskey competitions, in which whiskey experts compete in blind tastings and the participant who guesses the quality of each bottle wins, making it one of the most popular activities of the event. If you visit Nashville in September, the Whiskey Festival will be among the best food tours in the city.
The event is hosted by Nashville's leading distilleries, and experts from each company offer seminars, talks, and lectures for attendees, so if you're a whiskey lover, you'll really enjoy the event. And if you like the idea, be sure to book a tour of the Jack Daniel's distillery.
Details of interest
- Price**...** Admission to the distilleries participating in the event is free.
- When... Every year during a weekend in September.
- Where**...** At various distilleries in Nashville.
3. Enjoy concerts at the Nashville Public Library
Every September, the Nashville Public Library opens its doors and offers free lunchtime concerts featuring local and regional bands alongside some nationally known artists.
These concerts are held in the library's Robinson Patio and are not canceled due to weather conditions, which is good news because September is a rainy month in Nashville. The library also sets up tables and chairs, so you can enjoy food and drinks, making this one of the most interesting and popular free events in Nashville during September.
The library is located in the city center and can be reached by bus line 52 or the Nashville tourist bus, which includes a stop near the entrance to Robinson Patio.
Details of interest
- Price**...** Admission to the library concerts is free.
- When**...** Every year during September.
- Where… 615 Church St, Nashville.
4. Take part in the Cumberland River Festival
The Cumberland River is one of the great prides of Nashville and the state of Tennessee, so the event celebrating the city's main tributary aims to honor the river and also raise awareness among locals and visitors of the importance of caring for nature and drinking water.
This free, family-friendly festival includes live music performances, local and regional artists, food trucks and vendors, a dragon boat race with a prize basket donated by festival sponsors, and activities for children.
Along with the Southern Parthenon and Nashville's finest museums, the Cumberland River is one of the city's great attractions and also the perfect place for a night cruise or a riverside excursion. In fact, many visitors book a lunch cruise in Nashville.
Useful details
- Price**...** Admission to the festival is free.
- When**...** Every year in September.
- Where**...** Cumberland River, Nashville.
5. Take in the views from the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
The John Seigenthaler Bridge, nearly 2 kilometers long, is one of the largest bridges in Nashville and one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. This walkway connects the city's historic district with Riverside Park, located on the East Bank Greenway, linking two of the most important points in the capital of Tennessee. From there, in autumn and on clear days, you can enjoy the most beautiful open views of the city.
Since this century-old bridge was closed to vehicles, it has become a popular spot for pedestrians, especially in the fall when they come to watch the sunset and the sun reflecting off the skyscrapers and surrounding forests of the city, as the bridge offers a panoramic view of Nashville.
This bridge also has a lane for bicycles and Segways, so you can make the most of your time by booking a guided Segway tour in Nashville, which is ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that's the case, here is a list of activities so you can discover Nashville in 3 days
Useful information
- Price**...** Free.
- When**...** Any time of year, although September is ideal due to the clear skies.
- Where**...** John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
6. Take part in the African Culture Street Festival
Tennessee is home to one of the largest African American communities in the United States, and most of them live in Nashville, making the African Culture Street Festival one of the city's most popular events.
The festival is held every September and includes African film screenings, plays, food stalls, and craft shops. The festival also features themed parades, workshops, and lectures on African culture, and the event closes with a music festival that combines local and African genres.
The African Culture Festival is held every year over a full weekend in Hadley Park and is recognized as one of the leading events promoting cultural exchange between Africa and the United States. If your trip does not coincide with this event, be sure to book tickets to the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.
Details of interest
- Price… Admission to the event is free.
- When… Every year during a weekend in September.
- Where**...** Hadley Park, Nashville.
8. Celebrate the arrival of fall with a stroll through Warner Parks
Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, on the outskirts of Nashville, are Tennessee's main urban green space and attract millions of visitors every year who stroll along its trails, cycle along its nature paths, and enjoy the outdoors. But if you plan to visit the city in September, you can experience the beginning of fall and see the parks transform as they are covered in yellow leaves, creating a magical atmosphere.
You can get to the park by city bus or on one of the tour buses that include a stop in the park area. You can also book the Nashville tourist tram tour. Admission is free, and it's one of the best activities to do with children in Nashville if you're planning to visit the city with your family.
The best time to visit is during the first days of autumn, at the end of September, when the weather is still pleasant and the forest changes its skin, transforming the green of its vegetation into a blanket of dry leaves. There you can take some of the best photos of Nashville!
Details of interest
- Price**...** Admission is free.
- When**...** Starting in September.
- Where**...** Warner Parks.
8. Visit the Southern Book Fair
The Southern Book Fair is one of Nashville's most popular cultural events and one of the oldest literary festivals in the country, welcoming hundreds of authors and thousands of visitors from Tennessee and beyond each year. This festival is free and takes place at War Memorial Plaza over a weekend in September.
This fair has activities for adults and children, including performance stages, food trucks and stalls, publishers and booksellers, as well as virtual programming and evening activities, making it one of the best things to do in the city if you plan to explore Nashville at night
War Memorial Plaza is located in the downtown area, so you can make the most of your visit to that part of the city and take some of the best tours of Nashville that start near the Tennessee Capitol and Legislative Plaza. There you can start tours of Downtown on foot, by Segway, by bike, or you can even book a golf cart tour of Nashville to optimize your excursion time.
Details of interest
- Price**...** Admission to the fair is free.
- When... Every year during a weekend in September.
- Where**...** War Memorial Plaza, Union St., Nashville.
9. Attend the Nashville Cultural Festival
The Nashville Cultural Festival is an event celebrating the diversity of Tennessee, a state where one in six residents is foreign-born, making it one of the most vibrant celebrations in the state capital and a perfect excuse to promote the city as one of the best places in the United States for foreigners.
This free festival offers a multicultural dialogue and is one of Nashville's best attractions because it features a variety of music and dance performances on different stages throughout the city, food stalls offering dishes from around the world, activities for children, areas for teenagers, and, as you would expect in Tennessee, music concerts.
This festival takes place every year during a weekend in September at different locations in Nashville, and if you visit the city during the event, you can enjoy many of the activities in open spaces and pleasant weather. I recommend booking a tour on the Nashville tourist bus to get around between the different locations.
Details of interest
- Price**...** Admission to the event is free.
- When... Every year during a weekend in September.
- Where**...** At different locations throughout Nashville.
10. Experience the Tennessee State Fair
The Tennessee State Fair is the state's premier event, held every September to promote regional culture and as a gathering place for all locals. At this fair, you'll find children's games, amusement parks, food stalls and trucks, conferences, workshops, and fun competitions.
The event is usually held during the second week of September, including the surrounding weekends, at the Nashville fairgrounds and attracts local personalities, especially during the opening and closing ceremonies, which take place on the last day.
The fair also organizes children's activities, making it a good alternative if you plan to visit Nashville with children or as a family.
Details of interest
- Price**...** Admission to the event is free.
- When... Every year during a weekend in September.
- Where**...** Hadley Park, Nashville.
Nashville weather in September
The maximum temperature in Nashville in September is 25°C and the minimum is 14°C , with an average temperature of 19°C, so you'll enjoy pleasant weather for outdoor activities.
This time of year also coincides with the beginning of fall in the city , so you'll be able to enjoy some of the best views of the city, especially in urban parks and green spaces.
Keep in mind that although September usually has mostly clear days , it is also a rainy season, so I advise you to always carry a waterproof coat with you during your tours.
Tourist traffic in Nashville in September
Nashville's high season ends with the summer, so from the second half of September onwards , tourist numbers decrease substantially, ensuring that you can enjoy the best things to see and do in Nashville in peace and quiet with few visitors around.
If you plan to visit Nashville in October, you'll find that the influx of tourists increases due to the large number of music festivals organized by the city at that time of year, so the second half of September is one of the ideal times to visit the city with few visitors and pleasant weather that will allow you to enjoy the tours.
Prices in Nashville in September
September marks the end of the high season in Nashville, so prices in the city drop dramatically, especially for accommodation and excursions, making it a good time to enjoy the capital of Tennessee while saving money.
You can also optimize the prices of your city tour by booking excursions in advance online and planning an itinerary to get the most out of Nashville's excursions, which can be a very large city if you don't have an organized trip.
What to pack for a visit to Nashville in September?
September is a month with very good temperatures in Nashville, but also with some rain, so I recommend that you include the following items in your suitcase:
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen.
- Comfortable shoes.
- Sun hat.
- Lightweight T-shirt.
- Lightweight coat.
- Lightweight pants.
- Raincoat.
- Waterproof shoes.
- Waterproof coat.
- Waterproof boots.
- Lightweight sweaters.
- Umbrella.