Nashville, Tennessee Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Tourism=== Perhaps the biggest factor in drawing visitors to Nashville is its association with country music, in which the [[Nashville sound]] played a role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/nashville-become-hub-country-music.htm |title=How Did Nashville Become the Hub of Country Music? |work=How Stuff Works |first=Dave |last=Roos |date=June 25, 2018 |access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> Many visitors to Nashville attend live performances of the Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest-running live radio show. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is another major attraction relating to the popularity of country music. The [[Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center]], the Opry Mills regional shopping mall and the ''[[General Jackson (riverboat)|General Jackson]]'' showboat, are all located in what is known as Music Valley. Civil War history is important to the city's tourism industry. Sites pertaining to the [[Battle of Nashville]] and the nearby [[Battle of Franklin (1864)|Battle of Franklin]] and [[Battle of Stones River]] can be seen, along with several well-preserved antebellum plantation houses such as [[Belle Meade Plantation]], Carnton plantation in Franklin, and Belmont Mansion.<ref name="Davidson2005">{{cite journal |url=http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2005/6/2005_6_31.shtml |title=Singing City |journal=[[American Heritage (magazine)|American Heritage]] |first=Carla |last=Davidson |volume=56 |issue=6 |date=November–December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012041857/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2005/6/2005_6_31.shtml |archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref> Nashville has many arts centers and museums, including the [[Frist Center for the Visual Arts]], [[Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art]], the [[Tennessee State Museum]], the [[Johnny Cash Museum]], Fisk University's Van Vechten and Aaron Douglas Galleries, Vanderbilt University's Fine Art Gallery and Sarratt Gallery, the [[National Museum of African American Music]], and the [[Parthenon (Nashville)|full-scale replica]] of the [[Parthenon]]. A sculpture of Athena Parthenos inside the Parthenon is the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western World – standing 42 feet high.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hubbard |first=Ashley |date=August 16, 2022 |title=Nashville Trivia – Fun and Interesting Facts About Music City |url=https://wild-hearted.com/nashville-trivia/ |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=Wild Hearted |language=en-US}}</ref> Nashville has become an increasingly popular destination for [[bachelor party|bachelor]] and [[bachelorette party|bachelorette parties]].<ref name="buzzfeed20180329">{{Cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/annehelenpetersen/how-nashville-became-one-big-bachelorette-party |title=How Nashville Became One Big Bachelorette Party |work=[[BuzzFeed]] |last=Petersen |first=Anne Helen |date=March 29, 2018 |access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, ''[[Nashville Scene]]'' counted 33 bachelorette parties on Lower Broadway ("from Fifth Avenue down to the Cumberland River, it's their town") in less than two hours on a Friday night, and stated that the actual number was likely higher. Downtown, the newspaper wrote, "offers five blocks of bars with live music and no cover".<ref name="hale20170803">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/cover-story/article/20971015/the-bachelorettes |title=Welcome to Bachelorette City |work=[[Nashville Scene]] |last=Hale |first=Steven |date=August 3, 2017 |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, ''[[The New York Times]]'' called Nashville "the hottest destination for bachelorette parties in the country" because of the honky-tonk bars' live music.<ref name=cain20180613>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/fashion/weddings/bachelorettes-in-boots-take-on-nashville.html |title=Bachelorettes in Boots Take On Nashville |work=The New York Times |first=Stephanie |last=Cain |date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref> City boosters welcome the bachelorette parties because temporary visitors may become permanent; ''[[BuzzFeed]]'' wrote, "These women are at precisely the point in their lives when a move to Nashville is possible".<ref name="buzzfeed20180329" /> The city in 2022 began regulating [[party bus]]es that provide [[transportainment]] in downtown, issuing dozens of permits and rejecting applications for dozens more.<ref name="gainey20220630">{{Cite news |last=Gainey |first=Blaise |date=June 30, 2022 |title=Party's over for some transportainment companies as Nashville denies dozens of party vehicle permits |language=en-US |publisher=WPLN |url=https://wpln.org/post/partys-over-for-some-transportainment-companies-as-nashville-denies-dozens-of-party-vehicle-permits/ |access-date=May 30, 2023}}</ref> The [[CMT (U.S. TV channel)|CMT]] reality television series ''Bachelorette Weekend'' follows the employees at Bach Weekend, a Nashville company that designs and throws bachelor and bachelorette parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/cmt-orders-bachelorette-weekend-reality-show-jersey-shore-producers/amp/ |title=CMT Orders 'Bachelorette Weekend' Reality Show From 'Jersey Shore' Producers |website=The Wrap |last=Nakamura |first=Reid |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830074137/https://www.thewrap.com/cmt-orders-bachelorette-weekend-reality-show-jersey-shore-producers/amp/ }}</ref> ====Major annual events==== {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;" |- ! style="background:LightSteelBlue; color:black;"|Event ! style="background:LightSteelBlue; color:black;"|Month held and location |- |[[Nashville Film Festival]] |A weeklong festival in April that features hundreds of independent films. It is one of the largest film festivals in the Southern United States. |- |[[Nashville Fashion Week]] |A citywide event typically held in March or April, this is a celebration of Nashville's fashion and retail community featuring local, regional and national design talent in fashion events and shows.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nashvillefashionweek.com/ |title=Nashville Fashion Week |publisher=nashvillefasionweek.com |access-date=June 13, 2013}}</ref> |- |[[Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon]] |Marathon, half marathon, and 5k race held in April with runners from around the world. In 2012, participation surpassed 30,000 runners. |- |Rites of Spring Music Festival |A two-day music festival held every April at [[Vanderbilt University]] since 1986. Rites of Spring has welcomed a number of famous artists to the Vanderbilt campus, including [[Wiz Khalifa]], [[Young the Giant]], [[Drake (musician)|Drake]], [[Steve Aoki]], and the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://studentorg.vanderbilt.edu/ros/history/ |title=History |publisher=Rites of Spring |date=February 1, 2011 |access-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813072511/https://studentorg.vanderbilt.edu/ros/history/ |archive-date=August 13, 2018 }}</ref> |- |[[Iroquois Steeplechase]] |Annual [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]] horse racing event held in May at [[Percy Warner Park]]. |- |[[CMA Music Festival]] |A four-day event in June featuring performances by country music stars, autograph signings, artist/fan interaction, and other activities for country music fans. |- |[[Nashville Pride]] |A two-day event held in June that fosters awareness of and for the [[LGBT]] community and culture in Middle Tennessee. The 2019 festival drew a record crowd of over 75,000 people, establishing it as the largest LGBT event in Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gill |first1=Joey |title=Nashville Pride Festival breaks attendance record with over 75,000 attending |url=https://www.wsmv.com/news/nashville-pride-festival-breaks-attendance-record-with-over-attending/article_3918da20-9902-11e9-aa56-53755fa74ebb.html |website=WSMV Nashville |language=en |access-date=August 13, 2019 |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813124236/https://www.wsmv.com/news/nashville-pride-festival-breaks-attendance-record-with-over-attending/article_3918da20-9902-11e9-aa56-53755fa74ebb.html }}</ref> |- |Let Freedom Sing! |Held every [[Independence Day (United States)|Fourth of July]] at Riverfront Park, featuring a street festival and live music, and culminating in one of the largest [[fireworks]] shows in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/06/09/nashville-fireworks-july-show-largest/28729845/ |title=Nashville vies with New York for largest U.S. fireworks show |author=Lori Grisham |work=USA Today |date=June 9, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2015}}</ref> An estimated 280,000 people attended the 2014 celebration.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://wkrn.com/2015/06/30/music-citys-fourth-of-july-let-freedom-sing-celebration/ |title=Nashville's Fourth of July 'Let Freedom Sing!' celebration |publisher=WKRN News 2 |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2015 |archive-date=July 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706001508/http://wkrn.com/2015/06/30/music-citys-fourth-of-july-let-freedom-sing-celebration/ }}</ref> |- |Tomato Art Festival |Held each August in [[East Nashville, Tennessee|East Nashville]], this event celebrates the Tomato as a Unifier.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tomatoartfest.com |title=Home |website=Tomato Art Festival |access-date=May 29, 2016}}</ref> |- |African Street Festival |Held in September on the campus of Tennessee State University. It is committed to connecting and celebrating the extensions of Africa to America.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aacanashville.org |title=African American Cultural Alliance |website=AACANashville.org |access-date=May 29, 2016}}</ref> |- |[[Live on the Green Music Festival]] |A free concert series held in August and September at Public Square Park by local radio station [[Lightning 100]]. |- |[[Tennessee State Fair]] |The State Fair held in September at the State Fairgrounds, which lasts nine days and includes rides, exhibits, [[rodeo]]s, [[tractor pulling|tractor pulls]], and numerous other shows and attractions. |- |Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival |A free event held the first Saturday in October at Centennial Park, it is Middle Tennessee's largest multicultural festival and includes music and dance performances, ethnic food court, children's area, teen area, and marketplace.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bliss|first=Jessica|date=October 5, 2019|title=Celebrate Nashville culture festival is a vibrant display of the city's diversity|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2019/10/05/nashville-immigrant-foreign-born-tennessee-culture-diversity/3881274002/|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville, Tennessee|access-date=January 5, 2020}}</ref> |- |Art Nashville International Art Fair |An annual Art Fair in downtown Nashville. Includes galleries and dealers from around the world. Open to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.art-nashville.com |title=Art Nashville |access-date=March 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304231353/https://www.art-nashville.com/ |archive-date=March 4, 2018 }}</ref> |- |Nashville Oktoberfest |A free event held in the historic Germantown neighborhood since 1980 celebrating the culture and customs of Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thenashvilleoktoberfest.com/ |title=Oktoberfest German Beer Festival · Nashville's Top October Event |website=Nashville Oktoberfest |access-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref> Oktoberfest is Nashville's oldest annual festival and is one of the largest in the South.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://wkrn.com/2015/10/10/nashvilles-oktoberfest-continues-in-germantown/ |title=Nashville's Oktoberfest continues in Germantown |publisher=WKRN |first=Joseph |last=Pleasant |date=October 10, 2015 |access-date=October 29, 2015 |archive-date=October 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014234206/http://wkrn.com/2015/10/10/nashvilles-oktoberfest-continues-in-germantown/ }}</ref> In 2015, over 143,000 people attended the three-day event which raised $60,000 for Nashville non-profits.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newschannel5.com/news/local-news/oktoberfest-raises-more-than-50k-for-local-organizations |title=Oktoberfest Raises More than $50K For Local Organizations |publisher=WTVF |date=October 12, 2015 |access-date=October 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101091558/http://www.newschannel5.com/news/local-news/oktoberfest-raises-more-than-50k-for-local-organizations |archive-date=January 1, 2016}}</ref> |- |Southern Festival of Books |A festival held in October, featuring readings, panels, and book signings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitmusiccity.com/visitors/events/southernfestivalofbooks |title=Southern Festival of Books |publisher=Nashville Visitor's & Convention Corp |access-date=July 30, 2017}}</ref> |- |[[Country Music Association Awards]] |Award ceremony normally held in November at the Bridgestone Arena and televised to a national audience. |- |Veterans Day Parade |A parade running down Broadway on 11/11 at 11:11.11{{nbsp}}am since 1951. Features include [[101st Airborne Division]] (Air Assault), [[Tennessee National Guard]], veterans from wars past and present, military plane fly-overs, tanks, motorcycles, first responder vehicles, marching bands and thousands of spectators.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nashvillesveteransdayparade.com/ |title=Nashville's Veterans Day Parade |access-date=October 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108160136/http://www.nashvillesveteransdayparade.com/ |archive-date=November 8, 2014}}</ref> |} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page