MAY EVENT LIST 🌸

there is truly something for almost every day in may. save this and come back when you need plans.

✦ week of may 1 – may 4

friday, may 1

  • olala café grand opening — 818 palmer pl, the gulch: all day! nashville just got a real French bakery! fresh croissants, organic coffee, antique french furnishings. go say bonjour

  • the roundup — main event copperline ranch: noon–4:00 pm | free | nashville's answer to round top is here. curated vendors, live music, food trucks, mahjong lessons, and a full bar at a gorgeous working farm

  • nashville ballet: sherlock — polk theater, tpac: may 1–3 — noir-inspired choreography meets the iconic detective.

  • the great junk hunt — the fairgrounds nashville: 4:00–9:00 pm | vintage goods, home décor, food trucks, and music. kids 12 & under free

  • spring tennessee craft fair — centennial park: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | free | 55th annual craft fair with award-winning artists, live demos, and local food

  • shopbop nashville pop-up — hart, 12 south: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | free | shopbop's curated online edit IRL. best-selling brands and seasonal standouts all weekend

  • hip donelson farmers market — opening day — donelson station: 4:00–7:00 pm | free | all vendors come from within 150 miles of donelson. opening day of the season

  • fridays by the river — shelby park: 3:00–8:00 pm | free | outdoor beer garden with live music, food trucks, and yard games by the cumberland river

  • nashville fairgrounds speedway — local racing ¼ mile special: 6:30 pm | fast cars on a historic track in its 122nd year of racing

  • ani difranco + valerie june — ryman auditorium: 8:00 pm | two iconic women on one iconic stage

  • taste of tennessee — barn at sycamore farms, arrington: 6:30–9:30 pm | 21+ | $150 | sip and sample from leiper's fork distillery, bearded iris, and more while supporting kids in foster care across tennessee. a decade of impact

  • wray day — white limozeen pool opening — white limozeen: noon–4:00 pm | free rsvp | pool season is officially open. reggae + dancehall, wray & nephew drink specials, and a patio popup

  • shiners — woolworth theatre: 7:00 pm | 18+

  • crazy gnome comedy show — crazy gnome brewery: 8:00–10:00 pm

saturday, may 2

  • the roundup — copperline ranch: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | free | day two adds a petting zoo, kids art with little art house, and even more vendors. do not miss this one

  • nashville ballet: sherlock — polk theater, tpac

  • the great junk hunt — the fairgrounds nashville: 9:00 am–4:00 pm | kids 12 & under free

  • spring tennessee craft fair — centennial park: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | free

  • shopbop nashville pop-up — hart, 12 south: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | free

  • factory farmers market — the factory at franklin: 8:00 am–noon | free

  • germantown spring block party — 7th + monroe: 10:30 am–5:00 pm | free | art, music, food, and drinks in one of nashville's best neighborhoods

  • franklin makers market — the lake at westhaven, franklin: 11:00 am–4:00 pm | free | 100+ craft and artisan vendors plus a pup pop-up by pups & pints

  • tennessee renaissance festival — castle park, arrington: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | 40th anniversary season. step into a 16th-century english village every weekend through may 31

  • vintage night market — rosemary & beauty queen, east nashville: 7:00 pm–1:00 am

  • rubiks groove (80s/90s/00s live band) — jackalope brewing: 7:30 pm | 21+ | $30 | character-driven live music experience with costumes, videos, and cold beer

  • nashville fairgrounds speedway — arca music city 150: 5:00 pm

  • free pure barre class in the park — noble park, the gulch: 8:30 am | free | start your saturday strong with a full-body workout outside

  • mix 92.9 yappy hour — edwin warner dog park: 2:00–4:00 pm | free | free dog toys, pup cups, and your chance to win a $150 stanley steemer gift card

  • speedway 5k — nashville superspeedway, lebanon: 9:00 am | $40+| run a 5k or one lap around the track

  • nashville sounds — space jam night — first horizon park: 6:35 pm | first 1,000 fans get a tune squad jersey

  • bailey zimmerman — night 2 — ascend amphitheater: 7:00 pm

  • florence + the machine — bridgestone arena: 7:30 pm | everybody scream tour. this one is going to be a full moment

  • an evening with josh ritter — ryman auditorium: 8:00 pm

  • devil wears prada afternoon tea — blue aster, conrad nashville: 1:00–3:00 pm | $85 | elevated sweet and savory bites, rare teas, and pastries. come dressed to impress

  • vip men's shopping night — maison de rêve: 10:00 am–9:00 pm | free | curated menswear and elevated retail just outside nashville

  • free karaoke — teddy's tavern — 8:00 pm — free

  • shiners — woolworth theatre — 7:00 pm — 18+

sunday, may 3

  • nashville ballet: sherlock — polk theater, tpac | final performance

  • spring tennessee craft fair — centennial park: 10:00 am–5:00 pm | free

  • shopbop nashville pop-up — hart, 12 south: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | free | last day

  • kirkland block party — crazy gnome brewery: noon–5:00 pm

  • skinny dennis vintage market — skinny dennis: noon–5:00 pm | vintage vendors, bloody marys, brunch popups, and good vibes every sunday

  • milk market — donut distillery, east nashville: 11:00 am–5:00 pm | 10+ rotating vintage clothing, vinyl vendors, and grill out sessions.

  • family brunch — house of cards: 10:00 am–3:00 pm | all ages | brunch buffet with live magic. one of the best sunday plans in the city

  • hobby horse derby — tiger bar: 4:00 pm | 2nd annual hobby horse derby madness. qualifying races at 4pm, grand final around 7pm. teams of 4. yes this is real and yes it is amazing

  • sunday salsa series — acme: 7:00 pm | free | live salsa band and drink specials. first sunday of every month

  • judge judy karaoke — tin roof: 8:00–11:00 pm | free | judge judy does not mess around. first sunday of every month

  • tracy lawrence — ryman auditorium: 7:30 pm | classic country hits on the mother church stage

monday, may 4

  • star wars night — chopper tiki: 5:00–10:00 pm | walk-ins only | tattoos, star wars cocktails, mug giveaways, and balloons. may the 4th be with you

  • fender presents: tele town — ryman auditorium: 7:30 pm | one-night-only celebration of the telecaster's 75th anniversary with brad paisley, brothers osborne, ricky skaggs, zach top + more

✦ week of may 5 – may 11

tuesday, may 5 (cinco de mayo newsletter coming soon)

wednesday, may 6

  • wedgewood-houston farmers market — opening day — under the giant guitar: 4:00 pm | free | opening day of the season. every wednesday through october

  • ryman sidewalk sessions with matt mann & the shine runners — pnc plaza: 5:30 pm | free | outdoor live music right outside the ryman

  • a night with david lee roth — ryman auditorium: 7:30 pm

  • bruno mars + dj pee wee + leon thomas — nissan stadium: 7:00 pm | gates open 5:30 pm | the romantic tour. one of the biggest shows of the year in nashville

thursday, may 7

friday, may 8

  • musicians corner spring series — centennial park | free | kicks off this weekend. fridays + saturdays through june 14. free live music, food trucks, and vendors in centennial park

  • fridays by the river — shelby park: 3:00–8:00 pm | free | featuring runner of the woods this week

  • amy grant with special guests — ryman auditorium: 8:00 pm

  • doggie drag show — play dance bar: 7:00 pm | $20 cash | local drag, pups on the runway, and all proceeds go to vet care and supplies for pets in foster care. one of the best events of the month

saturday, may 9

  • iroquois steeplechase — percy warner park | nashville's rite of spring. world-class horse racing, southern style, and philanthropy benefiting monroe carell jr. children's hospital at vanderbilt

  • strawberry fest — nashville farmers' market: 10:00 am–2:00 pm | free | live music, pony rides, petting zoo, aztec dance performances, cooking demos, and fresh strawberries. bring the whole family

  • nashville spring festival / chinatown festival — nashville chinatown, antioch: 11:00 am–8:00 pm | international food, cultural performances, kite flying, lantern evenings, and live music. may 9–10

  • tennessee renaissance festival — castle park, arrington: 10:00 am–6:00 pm

  • music city hoedown — skinny dennis: dj disko cowboy mixing country classics all night + live band at 9:00 pm

  • vintage at the factory — liberty hall, the factory at franklin: 11:00 am–5:00 pm | $5 | 40 vendors with vintage and handmade clothing and jewelry. mother's day weekend edition. kids 12 & under free

  • mom's sip & social — belle meade winery: 10:30 am–1:30 pm | 21+ | $140 | mimosa station, bloody mary bar, floral bouquet crafting, and a full southern brunch. one of the best mother's day plans in the city

  • turnip truck's 25th birthday block party — east nashville: 11:00 am–4:00 pm | free | live music, vendor samples, kids activities, and community love from nashville's favorite neighborhood grocery

  • factory farmers market — the factory at franklin: 8:00 am–noon | free

  • nashville sc vs d.c. united — geodis park: 8:00 pm

sunday, may 10 — mother's day

  • nashville spring festival / chinatown festival — nashville chinatown, antioch: 11:00 am–7:00 pm | day two

  • tennessee renaissance festival — castle park, arrington: 10:00 am–6:00 pm

  • general jackson mother's day brunch cruise — general jackson showboat | chef-curated brunch buffet + nashville live stage production while cruising the cumberland river. all ages

  • mother's day grand brunch buffet — the hermitage hotel: from 10:30 am | $110/adult, $55/kids 12 & under | grand buffet with carving stations, fresh seafood, live music, and complimentary valet. reservations required

  • mother mia: boozy disco brunch — stateside kitchen: 10:00 am–3:00 pm | for the mom who wants to dance. full abba and disco soundtrack, spinning dj, and disco ball punch specials

  • mother's day at the adventure park: 10:00 am–5:00 pm | buy one 3-hour ticket, get mom's free. ages 7+

✦ week of may 12 – may 18

tuesday, may 12

thursday, may 14

  • nashville sounds vs iowa cubs — first horizon park: 6:35 pm | final game of the series

  • createher collective market — wanna spoon cereal bar, 12 south: 4:00–8:00 pm | $20 includes a candle-making voucher and a treat from a vendor. live music, female entrepreneurs, makers and bakers. benefiting the aloe family

friday, may 15

  • musicians corner spring series — centennial park | free

  • goodguys legends of hot rodding — the fairgrounds nashville: may 15–16 | 500+ pre-1965 hot rods, customs, and trucks. live music and autograph sessions

  • drew & ellie holcomb — ryman auditorium: 8:00 pm | heartfelt folk-pop harmony. one of nashville's own on the mother church stage

  • mahjong in the mansion — cheekwood: may 15–16 | light bites, sips, and friendly competition in the prettiest setting. supporting storm recovery efforts

  • sunset suppers with chef johnny haffner | intimate 5-course seasonal dinner series benefiting the heimerdinger foundation's meals for health and healing program

saturday, may 16

  • musicians corner spring series — centennial park | free

  • goodguys legends of hot rodding — the fairgrounds nashville

  • bro-chella 2: tribute to divorced dad rock — marathon music works: $20 ga, $40 vip | benefiting childhelp tennessee

  • buzz & brew fest — game terminal | inaugural event | kick off summer at nashville's biggest arcade

  • encore comedy show — crazy gnome brewery: noon–5:00 pm

  • crow's nest annual crawfish boil — crow's nest, green hills: all you can eat | $35 | 4th annual. gets bigger every year

  • factory farmers market — the factory at franklin: 8:00 am–noon | free

  • drew & ellie holcomb — night 2 — ryman auditorium: 8:00 pm

  • treaty oak revival — bridgestone arena: 7:00 pm

  • nashville sc vs lafc — geodis park: 7:00 pm

  • mahjong in the mansion — cheekwood | multiple sessions

  • brave new works lab — oz arts nashville: may 14–16 | original short-form performances spanning dance, theater, music, and multimedia

sunday, may 17

✦ week of may 19 – may 25

monday, may 19

  • reading club — fait la force brewing: 6:00–9:00 pm | free | bring your own book. 30 minutes of reading, 15-minute breather to chat, then hang and grab a drink

  • skip the small talk — crazy gnome brewery: 6:00–8:00 pm

wednesday, may 20

thursday, may 21

friday, may 22

saturday, may 23

sunday, may 24

  • tennessee renaissance festival — castle park, arrington: 10:00 am–6:00 pm

  • sunday salsa series — acme: 7:00 pm | free | live salsa band and drink specials. first sunday of every month

  • spring sweat series — friends bar, 411 broadway: 10:00 am | strength pilates to a live dj then straight into a rooftop day party. vip giveaways, brunch menu, premium swag. rsvp required

  • skinny dennis vintage market — skinny dennis: noon–5:00 pm

  • k-love fan awards — opry house: 7:00 pm

monday, may 25 — memorial day

✦ week of may 26 – may 31

thursday, may 28

friday, may 29

saturday, may 30

sunday, may 31

  • tennessee renaissance festival — final weekend — castle park, arrington: 10:00 am–6:00 pm | last day of the season

  • summer fest — belle meade historic site: 2:00–7:00 pm | $15, kids 12 & under free | mansion tours, live music, wine tastings, bourbon cocktails, food vendors, face painting, and therapy dogs. a beautiful way to close out the month at one of nashville's most iconic estates

  • steve earle — ryman auditorium: 7:30 pm

✦ every week in may

thank you for your continued support!

i appreciate all of you!

love, the nashville times newsletter team!

p.s.

new here? follow us on instagram!

Instagram

keep reading!

© 2026 the nashville times.
beehiivPowered by beehiiv