If you’re looking for some last minute Father’s Day gift ideas, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites for The Nashville Dads out there!
And Dad’s always like a dinner out! Here are some we are loving lately!
Desano’s
Content/Sidebar/Sidebar
Nashville Weekend Happenings: June 7-10
- When: Thursday, June 7th through June 10th
- Where: Downtown Nashville
- What: Experience the best of country music with hundreds of performances including free concerts, fan experiences and much more! Read all the details here!
Nashville Symphony Community Concert
- When: Friday, June 8th at 7 p.m.
- Where: Cumberland University, Lebanon
- What: Enjoy the sounds of the Nashville Symphony at Cumberland University *FREE*
- When: Friday, June 7th at both 7 and 7:30 p.m.
- Where: AdventureWorks {1300 Narrows of the Harpeth Road, Kingston Springs, TN}
- What: Zip line high above in the trees with twinkling views of fireflies below *Advanced Registration required*
Scout Baby and Breathless Paper Popup
- When: Saturday, June 8th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Where: White’s Merchantile, 12th South
- What: Shop small with local merchants, Scout Baby and Breathless Paper!
City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game
- When: Saturday, June 9th at 10 a.m.
- Where: First Tennessee Park
- What: Cheer on stars like Lauren Alaina, Jay Cutler, Charles Esten and many more in a softball game to raise funds for City of Hope Cancer Charity.
Metro Nashville Public Schools Fatherhood Festival
- When: Saturday, June 9th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center Field House
- What: This free event celebrates MNPS Fathers, and father figures, and their important role in the lives of students. Hands on activities, workshops, educational materials, resources guides, games, music and more!
- When: Saturday, June 9th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Where: Centennial Park Event Shelter
- What: Come learn to waltz with live music by The Jazz Alliance
- When: Sunday, June 10th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Where: Arrington Vineyards
- What: Enjoy free, live bluegrass or jazz music around the property while enjoying wine tastings and beautiful views.
Kid-Friendly Downtown Nashville
Downtown Nashville is known for the bright lights and honky tonks, there are lots of kid-friendly places too! Here’s the scoop…
- Country Music Hall of Fame has interactive displays, the Taylor Swift Education wing hosts crafts, music lessons, songwriting camps, and much more! Youth from Davidson, Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties can receive free admission through the Community Counts Program. Adults can also receive 2 free admission tickets through the Nashville Public Library.
- The newly renovated Martin Art Quest Gallery is now open at Frist Center. The updated gallery features enhanced activities focused on creative collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. Children ages 18 and under are *FREE*
- Nashville Metro Parks and Recreation offer multiple free splash parks and spray grounds throughout downtown Nashville.
- Cumberland Park: Open daily from dawn to 11 p.m. *Closed July 2-5 for Nashville Fireworks This 6.5 acre park includes an outdoor amphitheater, sand play, a bouncing pad, a green maze, tandem see-saw, cooling off area, a stone climbing wall, and an explorer trail to name a few amenities.
- Kickground Sprayground: { 620 S. 9th Street Nashville} Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m on weekdays and until 3 p.m. on weekends.
- Watkins Sprayground: Jo Johnston Avenue at 17th Avenue North Nashville
- Take a walk on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and then get a scoop or two at Mike’s Ice Cream!
- Take a tour of the historic Ryman Auditorium or see a show!
- Give your kids a musical education at the Johnny Cash Museum. The museum gives interesting facts on the life of Johnny Case as well as understanding the musical heritage of recording, writing and performing.
- Shop, grab lunch or a snack at the Nashville Farmer’s Market. The Market also hosts a night market the third Friday of every month. You’ll also find cooking classes and demonstrations as well.
CMA Fest Round Up
I’m a huge country music fan and have spent many a hot summer day downtown at CMA Fest, the ultimate concert and fan experience! If you’re heading to CMA Fest, here’s some information you need to know!
- Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan are only a few of the artists that will be playing during CMA Fest. CMA Fest hosts 11 stages in downtown Nashville with over 350 artists, 1,100 musicians and 167 hours of music! All daytime outdoor stages are FREE to the public! The festival is attended by over 90,000 fans for all over the world! Find information on who’s playing at each stage here .
- XFinity Fan Fair X gives the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience from artist interactions, celebrity Q&A sessions to shopping, games, crafts and more! XFinity Fan Fair X is also home to three live music stages including the CMA Up Close Stage.
- CMA Fest provides a wide variety of ticket packages including:
- 4-Day Pass includes admission to Nissan Stadium, 4-day admission to Xfinity Fan Fair X in Music City Center, early access to the Chevy Riverfront Stage , access to FREE daytime and nighttime CMA Shuttles and discounts for local Nashville attractions
- Nash Pass includes 4-day admission to Xfinity Fan Fair X, VIP early access to nightly shows on the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater and tours of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Ryman Auditorium.
- XFinity Fan Fair X allows you to buy a 4-Day pass for $25 or a Single-Day Ticket for admission on the day of your choice for $10
- FREE Daytime, Outdoor Music and Nightly Concerts at The Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater including Lee Brice, Cole Swindell and more! See the stages here.
- Nissan Parking Pass are available for $63.95 for 4-day parking options.
- CMA will provide one FREE CMA Fest-branded clear bag to all four-day pass holders this year. Only clear bags will be permitted at all official festival locations. You may pick up your free clear bag at Music City Center, Level 2 beginning Wednesday, June 6th at 9:30 a.m. and show your four-day pass.
- Enter to win a unique artist experience between Tuesday, May 29th and Thursday, May 31st. To enter, download the CMA Fest app and register for CMA Fan Fest Access presented by Budweiser.
- Beyond the concerts and Xfinity Fan Fair X, many activities will be happening all over Nashville, find out more here.
- If you can’t make it to CMA Fest but want some cool swag, you can find CMA Fest merchandise here.
#cmafest #cmafest2018 #nashville
Nashville Weekend Happenings: June 1st-3rd
Sleep Tight Nashville Book Reading
- When: Saturday, June 2nd at 9:30 a.m.
- Where: Draper James, 12th South Nashville
- What: Bring your kiddos to a special reading of Sleep Tight Nashville plus face painting by yours truly, treats and more!
- When: Saturday, June 2nd and Sunday, June 3rd
- Where: Trace One, 1201 4th Avenue South Nashville
- What: Come shop unique vendors, experience DIY flower crown experience, tons of photo walls and much more! General admission and VIP admission packages both available.
- When: Friday, June 1st at 8:30 a.m.
- Where: The Aquarium Restaurant at Opry Mills
- What: Experience the excitement of the Aquarium from behind the scenes! The mini Marine Biologists learn about water chemistry, dissect a squid, use microscopes, watch a dive show and more! Call to register!
- When: Friday, June 1st from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Sugar Drop, Brentwood
- What: Come learn cookie decorating tips including making royal icing and more! *Advanced Registration required.
- When: Friday, June 1st from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Where: The Nashville Zoo
- What: Nashville Zoo welcomes all species of beer lovers to the seventh annual Brew at the Zoo! Animals, live music, local food trucks and over 100 craft beers will be on tap! Buy tickets in advance. The zoo will close at 4 on Friday in preparation of the event.
- When: Friday, June 1st at 8 p.m.
- Where: Lawnchair Theater, 4144 Old Hillsboro Rd., Franklin
- What: Enjoy a family friendly movie under the stars in Leiper’s Fork. Bring your blankets and chairs to cozy up, concessions will be for sale.
- When: Saturday, June 2nd
- Where: Sharp Springs Park, Smyrna (other parks and trails will also be participating around Nashville)
- What: Enjoy a short hike and scavenger hunt at Sharp Springs Park in celebration of National Trails Day.
- When: Saturday, June 2nd from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Where: The Old School Farm to Table Restaurant
- What: Come meet Belle from Circle Players’ Beauty and the Beast, photo opportunities, fresh-baked pastries, fruit, kid-friendly beverages, royal costume parade and a souvenir bag!
Hogwood BBQ
Hogwood BBQ is built on the same model as Chick-Fil-a; family friendly and closed on Sundays!
Their artisan meats are smoked to perfection and they have a variety of signature sides like Mac ‘n Cheese, icebox pickles and their kale slaw was my favorite!
And CHEESE GRITS, y’all!!
Hogwood has the only Stubborn soda machine in Tennessee! Stubborn uses no artificial sweeteners, no high fructose corn syrup and uses fair trade certified cane sugar.
And save room for something sweet like these Papa C. pies or their famous Caramel Banana Pudding!
Our family loved Hogwood BBQ and we can’t wait to go back!