Free Things to Do in Nashville

Looking for something fun and FREE to do in Nashville? The list begins below.

Be sure to call ahead and confirm dates, times, location, and the fact that the event is free--things may change without notification.

The Osborne Brothers outside the Grand Ole Opry Performance Hall, performing as the part of the free Opry Plaza Parties held in the summer.

Events & Places to Visit

Oct. 4, 2008: Celebration of Cultures, 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Presented by Metro Parks and Scarritt-Bennett. Free admission. Festival of live music, dance performances, exhibitions, food stalls, and fun things for children. Free shuttle buses will be running between Schermerhorn Symphony Center's Regions Free Day of Music and Scarritt-Bennett and Metro Parks' Celebration of Cultures in Centennial Park. Shuttles will run from 11 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., approximately every 20 minutes.

Oct. 4, 2008: Free Day of Music at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. For the third straight year, the Nashville Symphony opens its new home to the entire community for the Regions Free Day of Music, a festive open house with a variety of local musical acts performing throughout the building.Ticket information: Passes will be issued starting at 11 a.m. on Symphony Place (near the north front stairs of Schermerhorn Symphony Center). Each guest will receive a pass upon entering the building. Guests may then stay as long as they like to explore the different spaces inside and to enjoy the many musical performances; when leaving, they will be asked to return the pass. In addition to the myriad of performances, guests can enjoy an instrument petting zoo, the Symphony Store and a variety of inexpensive food or drink options. The Nashville Symphony box office will also be open and offering 20% discounts on tickets to select concerts. Please note that free shuttle buses will be running between Schermerhorn Symphony Center's Regions Free Day of Music and Scarritt-Bennett and Metro Parks' Celebration of Cultures in Centennial Park. Shuttles will run from 11 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., approximately every 20 minutes. The Centennial Park pickup/drop-off point will be located on the North side of the Parthenon, near the lake.

Oct. 4, 2008: Frist Center for the Visual Arts has a FREE DAY, 10 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy free admission to the Frist Center, compliments First Tennessee Bank. Because of activity related to the Presidential Debate at Belmont University and the downtown First Saturday Art Crawl, the Frist Center will remain open until 9 p.m., with Music in the Lobby live performances scheduled at 1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. The Frist Center’s Grand Lobby Wine Bar will be open from 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Oct. 4, 2008: First Saturday Art Crawl. The Downtown Partnership's Art Crawl shuttle will add the Frist Center as a pick-up and drop-off point during the Saturday evening Art Crawl. Every first Saturday of the month, multiple downtown galleries open their doors to art lovers as well as anyone else that is just curious to see what the Gallery Crawl is all about. The Nashville Downtown Partnership provides a free shuttle between galleries. Galleries taking part in the April Art Crawl include: Andrew-John Gallery, Art Rogue, Digigraph Design, Fov Studio, Studio 66, TAG, Tinney+Cannon Contemporary, Twist, Visual Impact Photography, The Arts Company, Tennessee Arts Commission, The Rymer Gallery, Dunn Bros. Coffee, Take 121 Arts, Estel Gallery, Tennessee Art League, International Art Gallery. Participating galleries subject to change.

Oct. 5, 2008: Belmont University hosts a Vesper Service in preparation for 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate. The event will take place at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway, on Sun., Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.. President Robert Fisher of Belmont will be presiding. Reverend David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, will deliver the homily on Poverty & Debate08. Bread for the World is a citizens’ anti-hunger movement that focuses on education about hunger and influencing public policies on hunger and poverty. Open to the public. For more information, contact Benita Walker at (615) 460-6628.

Oct. 10, Nov. 14, 2008: Dyer Open House Telescope Night. The Dyer telescopes will be open for viewing. If cloudy we will be open for observatory tours and "ask an astronomer" (if you need help with your telescope and would like to bring it, call to speak with an astronomer.) There is no fee for Dyer Telescope night. See schedule for free observation nights and directions to facility. Call 615-373-4897 for more information.

FREE Wi-Fi is now available in Centennial Park. Bring your laptop (with wireless card) and access the Internet through free wireless Internet is provided compliments of the Metro Parks Department. Centennial Park has always been one of the coolest, hippest places to take a stroll. Now it's even cooler. You can cruise the Web while sitting outdoors. The wireless network is called "Metro-Parks" and is operational during park hours. For more information, call 615-862-6222 or visit Nashville Parks.

More free events from the Tennessean's Ms. Cheap

Great FREE Places to Visit Around Nashville

Bicentennial Mall near the Farmer's Market

Centennial Park: An urban park on West End Avenue, with the world's only full scale reproduction of the Parthenon. The monumental museum dates from the 100 year celebration of Nashville's birthday. A lovely park with a running and bike path, fields for playing touch football and soccer, and benches for reading. Red tulips in April. (Note: Centennial Park is free, but the Parthenon itself requires an admission fee.)

Tennessee State Capitol Building: designed by William Strickland and occupied by the Union Army during the Civil War (see photo from 1864).

Radnor Lake State Natural Area offers hikes, canoe floats, and specialty events each month. A variety of activities are available, free of charge from Radnor Lake State Natural Area. Reservations for programs open at 9:00 A.M. on the dates listed and will be taken until full. Please call 377-1281 to sign up.

Warner Park Nature Center: Hikes, star parties, and nature programs for all ages. Call 352-6299 for events or check web site.

Model Train Display: The Nashville Garden Railway Society's 4500-square foot layout is located in Nashville's 100 Oaks Shopping Center, directly in front of the second floor escalator. The display is open to the public on Sundays from noon until 4 p.m. (And on many Saturdays 11a.m.-5 p.m. when volunteer members are available.) 100 Oaks Shopping Center, 719 Thompson Lane.