Thanksgiving Things to Do in Nashville, TN
Thanksgiving week in Nashville, TN has plenty to do beyond dinner — Cheekwood Estate & Gardens ($20-29), Cheekwood Estate & Gardens ($15-20), Corsair Distillery ($20-25), Adventure Science Center ($18-22), and Belmont Mansion ($20) are all open or hosting special events. Check for turkey trot races and volunteer shifts at local food banks.
Hand-feed lorikeets. Top-rated zoo playground.
3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211 · Daily 9am-4pm (extended to 6pm Mar-Oct) · Ages 0–12
75-foot Adventure Tower lets kids climb through the human body
800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203 · Mon, Thu-Fri 9am-3pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5pm; closed Tue-Wed · Ages 2–14
Waterpark on the lake — kayaks and paddleboards too
4001 Bell Rd, Hermitage, TN 37076 · Sun 10am-8pm; Mon-Sat 10am-7pm (seasonal) · Ages 0–16
Treehouse, water play, obstacle course. Under 3 free.
1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205 · Tue-Sun 9am-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0–14
Free storytimes Mon/Tue/Wed. Puppet shows. STEM programs.
615 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219 · Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm · Ages 0–12
Free Civil War fort ruins kids can actually explore
1100 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203 · Park: dawn-dusk daily; Visitors Center: Tue-Fri noon-4pm, Sat 9am-4pm
42-foot gold Athena. Free Kidsville Saturday mornings.
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 · Mon-Thu 9am-7pm, Fri-Sat 9am-4:30pm, Sun 12:30pm-4:30pm
Free splash pad on the river. Walk from downtown.
592 S 1st St, Nashville, TN 37213 · Park: daily 7am-11pm; Splash pad: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun noon-6pm (summer)
$10-12 waterpark. Half-price kids Tue-Fri afternoons.
2320 Two Rivers Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37214 · Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, closed Mon (seasonal)
Free. Children's gallery for ages 3-8.
1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208 · Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0–14
960 free acres. Stroller-friendly. Turtles and herons.
1900 Davidson St, Nashville, TN 37206 · Tue, Thu, Sat 9am-4pm; Wed, Fri noon-4pm; closed Sun-Mon
$12 seats, skyline views, sensory room for kids
19 Junior Gilliam Way, Nashville, TN 37219 · Game days; gates open 1 hour before first pitch · Ages 0–16
Free splash pad. Less crowded than Cumberland Park.
3150 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214 · Park: dawn-dusk; Splash pad: 10am-6pm (seasonal) · Ages 0–10
Free splash pad plus Greenway access and a dog park
1900 Rains Ave, Nashville, TN 37206 · Park: dawn-dusk; Splash pad: 10am-6pm (seasonal) · Ages 0–10
$3 for kids. Amphibious cars and microcars.
702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210 · Mon, Thu-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Tue-Wed · Ages 3–14
200-foot granite map of Tennessee. 95-bell carillon. Free.
600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243 · Daily dawn to dusk · Ages 3–14
Free concerts, Kidsville kids area, bring a blanket
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 · Ages 0–14
Kids play real guitars, banjos, and drums. Under 5 free.
222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203 · Daily 9am-5pm · Ages 0–14
Under 18 always free. Hands-on ArtQuest Gallery.
919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 · Mon 10am-5:30pm, Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-5:30pm, Sun 1-5:30pm; Closed Tue-Wed · Ages 0–18
Free playground, duck pond, steps from the Parthenon
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 · Daily dawn to dusk · Ages 0–10
Free to browse — affordable international food plus year-round farm market
900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208 · Market House daily 8am-8pm; Farm Sheds Sat 8am-3pm year-round · Ages 0–14
No cover, three floors, noon to 3am since 1960
422 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 · Daily 10am-3am
$6 Recession Special: bologna sandwich, PBR, Moon Pie
416B Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 · Daily 10am-3am
Church pew seating and the best acoustics in Nashville
116 Fifth Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219 · Tours daily 9am-4pm; show times vary
On the air since 1925. That six-foot wood circle is from the Ryman.
2804 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214 · Show nights Tue, Fri, Sat; backstage tours daily
90 seats in a strip mall. No talking. Garth was discovered here.
4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215 · Shows nightly, typically 6pm and 9pm
Cash only. Folding chairs. Best bluegrass room in the country.
402 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203 · Mon-Sun 7pm-midnight, music starts 8pm
Building shaped like a bass clef. Plan 2-3 hours.
222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203 · Daily 9am-5pm
Pulling prints on the same presses since 1879
224 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203 · Tours daily; 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm weekdays; additional 11am tour weekends
Bring your instrument. Bluegrass under the full moon.
2500 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37221 · 5:30pm-10pm on event nights
Best rooftop view on Broadway. No cover.
329 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201 · Daily 11am-3am
The nightlife strip before Broadway got famous
Printer's Alley, Nashville, TN 37219 · Varies by venue, typically afternoon to late night
Walk the stage and record yourself performing
116 Fifth Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219 · Daily 9am-4pm when no show is scheduled
Under 18 always free. Art Deco post office. Every show is new.
919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 · Mon 10am-5:30pm, Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-5:30pm, Sun 1-5:30pm; Closed Tue-Wed
55 acres, sculpture trails, Georgian mansion. LIGHTS event sells out.
1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205 · Tue-Sun 9am-5pm, closed Mondays
Great-great-great-grandfather's recipe. Four-whiskey flight.
1414 Clinton St, Nashville, TN 37203 · Sun-Thu 11am-6pm, Fri-Sat 11am-7pm
42-foot gold Athena. In Nashville. Park is free.
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 · Mon-Sat 9am-4:30pm, Sun 12:30-4:30pm
Free. Rivals the paid museums. 200-foot granite map next door.
1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208 · Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm, closed Mon
The only museum dedicated to African American music — free first Wednesdays
510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 · Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun-Mon 12pm-5pm
500+ weird and wonderful cars — amphibious vehicles, microcars, and prototypes
702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210 · Mon, Thu-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Tue-Wed
Free outdoor concerts in Centennial Park — spring and fall with Free Fest weekend
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Free 200-foot granite map of Tennessee and a 95-bell carillon playing hourly
600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243 · Daily dawn to dusk
Experimental craft spirits — quinoa whiskey and smoked gin in Marathon Village
1200 Clinton St, Nashville, TN 37203 · Wed-Sun 11am-7pm; closed Mon-Tue
36 rooms, largest pre-Civil War mansion in Tennessee — on the Belmont University campus.
1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212 · Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, closed Sun