Best Things to Do in Nashville in May (Updated for 2025)
May is another one of my favorite months in Nashville. The weather is usually beautiful, and while the crowds are picking up, the city is not as busy as it will be during the rest of the summer.
The month brings a lot more events as well! During May, there’s everything from baseball and soccer games to music and margaritas.
If you’re looking for even more to do, make sure to read my full guide to Nashville as well!
May Events in Nashville
Iroquois Steeplechase
2025 Event Dates: May 10
The Iroquois Steeplechase is held at Percy Warner Park. Proceeds from the horse race go to the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt as well as other local non-profits. Tailgating opens up at 8 am. The opening ceremonies start at 12 pm with the first race at 1 pm.
Individual tickets cost $78, and other upgraded options are also available.
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
2025 Event Dates: May 23
The Full Moon Pickin’ Party is a bluegrass music series that takes place once each month from May until September. The event is held in Percy Warner Park, and proceeds go to the Friends of Warner Parks which preserves and protects the parks.
The May lineup includes Stones River Bluegrass Band, Amy Alvey and the Home Team Advantage, and the Green Hillsbillies. Food truck vendors will be on-site, and outside food is allowed as well (although outside alcohol is not allowed).
Admission is $25 per person.
Full Moon Pickin’ Party Website
Goodguys Nashville Nationals
2025 Event Dates: May 16-18
For a weekend of cool cars, mark the Goodguys Nashville Nationals Car Show on your calendar. If you’re the owner of a cool car, you can register your vehicle to be involved. If not, then you can still attend as a spectator.
Exhibitions, racing series, swap meets, music, and more are on the schedule throughout the weekend.
General admission tickets run between $10 – $30. Admission is free for ages 6 and under.
Goodguys Nashville Nationals Website
Musicians Corner
2025 Event Dates: May 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31
The 2025 spring series of Musicians Corner begins this month. This free annual concert series highlights artists from Nashville and more. The event takes place in Centennial Park at the corner of 27th Ave N & West End.
The lineup changes each day, so you can catch your favorites and also discover new-to-you artists.
Local food vendors are on-site during the events, and there is a pub area that serves drinks to those 21+.
Little ones can also attend, and enjoy the fun at Kidsville. We love bringing our toddler to the Kidsville at the Parthenon on Saturdays during the rest of the year, and there’s something for all ages of kids.
Nashville Margarita Festival
2025 Event Dates: May 30
If you want to attend the Nashville Margarita Festival, make sure to get your tickets now. The event, which is hosted by the Nashville Scene, tends to sell out quickly.
General admission tickets are $63 and include 12 drink samples from local restaurants. Tickets for designated drivers are only $25, but obviously don’t include the drinks. All attendees must be 21+.
Everyone who attends gets to enjoy the music, dancing, photo booth, and the on-site food trucks.
Nashville Margarita Festival Website
Nashville Sounds
2025 Event Dates: May 6-11, 20-25
The Nashville Sounds are the city’s Minor League Baseball team. Home games take place at First Horizon Park, which features a scoreboard that’s shaped like a guitar.
Tickets start at $17 Monday-Wednesday and $24 Thursday through Friday. Tickets are cheaper if you buy them in advance.
Nashville Soccer Club
2025 Event Dates: May 10, 14, 17, 31
You can catch the Nashville Soccer Club at Geodis Park, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the US. The team has 5 games in Nashville during May, and each night has something special going on from API night to Military & Veterans Appreciation night.
Ticket prices vary, but the cheapest ones usually run somewhere between $17 – $25.
Spring Zzzoofari Slumber Campout
2025 Event Dates: May 24
Families, mark your calendar for this one-of-a-kind experience–a sleepover at the zoo. The Nashville zoo event lets you spend the night camping under the stars.
After the zoo closes, campers get to visit animal habitats at dusk, see an animal show, play on the Jungle Gym, make campfire treats, and more. The zoo recommends that this event is best enjoyed with children ages 4-12 although toddlers are able to go as well.
Tickets are $65 for ages 4 & up for non-members and $45 for members. You can enter the zoo for free the following morning with your wristband.
Fridays by the River
2025 Event Dates: May 2 & 9
Friends of Shelby hosts Fridays by the River to benefit Shelby Bottoms and Park. The event includes beer, food trucks, live music, and games. Admission is free.
Music City Rodeo
2025 Event Dates: May 29-31
Music City Rodeo is billed as Nashville’s first rodeo. It is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Pro Rodeo. Events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and more.
Doors open at 5:30 pm, the rodeo starts at 6:30 pm, and live music begins at 9 pm. Reba is performing on May 29, Jelly Roll on May 30, and Tim McGraw on May 31.
Tickets start at $70+.
Shows & Live Music
There is always music going on somewhere in the city. You can listen to live music at most of the bars in Downtown and other parts of Nashville.
I also recommend checking the lineup at different music venues around town including Nissan Stadium, Ascend Amphitheater, 5 Spot, Basement East, the Ryman, the Grand Ole Opry, and Bridgestone Arena.
A few bigger names that might be of interest (I’m very uncool and am just picking some artists I’ve heard of) are Metallica May 1 and May 3 at Nissan Stadium, Billy Idol May 17 at Bridgestone, AC/DC May 20 at Nissan Stadium, and Halsey May 21 at Ascend Amphitheater.
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Thanks for reading my suggestions for things to do in Nashville in May! Hopefully, you found something to enjoy in Music City during this month!
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