Best Things to Do in Nashville in July (Updated for 2025)
Nashville is in full swing for the summer in July. By now the weather is pretty hot, but that doesn’t stop anyone from coming out and having fun!
Events during July include everything from the city’s 4th of July celebrations to bluegrass nights at the Ryman to outdoor movies with Nightlight 615. Read on for my top picks for what to do in Nashville in July.
If you’re looking for even more to do, make sure to read my full guide to Nashville as well!
July Events in Nashville
Music City Hot Chicken Festival
2025 Event Dates: July 4
If you can’t get enough of Nashville hot chicken, then the Music City Hot Chicken Festival is for you! This free event takes place every year in East Park and features some of Nashville’s best hot chicken spots.
Hattie B’s, Hurt’s, Slow Burn, Chicken Shack, Party Fowl, Prince’s, Mama Joy’s, Chicken and Waffles, and Eugene’s will all be there with hot chicken. Other local food vendors will also have options available.
Proceeds from the event benefit Metro Parks & Recreation.
Music City Hot Chicken Festival Website
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th
2025 Event Dates: July 4
Nashville has a huge 4th of July celebration in Downtown every year. This family-friendly event includes free live music at Music City Walk of Fame Park and First and Broadway. Dierks Bentley is the headliner.
There is a fireworks show at Ascend Amphitheater to end the day as well!
While the event is free, you can buy tickets to reserve a spot in an exclusive area to view the fireworks. However, there are plenty of public viewing spots to see the fireworks from, too.
Let Freedom Sing July 4th Website
Nashville Wine Auction l’Eté du Vin
2025 Event Dates: July 24 – 26
L’Eté du Vin is a three night event that raises money for cancer research. Events include a seated wine tasting, a gourmet dinner, and a wine auction. Ticket prices for the different activities vary.
2025 Summer Fest
2025 Event Dates: July 12
The Nashville Farmers’ Market is hosting its first annual Summer Fest this year. The event features live music, a fun zone for kids, cooking demonstrations, dance performances, food trucks, and more. A number of vendors are offering specials during the festival.
Summer Fest lasts from 10 am until 2 pm. Parking and entrance to the farmers market is free.
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
2025 Event Dates: July 11
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 July lineup includes Gene Duggan and Familiar Faces and the Noelle Goodin Band. 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
Nashville Sounds
2025 Event Dates: July 1 – 3, 18 – 20, 22 – 27
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. Highlights include Tito’s Tail Waggin’ Tuesdays where dogs are allowed into the park with special tickets, Friday Fireworks which take place post game every Friday, and Sunday Family Fun Days.
Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman
2025 Event Dates: July 1, 8, 15, 22
Bluegrass fans will not want to miss Springer Mountain Farms Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman. The six-show series takes place on Tuesday nights beginning in June and ending in July.
The shows begin with a free showcase outside the Ryman called Pickin/ on the PNC Plaza. Rhonda Vincent plays on July 1, Mighty Poplar plays on July 8, East Nash Grass + AJ Lee & Blue Summit play on July 15, and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder play on July 22.
Ticket prices vary. You can also buy a pass to attend all six shows in the series.
Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman Website
Big Band Dances
2025 Event Dates: July 12, 19, 26
Head to the Centennial Bandshell on Tuesday nights this summer for the free Big Band Dance Series. A swing dance lesson takes place at 7 pm with music and dancing beginning at 7:30 pm. The event is free.
Music is provided by different local bands each week, and food trucks are onsite as well.
Nightlight 615
2025 Event Dates: July 3, 10, 17
Nightlight 615 is an outdoor movie series for 21+ that takes place May through October. The event includes a pre-movie DJ, a bar, and local food trucks. It’s one of my favorite events of the summer.
The movies being shown in July are Top Gun: Maverick on July 3, Wedding Crashers on July 10 (rescheduled from June), and Pirates of the Caribbean (‘03) on July 17. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance because the most popular movies sell out quickly!
Advance general admission tickets are $11.99, standard general admission tickets are $15.99, and day of general admission tickets are $24.99.
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 Goo Goo Dolls at Ascend Amphitheater on July 20, Coldplay at Nissan Stadium on July 22, and Lord Huron on July 25-26 at the Pinnacle.
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Thanks for reading my suggestions for things to do in Nashville in July! Hopefully, you found something to enjoy around the city during this month!
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