May 24, 2018
Nashville is an amazing city to live in or visit with kids all year – and especially during the summer! Here are our favorite FREE places and events in Nashville to explore with your kids year round! Also check out this post for 20 more FREE in Nashville with kids!
1. Musicians Corner – Concerts and kids activities in May, June, September and October in Centennial Park.
2. Bring a picnic to Bicentennial Mall State Park – play in the fountains, explore the giant map of Tennessee, check out the downtown farmer’s market and play on the lawns! Plus, every Wednesday, park tours are offered to learn about the natural, cultural and historical resources of the area and the state of Tennessee. The tours are free and conducted at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
3. Play at the Cumberland Park splash pad and playground.
4. Head to a Nashville Public Library event – Check out the website for story times and special events at the downtown branch and at your local branch too.
5. Discover the Nashville Greenways – ride bikes, rollerblade, take walks (you can even add a wish to the Sylvan Park Wish Tree on the Richland Park Greenway near 51st and Wyoming).
6. Hike & explore Percy & Edwin Warner Park and the Warner Park Nature Center.
7. Grab a parking spot at the nearby mall and walk over to Opryland Resort to explore the lush gardens, fountains, bridges and boat rides. Bring your lunch or grab a bite at one of the many restaurants.
The Wish Tree at Richland Park Greenway
8. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has a free family day program almost every month, usually on a Sunday. Children can enjoy a workshop in the Hatch Show Print shop and the whole family can get a discount on admission to the museum. Also, you can get free passes to the museum through the Community Counts program at the library.
9. Head to Saturday morning Kidsville at the Parthenon where families can enjoy storytime at the feet of Athena, a free craft and free admission to the museum from 11-11:45.
10. Hike around Radnor Lake – be sure to spot some turtles, ducks and maybe deer!
Centennial Park
11. Head to the Nashville Flea Market at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds considered to be in the top 10 in the nation. The market is held every fourth weekend of the month. Entrance is free (depending on where you park, you may need to pay a few dollars for parking).
12. The Frist Museum/ Artquest (free for kids 18 & under, $12 for adults) Also, if you’re staying in a Nashville hotel you can show your room keycard at the Frist Art Museum and receive FREE admission (May not apply to all exhibitions).
13. Parnassus Books is a beloved independent neighborhood bookstore that offers free story time events for children and free readings. Learn more about their special events here.
14. The Tennessee State Museum is a hidden gem in Nashville. From the first Tennesseans to antebellum history to a real mummy and even a lock of Andrew Jackson’s hair – this place is a fun spot to get lost with your kids.
Parnassus Bookstore
15. Walk across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge – great for Nashville skyline photos too!
16. Walk/explore Broadway & the Honkey Tonks! (I always recommend doing this during the morning or early afternoon with kids, but it’s totally fun to pop into the live music bars, the boot stores and check out the street musicians.)
17. Go Music City Muraling! #Musiccitymuraling
18. Visit the Tennessee Agricultural Museum – check out their Farm Fun Days!
19. Take a picnic dinner to Arrington Vineyards. The sunset views are amazing and they usually have live music on the weekends.
20. Explore Shelby Bottoms Park – Forage for blackberries at Shelby Bottoms in July.
21. Go creek stomping & exploring at Richland Creek, Edwin Warner Park or Little Marrowbone Creek at Beaman Park.
22. Head to the Nashville Scene’s Movie in the park.
23. Share a taste of the Bard at Nashville’s Shakespeare in the Park (the plays are free but donations are encouraged).
24. Take a dip, hang out at the beach or go fishing at Percy Priest Lake.
25. Watch the sunset or 4th of July fireworks at Love Circle.
What Lifts You Mural
26. Visit a local Farmer’s Markets including the Downtown farmers market, the Sevier Park market on Tuesdays, Hip Donnelson Market on Fridays, or Richland Park Market on Saturday morning.
27. Take an art gallery walk or tour around Nashville’s many small art galleries!
28. Visit Fort Negley historical and outdoor education center. Self-guided tours Tuesday-Friday 12-4pm and Saturday 9am-4pm.
29. Get your tomato on at the Tomato Art Festival in August!
30. Visit Music City Center – rock in the rocking chairs, play on the outdoor spaces and explore the windows and hallways.
Do you have any FREE activities to add with kids in Nashville? If you’re looking for other kid-friendly Nashville posts, be sure to check out our favorite kid-friendly restaurants (part one and two), A Walk Through History in Nashville, our Favorite Nashville Murals or some Nashville Staycation Spots!
