But if the idea of celebrating with nearly 250K of your closest friends gives you some anxiety (as does the traffic afterwards…), here are some other great ways to celebrate our nation’s birth!

Celebrate at home by placing an All-American catering order with Park Cafe – orders due by noon on July 1!

July 3

Freedom Festival

If you don’t mind a short drive out to the burbs, Hendersonville offers food trucks and vendors, live music, activities for the kids (including princess photo ops!!), and a fireworks show! The fun kicks off at 5 pm and fireworks are scheduled around 9.

Half Batch Brewing

While you’re in Hendersonville, check out the backyard party with music, vendors, and more – plus a view of the city fireworks!

Rosemary & Beauty Queen

Beach Bash with tattoos, specialty drinks, music, and more – beachwear encouraged! In East.

NightLight 615: Top Gun Maverick

Everyone’s favorite outdoor movie night is back with a special patriotic edition in Germantown.

Nashville Shores

Fireworks at the waterpark in Hermitage.

Nashville Sounds

Baseball – as American as apple pie. Maybe even more American as far as folklore goes, but either way, it’s one of my favorite Independence Day past times. The weather is shaping up to be a great night, and the game ends with a very good fireworks show!

A little extra: If you want to see the fireworks (and the game), but enjoy a more adult atmosphere, Tailgate Brewery and Third and Home have great outdoor patios with views of the field.

July 4

Nashville

Music City 5K

Burn off some of the beer you’re going to drink later with this run/walk through downtown!

Music City Hot Chicken Festival

This annual free festival brings the heat – literally and figuratively. If you’ve ever wanted to try all of the best hot chicken Nashville has to offer, this is your chance! It’s also the only place in Nashville proper to find a parade on the 4th – so get there early!

White Limozeen

Putt-putt and pool party on the Graduate rooftop (noon-4 pm) in Midtown

Stateside Kitchen

Start the party early with patriotic vibes and bottomless mimosas. (FYI, this is a DJ brunch…it will not be chill.)

East Nashville Beer Works

Daytime hot dog cookout at both the East Nashville and Lebanon locations – bring the kids!

Urban Dog Bar

A party for the pups with vendors, food and drink specials, and more – ending in plenty of time before the fireworks start! In the Nations

Fat Bottom

All Day family-friendly party in the Nations.

No Quarter and Hubba Hubba Tiki Tonk

Parking lot pool party with music, hot dog eating contest, and more in East.

Red, White, and BOOM

With plenty of activities for the kids (including laser shows!), a great view of the downtown fireworks, and easy parking (!!), the Adventure Science Center’s Red, White, and BOOM event is well worth the price of admission! Go early to take advantage of both the museum entry and the special activities.

A Fourth of July Celebration at the Pool Club

If you’d still like the rooftop fireworks-viewing experience but not the masses and traffic, this might be the event for you. Right on Music Row, the Pool Club at the Virgin Hotel should be pretty easy to escape without getting too stuck in everyone else leaving downtown.

Hampton Inn Capitol View

If the Hampton Inn isn’t your first thought for a party, maybe it should be! Tickets include pool access, live music, and a rooftop view of the fireworks!

Pinewood Social

Patio celebration with AYCE backyard cookout, fireworks views, cocktails, movies, and more. (Fair warning, traffic getting out of here will likely be tough.)

Barrique Brewing

I’ve gone to this party two or three times now – chill vibes, great views of the fireworks, beer – and it’s free! Easy parking, but there is a little traffic to get out.

Tall Tales at Waymore’s

The newest rooftop in East has a fireworks view with bar bites, cocktails, music, and no cover!

Hubba Hubba Tiki Tonk

A parking lot pool party is about as nostalgic American as it gets!

Hoppin’ River North

Enjoy the fireworks right from the Cumberland, but on the opposite side of traffic (there will be some when leaving, but it won’t be as bad!). Easy parking that’s free for the first two hours! In East, near Top Golf.

Pontoon Saloon

Offering their first ever 4th of July cruise, view the fireworks from the Cumberland and park at the marina, which is well out of the traffic fray!

The Listening Room

Daytime patio party and writer’s round ending just in time for the downtown fireworks (you will get stuck in traffic here, just FYI)

New Heights Brewery

Family friendly fireworks viewing on the opposite side of downtown from the chaos – with a bounce house for the kids! In WeHo. Street parking, but it does fill up, so come early.

Nashville Black Market

Special 90s market featuring the 69 Boyz in Germantown

If for some reason you do REALLY want to go downtown…Nashville Guru has all the best downtown options. I personally love seeing the Symphony accompany the fireworks from Ascend Amphitheater – but you will not be spared the traffic.

And, if you’re heading down anyway, Skydeck is throwing a party featuring my beloved Rubiks Groove, with all of your favorite 80s-00s hits!

The Burbs

Fourth of July Jazz

For a much more chill 4th, head south to Arrington Vineyards. There you’ll fine great wine, beautiful scenery, and some jazz – an American-born genre of music.

Franklin on the Fourth

Festivities by day downtown (including pets and children’s parades) and fireworks. (Fair warning, this sounds like a fun day, but I expect it will also be quite crowded and have a lot of traffic).

Hop Springs

Punk Rock cookout in Murfreesboro

July 5

Nashville SC

Americana Night at Geodis, with fireworks after the game!

BrewHop

Use code HAPPY4TH for $25 tickets on Saturday and Sunday!

Holiday Specials

In addition to all the events listed above, lots of places around town offer holiday specials. Here are the ones announced so far…

• Von Elrod’s: free hotdogs with beer purchase!
• ML Rose: free slider with every craft beer purchase (They haven’t announced it yet, but they tend to do it every year, so posting just in case…keep your eyes peeled!)

Did I miss any? Which event are you most excited about? And if you attend any, please drop some tips for next year below or via email! Happy 4th, y’all! Nashville 4th of July: Things to Do, Fireworks, Concerts & More

XO,
SB

P.S. Did you know I send out a weekly events guide newsletter? In addition to holiday activities, it includes all the Xennial-approved events for the upcoming week (typically 40-50 events!), as well as any future events that have been announced so you can plan ahead. You can sign up here and have it sent directly to your inbox every Monday morning!

P.P.S. Visiting Nashville for the first time? Be sure to check out my packing list for all of your Nashville essentials!

The post Nashville 4th of July: Things to Do, Fireworks, Concerts & More first appeared on The Tip Jar.