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!

June 30

​The Keeton​

Keeton Community Wind Ensemble “Music of America” in Donelson

July 1

Birdie’s Wine

Ode to America with 3 Different American Wine Tastings at Lost & Found in East

Two Rivers Mansion

Historic Tours in Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday in Donelson (July 1, 2, and 6)

July 2

Mint Gaming Hall

Family friendly fireworks with food trucks, ice cream, and more in Franklin, KY

Two Rivers Mansion

Historic Tours in Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday in Donelson (July 1, 2, and 6)

July 3

Nashville Shores

Fireworks at the waterpark in Hermitage (they have events Fri-Sun!)

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 Sounds kick off a 3 day Independce Weekend run, Friday-Sunday. Each show ends in fireworks, and they have other promotions going, as well, so check them out!

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.

Cheekwood

America the Beautiful: National Parks & Landmarks by rail – this is a fun one for all ages, and Cheekwood is always beautiful, of course. Open all weekend in Belle Meade.

Post 82

Stars, Strips, and Community with music, food trucks, kids activities and more in East

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!

Robertson County Fairgrounds

Head in a different direction to Springfield for Freedom Fest, with music, food trucks, vendors, and more – and fireworks, of course!

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 and Fire Truck Parade

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!

Fat Bottom

All Day family-friendly party in the Nations.

White Limozeen

Country pool party (Day party) on the Graduate rooftop in Midtown

East Nashville Beer Works

World Cup, cook out, music and more in East (day party)

Fait La Force

Patriotic cupcake decorating with Hoamsy in WeHo

Red, White, and BOOM

With plenty of activities for the kids, 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.

This will sell out, so don’t procrastinate!

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.

Pinewood Social

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

Pontoon Saloon

View the fireworks from the Cumberland and park at the marina, which is well out of the traffic fray!

Nashville Sounds

The Sounds kick off a 3 day Independce Weekend run, Friday-Sunday. Each show ends in fireworks, and they have other promotions going, as well, so check them out.

Nashville Shores

Hot dog eating contest and Captain America showing at the waterpark in Hermitage (they have events Fri-Sun!)

Tall Tales at Waymore’s

Rooftop fireworks view with hot dogs, cocktails, music, and more in East.

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!

General Jackson

Fourth of July cruise – see the fireworks from the water!

Stateside Kitchen

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

Coa

A new rooftop in the Gulch, this party will feature a full performance by Waka Flaka Flame, other live music, firework views, and probaby easier in/out than if you were actually downtown

TN Brew Works

Cookout and live music, in walking distance to the fireworks (and probably a slightly easier exit)

—

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.

The Burbs

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).

Red, White, and Boom

Music, fireworks, Revolutionary War music & color guard, and fun for the kids in Brentwood

The Nashville Distillery

Fourth of July Party with fireworks, skydivers, food trucks, and more in Whites Creek.

East Nashville Beer Works

Block party with the Lion’s Cage, food trucks, music, and more in Lebanon (day party)

July 5

Nashville Sounds

The Sounds kick off a 3 day Independce Weekend run, Friday-Sunday. Each show ends in fireworks, and they have other promotions going, as well, so check them out.

Nashville Shores

Fireworks at the waterpark in Hermitage (they have events Fri-Sun!)

Monday Night Brewing

Metro Nash Market with Liberty & Vintage For All in Germantown

​City Winery​

Hamilton Sing a Long Brunch Downtown

July 6

Two Rivers Mansion

Historic Tours in Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday in Donelson (July 1, 2, and 6)

Holiday Specials

In addition to all the events listed above, there are typically some holiday specials around town. Check back here for announcements!

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.

As much as I love a good bargain (and I do!), as I’ve gotten older, I value putting my money where it can do additional good – even if that may cost slightly more. I suspect that many Xennials feel this way (after all, Millenials are the TOMS generation!)

So, if you’d like to put your money to good use AND come away with something for yourself (really, what better bargain is there?), here are a few places around town where you can do just that.

Coffee

Crest Coffee

Although Crest Coffee is next door to a church, it is it’s own unique entity, serving Nashville by partnering with a different community organization each month. Not only does Crest Coffee give back, but their coffee is also completely donation-based, allowing everyone in the community to have the benefit of a good cup o’ joe.

Humphreys Street Coffee

Humphreys Street Coffee in Wedgewood-Houston is a social enterprise of Harvest Hands CDC and employs area youth, giving them not only jobs, but also mentoring opportunities, trainings, and skills that go beyond the workplace. 100% of their profits are reinvested into programs and scholarships that support students. “Our expectation is that the students we employ will transform and impact their own neighborhood in positive ways.”

They also happen to be one of my favorite spots for remote work, and the space itself is a beautiful, light-filled converted former church.

Land of a Thousand Hills

Land of a Thousand Hills coffee in West Nashville has a more global focus. Their Do Good Initiative not only sustainably sources coffee from Rwandan farmers, but also provides health care, schools, and other programs for those farming communities.

The Well

Another favorite spot of mine, the Well uses their profits to help fund clean water projects in the countries from which they source their coffee. But, they don’t forget about their local community either, having partnered with several initiatives to provide clean water and services to those impacted by the 2020 tornado. And, with several locations around Nashville, you’re never too far away to do a little good.

Food/Drink

Christie Cookie Co.

A Nashville original, Christie Cookies are delicious AND they give back, locally and nationally! Check out their “For a Cause” page to see all the special edition cookies you can order to support various organizations.

A little extra: Did you know Christie Cookie Co. is the creator of the DoubleTree cookie?? If you’ve ever stayed at a DoubleTree, you know that is one of the best cookies on the planet!

The Cookery

From their website, “the Cookery is a nonprofit restaurant, cafe, caterer, and event space that trains formerly homeless men in the Culinary Arts to prepare them for employment in Nashville’s food industry.” They are open most days for breakfast and lunch and have a convenient location just beyond the busy district of 12South.

Etch

You know the roasted cauliflower at Etch is delicious. But did you also know that $1 from each order goes towards Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee? A few years ago, it was reported that Etch donated $17,000 dollars from their cauliflower proceeds! You can find Etch in SoBro – and on my guide to happy hours after 5!

Tennessee Brew Works

Every Sunday, Tennessee Brew Works donates $1 from every pint to a local charity or non-profit. Their chosen partner changes quarterly, so follow their Instagram for the latest partner. Sunday Funday and Sunday Give-Back-Day? I’m in.

The Café at Thistle Farms

For over 25 years, “Thistle Farms has lit a pathway of healing and hope for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.” The Cafe is one way to support this beautiful mission, as it provides employment for those Thistle Farms serves, as well as an entrepreneurial stream for the organization’s mission (including safe housing, therapy, legal services, and more).

The food is delicious, the service friendly, the space lovely and inviting. It’s a special place.

Shops

ABLE

As beautiful as any boutique in Nashville, Able’s mission is to empower women by providing living wages, ensuring on-the-job safety, and working for equality. They partner with vendors who share that mission and are seeking to bring about change in the fashion industry – at home, and around the world.

Ten Thousand Villages

Although not unique to Nashville, Ten Thousand Villages is one of the leaders in fair-trade merchandising, offering unique gifts from around the world. Their mission is to ensure makers earn a fair, living wage in safe working conditions, to invest in partnerships that empower women and communities, to celebrate diverse cultures, all while caring for the earth.

Project 615

Project 615 t-shirts and hats have become nearly ubiquitous with Nashville, and it’s easy to see why! With soft fabric, high quality printing, and catchy slogans (my personal favorite is “I climbed Mt. Juliet”), what’s not to love? Plus, since they started in 2010, Project 615 has donated nearly $1,000,000 to world-changing causes and local non-profits. They live our their most well-known t-shirt every day and “Spread Love. It’s the Nashville Way.”

Thistle Farms

You can read about the mission above, but the shop is just as worth a visit as the café! Gorgeous hand made accessories, deliciously scented soaps and candles, and a full line of natural bath products, Thistle Farms is the best place to treat yourself or find some gifts – while also supporting their incredible programs.

Other

The Listening Room

At least monthly, The Listening Room hosts Sound Good, Do Good – donating the cover charges from the events to non-profits or people in need. Check their calendar or socials for the next opportunity to give back while hearing some of the best music in town!

The Russell and the Gallatin Hotel

The Russell and its sister hotel, the Gallatin, both offer unique, boutique stays in East Nashville. The Russell is in a beautiful, reclaimed church with gorgeous stained glass windows. The Gallatin is also a reclaimed church, but it has a more eclectic feel with a different color scheme per floor (that carries down to the room refrigerators!). But, even better, much of their proceeds support local homeless ministries, with the Russell’s website estimating that the average stay provides 16 beds and meals at local shelters. So, whether you are on a staycation or have friends coming to visit, be sure to put the Russell and the Gallatin at the top of the list of places to stay!

Nashville is such a giving community, I feel almost certain that I missed something on this list. Did I? Please send me an email or drop us a tip below if so! And leave a comment to let us know your favorite way to shop and give back!

XO,
SB

The post Guide to Cause-Based Businesses first appeared on The Tip Jar.