Nashville, also known as ‘Music City,’ is one of the South’s top tourist destinations—and with good reason. A bustling, vibrant city filled with a rich history and culture to match; a culinary scene perfect for any foodie looking for the best of the South; and plenty of exciting concerts, events, and festivals that highlight its deep and enduring musical roots.

Though Nashville is fun to visit all year round, fall is an especially great time to explore, as the city’s temperatures remain somewhat mild—yet with a crisp, autumn breeze that is ideal for outdoor activities and fun seasonal events.

Below are some great reasons why travelers should pack their bags and head down to Nashville for a long weekend this fall.

Note: Nashville has been deemed a Safe Travels Destination by the World Travel & Tourism Council, one of only a few places in the U.S. to receive such a designation. The city also has a Good to Go Hospitality Safety Program, which allows visitors to identify businesses with a focus on health and safety that have pledged their commitment to upholding all current COVID-19 guidelines.

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Fall In Love With Nashville

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year to experience the Music City. Soak in the brightly-hued fall foliage while sipping a hot cider and catching a concert; pick some pumpkins and go on a hayride; or lose your way in a fun corn maze. Whatever fall fun you’re looking for, Nashville’s got it.

  • The Farm Fall Festival at Honeysuckle Hill Farm is the perfect spot to spend a warm fall afternoon. In addition to a traditional pumpkin patch, Honeysuckle also has unique fall events visitors won’t find anywhere else, like a Country Music Corn Maze, a Singing Chicken Show, and Hillbilly Pig Races. There are also a ton of fun attractions after dark, like fireworks shows and bonfires.

Date: September 25 through October 31, 2021

Tickets: Purchase online and save. Ticket prices start at $15.95/person for Weekdays and Fall Break (October 11-15), $17.95/person Saturdays and Sundays. Add a Honeypot punch card to enjoy additional attractions

Don’t Miss: Be sure to grab a bite while you’re there like a caramel apple from KK’s Sweet Shop or funnel cake fries from Back Forty Smoke Shack

  • Lucky Ladd Farms has been named one of the top five best pumpkin patches in the South—and with good reason. With acres of pumpkins to choose from, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and pony rides, and plenty of other family-friendly activities, Lucky Ladd is a great place to get into the autumn spirit.

Date: October 4-30, 2021, Thursday through Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, Sundays 12 PM-5 PM

Tickets: Limited number of available tickets, must reserve date and time online in advance. Tickets start at $13.99/person

Don’t Miss: Lucky Ladd Farms is home to the Cedar Glade Trails, a unique habitat found only in middle Tennessee—a desert-like ecosystem containing rare plants not found anywhere else

  • Catch some gorgeous fall foliage on a trip to lovely Franklin, a charming Tennessee town just a short 30-minute drive from Nashville. Here, visitors will find Gentry’s Farm, a lovely fall spot to relax and take in the laidback, country vibes. They have a variety of mazes, including a 4-acre corn maze and a mini-maze; a nature trail; and plenty of fall farm activities like wagon rides and farm animals.

Date: October 2-31, 2021, Saturdays 9AM-5PM, Sundays 1PM-5PM, Mondays 9AM-5PM

Tickets: Purchase online or at the gate, $8.25/person plus tax

Don’t Miss: This sprawling farm has a lovely main house, two log cabins, several barns, and other outbuildings to see while you’re there—and there’s plenty of history, as the farm has been family-owned for over 150 years

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Festivals, Tours, And Events, Oh My!

The Music City knows how to throw a party—and there are plenty of fun fall festivals and events that showcase its talent. From local events at Nashville attractions to spooky happening all throughout the city, Nashville is the place to be in October.

  • See the beautiful Tennessee fall foliage and experience fall at its best at the Cheekwood Harvest. With a myriad of autumn activities and festivals including live music, beer gardens, sunset picnics, and a pumpkin house and village, Cheekwood is the spot for a relaxing weekend getaway.

Date: September 18-October 31, 2021

Tickets: Must be reserved in advance, visit the website for all event tickets and pricing.

Don’t Miss: El Día de Los Muertos comes to Cheekwood every year with traditional music, dance, and delicious cuisine. A cant-miss activity for the spooky season! October 30 and 31, 2021

  • The Hermitage Ghost Tours is one of the best ways to get your spook on in Nashville. Part history and part haunting, the tour takes visitors to the tomb of former President Andrew Jackson on a lantern-led voyage filled with eerie tales.

Date: October 30 and 31, 2021

Tickets: Purchase online in advance, $40.00/person

Don’t Miss: Before the ghost tour, take a tour of the historic Hermitage Mansion and surrounding farmland. Tickets $24.00 for adults, and include a discount wine tasting at Natchez Hills Winery

  • Boo at the Zoo is a family-friendly event that takes place at the Nashville Zoo. Full of festive fun for all ages, be sure to put on your best costume for some trick-or-treating. Full of fun attractions for the entire family, visitors will love experiencing Halloween fun at this top Nashville attraction.

Date: October 15-17, 19-24, 26-30; 5-9 PM nightly

Tickets: Purchase tickets online, tickets start at $18/person (weekdays)

Don’t Miss: The Monster Mash dance area and Scary-Go-Round carousel are popular attractions for kids of all ages

Other Nashville October Happenings

Cap off the long weekend with any of these other amazing Nashville activities—perfect for everything from Halloween chills to the autumn atmosphere.

  • Fall is great for pub crawls—and Nashville has plenty of fun bars to explore, all in the name of Halloween! Some of the best ones this year include the 4th Annual Halloween Bar Crawl and the Nashville Graveyard Row HalloWeekend Pub Crawl
  • For those who like their thrills and chills, there are a number of haunted houses to explore in Nashville and the surrounding areas, like Beast House, known as Nashville’s ‘real haunted house.’ Tickets start at $24.99/person
  • Experience Glow in the Park at Adventure Park, Nashville’s aerial adventure spot for zip lining fun. Glow in the park takes you on unforgettable nighttime event lit by bright lights from below and above. A can’t miss for thrill-seekers! October 29 and 30, 2021, purchase tickets in advance online

While Nashville is a wonderful place to visit all year long, in October it becomes a fab fall destination filled with autumn activities for those looking for a relaxing day at the pumpkin patch with the whole family, to thrill-seekers wanting a scary hair-raising adventure. Perfect for a long weekend getaway, visitors will love the Music City in the fall.

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