25+ Family Things to Do Around Nashville This Week (Oct. 22-28)
Halloween week is here, and Middle Tennessee is making the most of it. From Thursday, Oct. 22 through Wednesday, Oct. 28, families can take on a zoo night, a gardens-after-dark evening, library story times, trunk-or-treats and a big Franklin street festival. Here are more than two dozen things to do, with the cost noted wherever the organizer posts one.
Harvest Nights at Cheekwood
Thursday, Oct. 22, 5 to 9 p.m. · Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. $14 to $21. An after-work fall evening in the gardens with illuminated scarecrows, pumpkin-carving demos, lawn games, food trucks and live music. An Ask a Gardener table runs 5 to 7 p.m. with a bird-art activity for kids.
Boo at the Zoo
Thursday, Oct. 22 through Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 5 p.m. · Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. $19 to $23 depending on the night. A Halloween night at the zoo with trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, animal shows, character meet-and-greets, a carousel, a Ferris wheel and games. Advance tickets are required.
Preschool Story Time at Nolensville Library
Thursday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m. · Nolensville Branch Library. Thursday story time with songs, rhymes and stories for ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers.
Pumpkin Painting Party at Fairview Library
Thursday, Oct. 22, 4 p.m. · Fairview Branch Library. Kids and teens 18 and under pick a pumpkin and paint it however they like, with supplies provided. Registration is required.
Crafty Readers at Nolensville Library
Thursday, Oct. 22, 4:30 p.m. · Nolensville Branch Library. Kids ages 8 to 12 pick up a list of suggested books, then drop into a craft session. No registration needed.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Shadow Puppet Show
Friday, Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m. (repeats Saturday at 4:30) · Nashville Public Library, Main Library Children's Theatre. Free. A shadow-puppet version of the Sleepy Hollow tale from the library's own Wishing Chair Productions. The library does not recommend it for children under 8.
Pumpkinfest in Downtown Franklin
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. · Main Street, downtown Franklin. Franklin hands its main street over to a big family fall festival. Plan for crowds and park early.
Kidsville at the Parthenon
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m. · The Parthenon, Centennial Park. Kids' activity and craft stations upstairs at the Parthenon for ages 12 and under. Register in advance or in the lobby starting at 10:30.
Read with Porter, the Therapy Dog
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m. · Williamson County Public Library, Franklin. Kids ages 6 to 11 practice reading aloud to Porter, a trained therapy dog. Registration is required.
Boo for Books at Fairview Branch Library
Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. · Fairview Branch Library. Free. Come in costume and go home with a free book and a handful of candy.
Creepy-Crawly Family Hike at Bells Bend
Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. · Bells Bend Outdoor Center. A one-hour Metro Parks family hike themed around the bugs and critters out this time of year.
Laser Fright Light at Adventure Science Center
Saturday, Oct. 24, 4:15 p.m. · Adventure Science Center. A planetarium laser show with a Halloween twist for the whole family.
Fear Fest: Hocus Pocus (1993)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m. · The Franklin Theatre. $15. The Halloween classic about three Salem witches on the big screen.
Halloween Trunk or Treat at Hermitage Presbyterian Church
Saturday, Oct. 24, 5 to 7 p.m. · Hermitage Presbyterian Church, 421 Highland View Dr.. Church members decorate their trunks and hand out treats in the parking lot for families from the Hermitage community.
Trick-or-Treat 2026 at Belle Meade
Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 to 4 p.m. · Belle Meade Historic Site. Free. Candy stations, crafts, hayrides, games, a hay maze, therapy pets and photo spots on the historic grounds. Admission is free; face painting and some activities cost extra.
STEM Storytime at Adventure Science Center
Monday, Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m. · Adventure Science Center. A weekly Monday storytime that pairs a picture book with a hands-on science activity.
Homeschool Monday at the Frist Art Museum
Monday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. · Frist Art Museum. Free. Kids get priority access to the Martin ArtQuest studio plus short gallery tours at 10:30 and 11:30. It is open to any family, not just homeschoolers.
Toddler Storytime: Halloween Costume Swap
Monday, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m. · Nashville Public Library, East Branch. Stories and rhymes for ages 1 to 3, plus a costume swap: bring one your child has outgrown and leave with a new one.
Little Star Wars Fans Afternoon at College Grove Library
Monday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m. · College Grove Branch Library. A monthly Star Wars hangout for young fans with games, puzzles and Star Wars Lego building.
Fall Migration Bird Banding at Warner Parks
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to noon · Warner Park Nature Center. Drop in to watch licensed researchers band and release migrating birds up close.
Babies and Books at Franklin Library
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 9:30 a.m. · Williamson County Public Library, Franklin. A gentle morning session of stories and songs for newborns to 18 months and their caregivers.
Toddler Story Time at Nolensville Library
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m. · Nolensville Branch Library. Songs, stories and shakers for ages 18 months to 3 years and their caregivers.
Reading with Reggie at Fairview Library
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m. · Fairview Branch Library. Kids 12 and under read aloud to Reggie, a certified therapy dog. It runs every Tuesday.
Rock City Music Class at Franklin Library
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m. · Williamson County Public Library, Franklin. A hands-on music class for ages 4 to 10 that explores rhythm, movement and beginner instruments. Registration is required.
Goo, Ghosts and Good Times at Brentwood Library
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5 to 6:30 p.m. · John P. Holt Brentwood Library. Ghostly crafts, gooey experiments and Halloween surprises for ages 6 to 12, without the scares.
Family Story Time (Multi-Age 0-5)
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m. · Nashville Public Library, Looby Branch. A weekly family story time with interactive stories and songs. Siblings are welcome.
Trick-or-Treat Trail at The Factory at Franklin
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 3 to 6 p.m. · The Factory at Franklin. Free. Costumed kids collect candy across the campus, with a magic show, face painting, games and carousel rides.
Trunk or Treat at Victory Nissan of Nashville
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 4 to 6 p.m. · Victory Nissan of Nashville, 307 Thompson Ln.. A midweek trunk-or-treat with decorated vehicles, free candy and costumes encouraged.
Image: illustrative, AI-generated – not the actual location.
