Pumpkins, Baklava, Bebop and a Parade: The Seven Best Fall Festivals in Nashville This Year
Nashville's festival calendar does not slow down when the tourists thin out after Labor Day. If anything, it gets better. The heat lets go, the patios fill back up, and for about six weeks the city throws a party for itself nearly every weekend. These are the seven we would plan around this fall, in date order, all inside Davidson County.
1. Cheekwood Harvest — now through Nov. 1
The longest-running of the bunch and the easiest to fit into any week. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens has spread more than 100,000 pumpkins across its grounds, with a Pumpkin Village of three pumpkin houses on the Arboretum Lawn and, new this year, a Marigold River of more than 2,500 red, orange and yellow blooms. On Thursday evenings from Sept. 24 through Oct. 29, Harvest Nights keeps the gardens open from 5 to 9 p.m. with illuminated walks, live music, garden games, food trucks and seasonal cocktails. More in our guide to Cheekwood Harvest and Boo at the Zoo. Event details »
2. Nashville Film Festival — Sept. 24–30
The 57th edition brings more than 150 films across 14 competitive categories, plus filmmaker Q&As, craft panels and plenty of chances to end up in a lobby conversation with someone whose movie you just watched. It is one of the oldest film festivals in the country, and one of the friendliest.
3. Nashville Greek Festival — Sept. 26–28
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4905 Franklin Pike, opens its doors for the 37th year with home-cooked Greek food, pastries, live music and dancing, church tours and vendors. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 and good all weekend; children 12 and under and first responders with ID get in free. Go hungry and leave room for baklava.
4. Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival — Saturday, Oct. 3
The big one, and it is free. Centennial Park hosts the festival's 30th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., bringing together more than 50 of the cultural communities that call Middle Tennessee home — dance and music on multiple stages, food from around the world, a World Bazaar marketplace, kids' activities and a teen zone. To mark the milestone, a parade steps off through the park at 9 a.m. Our preview: Celebrate Nashville 2026.
5. Sazón Latin Food Festival — Sunday, Oct. 18
From noon to 5 p.m. at Bearded Iris Brewing, a family-friendly afternoon of Latin music and food vendors representing the Caribbean, Central America and South America, with vegetarian and vegan options. Space is limited, so arrive early. Event details »
6 & 7. Nashville Jazz Festival — Oct. 24 and 25
Last year's first edition sold out, and the second, presented by the Nashville Jazz Workshop, takes over 3rd & Lindsley for two nights. Saturday features Giovanni Rodriguez and 12 Manos, the Sofia Goodman Septet, The Day Drinkers, Dara Starr Tucker, and a “Super Nova” set with saxophonists Bill Evans and Jeff Coffin and drummer Keith Carlock. Sunday brings David Williford, Chester Thompson, Rod McGaha and Kirk Whalum. Count it as two festivals; each night stands on its own.
🎟 Get tickets to Nashville Jazz Festival — Saturday »
🎟 Get tickets to Nashville Jazz Festival — Sunday »
Plan ahead
Dates, hours and prices above come from each organizer's current listing; confirm on the linked pages before you go. Coming in from out of town for one of these weekends? Book your stay »
