Family Events

A free beginner-friendly archery morning at Bells Bend Park, open to ages 5 and up. Bows and arrows are provided, so nobody needs to own gear to try it. You may bring your own equipment, but only with practice tips. Closed-toe shoes required. Registration is by phone or email to the park ahead of time. …

A family-friendly sound bath at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center from mother-and-daughter band Sparkleheart, paired with a kids' art pop-up from Karst Studio and movement with Dancing Bones. The grown-ups get crystal bowls and gongs, the kids get art and movement, so both halves of the family have something to do. All ages, no registration, free. …

The Saturday running of the free half-mile guided tour of Fort Negley Park, tracing the hill from early Nashville landmark to Union fortress to UNESCO site of memory. Good for families with school-age kids, and it is over in ninety minutes. RSVP through the park. The park is under Master Plan Phase 1 construction: the …

Drop in at the Warner Park Nature Center and work through a nature mystery with a naturalist: wildlife, plant life, and whatever else the day turns up. All ages, no registration, free, and you can come and go inside the two-hour window, which is exactly right for a toddler's attention span. Adults and families both …

Second-Saturday fossil hunting at Fort Negley Park, led by a volunteer geologist. Kids work through hands-on activities and a guided exploration of the fossil collection area beside the visitors center, learning about the 400-million-year-old marine fossils under Nashville, and they take some home. Sessions start every half hour at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, and 11:30 a.m. …

Drop into the Nature Tent at the Highland Trailhead in Beaman Park and spend as long as you like learning about bats. All ages welcome, free, no registration, come and go. A drop-in tent is a forgiving format with small kids: if it goes sideways at minute ten, you have lost nothing.

Free live music at the Nashville Farmers' Market on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Steve Reeths playing. The market format does a lot of the parenting for you: the music is free and open-air, the food hall is steps away, and nobody minds a kid wandering off …