15 of the best summer festivals in and around Nashville

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Since Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to summer, that means the season of summer festivals is upon us. Looking for a summer music festival? One with arts and crafts? Want to tie on your running shoes and participate in a 5 or 10k before partaking in the festivities? Then check out the following list. Most include a little bit of everything, some are more specialized than others, but there’s sure to be a summer festival that appeals to you.

JUNE

1. Riverbend Festival June 5-13, Chattanooga, TN: This is a huge music festival featuring all kinds of musicians. For instance, some of the performers set to appear this year range from the B-52s to Little Richard! Five stages, nine days, downtown Chattanooga along the river…sure to be an excellent summer festival! There’s also the Bluecross Riverbend Run & Walk (Saturday June 13) and a “Fireworks Finale.”
2. CMA Music Festival June 11-14, Nashville, TN: You don’t even have to leave town –just your house—for this one. It’s one of Nashville’s biggest events. Lots of out-of-towners come in for it, but plenty of Nashvillians head downtown for it also. Why not? If you’re a fan of country music you’ll be in heaven! Some of the artists slated for this year include Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, and LeAnn Rimes. (That’s only a very, very, very small sampling of the dozens upon dozens of performers scheduled.)
3. RC and Moon Pie Festival June 20, Bell Buckle, TN: This summer festival always kicks off with the annual RC-Moon Pie 10 Mile Run. However, for the non-runners, there are games, music (country and bluegrass, of course), food (Southern-style –what else?), and arts and crafts booths. At the end of the day they cut the World’s Largest Moon Pie and let everyone have a piece –for free! It’s a great festival to take the kids to.

JULY

1. Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree July 3-4, Smithville, TN: Held on the town square, in addition to fiddlers (and other musicians) providing toe-tapping melodies, there’s the Fiddlers 5k, arts and crafts and food.
2. Bluegrass & BBQ – Finger Pickin’ & Finger Lickin’ July 10-11 Crossville, TN: If you’re looking for competitions in both music and food, this is the summer festival for you! Bluegrass competitions and barbeque cook-offs…an unbeatable combination for good times!
3. Uncle Dave Macon Days July 10-12, Murfreesboro, TN: If you’re looking for a festival to entertain you with some drama, this one just might be it. It’s the backdrop for the National Championships for Ole Time Banjo, Buckdance, and Clogging. Plus there will be arts and crafts, food, dance demonstrations…an entertaining way to spend a weekend.
4. Kingsport Fun Fest July 10-18, Kingsport, TN: Concerts, vendors, hot air balloons and fireworks…lots of fun in a beautiful setting.
5. Bonnaroo June 11-14, Manchester, TN: For an open-air music venue in the spirit of the 1960’s famous Woodstock, Bonnaroo is a must-do for alternate music aficionados.
6. Watertown Jazz Festival  July 11, Watertown, TN: A festival for jazz fans. It’s growing every year –from 200 attendees 14 years ago to over 5,000 now.
7. Paducah Summer Fest July 23-25, Paducah, KY: Music, vendors, lawnmower races, hot air balloons, food, and fireworks…all situated along the junctions of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. Fun, fun, fun!
8. Swiss Heritage Celebration July 25, Gruetli-Laager, TN: Hayrides, cheese house tours, German tap beer, music, wine and cheese tastings…why travel to Switzerland when you can experience the culture here?

AUGUST

1. Beersheba Springs Arts & Crafts Fair August 22-23, Beersheba Springs, TN: Over 150 vendors and I hear even access to the hotel, which is not usually open to the public. (No website link was available for this event.)
2. Rockabilly Festival August 6-8, Jackson, TN: If Rockabilly gets your hips swinging, this summer fest is for you!
3. Williamson County Fair August 7-15, Franklin, TN: Rides, games, animals, exhibits, and fair food. Need I say more?
4. Wilson County Fair August August 21-29, Lebanon, TN: Ditto from the fair description above…except Wilson County puts its own spin on things.