April has arrived, which means it’s time to break out the picnic baskets and thoroughly enjoy the sun before it becomes too scorching. Nashville has many outdoor festivals and events to take advantage of the spring weather, but if you’re more of an indoor person, we’ve got an awesome lineup of concerts and performances for you to enjoy, too. Here’s your guide to Nashville in April!
🧺 Fridays by the River
Your Fridays are booked this month. Head to Shelby Park every week for a neighborhood picnic with live music, food trucks, beer, and yard games. This family-friendly event helps raise money for Shelby Park and Bottoms. We’re one of the sponsors this year, with our very own City Cast Nashville cup!
🌸 Cherry Blossom Festival
On April 12, celebrate spring at the Cherry Blossom Festival, a free annual event at Public Square Park downtown. There’ll be live music, sumo wrestling, a cosplay contest, kid activities, lectures on Japanese culture, and more.
🌳 Earth Day
Earth Day is April 22, and this year’s theme is Our Power, Our Planet. Here are some ways to celebrate Earth Day and nature this month.
- Our big free Earth Day Festival is on April 19 at Centennial Park. Nab a free tree, check out an electrical vehicle car show, learn about native gardening and composting, and enjoy plenty of children’s activities.
- Mill Ridge Park has an Earth Day Extravaganza on April 22 at 6 p.m., with a cookout, arts and crafts, lawn games, and a screening of “The Lorax.”
- Volunteer by cleaning up litter at Centennial Park, with East Nashville Beer Works and the Trash Kitties in East Nashville, or at Percy Priest Lake.
🪁 Kite Fest
April’s windy weather makes it perfect for kites! Mill Ridge Park’s Kite Fest is every Saturday, starting April 12 through May 3. Kids can make kites and learn how to fly them, and there will be food trucks and lawn games.
🎵 Concert & Event Roundup
- The Nashville Comedy Festival starts April 3 and runs through April 13! There’s a packed lineup of comedians, but we’re especially looking forward to laughing along with Vir Das at Zanies on April 3, Nikki Glaser at the Ryman on April 9, and Amber Autry at Zanies on April 13.
- Pete's Dueling Piano Bar has its grand opening on April 4.
- One of my all-time favorite Stephen Sondheim musicals comes to TPAC from April 4-13 — “Sunday in the Park With George.”
- I’m taking my daughter to see “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” at the Nashville Children’s Theatre, which opens April 5.
- Denzel Curry will be performing at The Pinnacle on April 12.
- I’m shocked there are still tickets available to see Jack White at The Pinnacle on April 19.
- Mary J. Blige is coming to Bridgestone on April 23.
- Japanese Breakfast is playing at the Ryman on April 28.
