Ready for sweater weather, Nashville? From pumpkin patches and corn mazes to fall festivals and Halloween fun, consider this the ultimate fall guide featuring 50+ events happening through early November.

Festivals and fairs

The Nashville Fair, Sept. 11-20
Back for its fifth year at The Fairgrounds Nashville, expect 10 days of midway rides, livestock shows, competitions, live entertainment, and plenty of fair food.

AMERICANAFEST, Sept. 15-19
Catch 190+ showcasing artists at venues across Nashville, then dig into the industry side with panels and workshops.

Cheekwood Harvest, Sept. 19-Nov. 1
Wander through three pumpkin houses and a scarecrow trail, and look for the new “Marigold River” flowing with 2,500+ red, orange, and yellow blooms.

Nashville Film Festival, Sept. 24-30
The 57th annual festival will screen 150+ films from 25+ countries, including 24 world premieres and documentaries featuring Peter Frampton and the Grand Ole Opry.

A view of Rachel Hayes' art installation at the 2023 Artville. | Photo via Good Neighbor Festivals

Artville, Sept. 25-27
The free festival’s hub at Walk of Fame Park will have immersive, large-scale public art installations alongside the American Artisan Festival and food vendors.

Touch of Brews, Sept. 26
Settle in on the lawn at Two Rivers Mansion for bands spanning jam rock, Americana, and Grateful Dead + Bob Dylan tributes, alongside craft beer and food trucks. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Kidsville Family Festival, Sept. 26
Plan ahead for a fun-filled day with live music, dancing, character meet-and-greets, and face painting.

Hispanic Heritage Festival, Sept. 26
Head to the Nashville Zoo for cultural performances, live entertainment, guided tours at the Historic Home, interactive booths, and a new Kids Play Zone.

International Black Film Festival, Sept. 30-Oct. 1
The festival will screen 40+ narrative features and shorts, documentaries, and documentary shorts from Black filmmakers.

Nashville Oktoberfest, Oct. 1-4
Come for the food — brats, sausages, schnitzel, strudel, funnel cakes, and more — and stay for the 5K Bier Run, Dachshund Derby, and stein holding competitions.

Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival, Oct. 3
A new parade will kick off the 30th annual festival, followed by live entertainment, food, shopping, and activities representing 50+ cultures.

Knoblin Fest, Oct. 3
Celebrate Donelson’s local lore with live music, art, a marketplace, costume contests, and even a Knoblin calling contest.

Fall Tennessee Craft Fair, Oct. 9-11
Shop fine crafts from jewelry, clay, and leather to wood, glass, and paintings from hundreds of Tennessee artists.

Fall Ball, Y'all, Oct. 10
The Nashville Farmers Market's autumn harvest party will have live music, cooking demos, vendor specials, and more fall fun.

Two people hold dry ciders up in front of a walkway arch with string lights dangling down from the top. — Celebrate 10 years of Light the Nations. | Photo by NASHtoday

Light the Nations, Oct. 17
Celebrate 10 years of the West Nashville street festival, taking over 51st Avenue for a day of food, shopping, live entertainment, and luminary decorating.

Southern Festival of Books, Oct. 17-18
More than 150 authors are headed to Nashville for two days of panels, book signings, live performances, and shopping.

PumpkinFest, Oct. 24-25
Browse 140+ arts and craft vendors along Main Street and the side streets amid fall-inspired treats, live entertainment, and costume contests.

El Dia de los Muertos, Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Honor Día de los Muertos with musical performances, local eats, memorial altars, and Day of the Dead murals created by local students.

Pumpkinfest is our kind of stroll down Main Street. | Photo by Daniel White Photography via the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County

Food and drink festivals

Wine on the River, Sept. 12
Enjoy wine, beer, and spirits from regions around the world with skyline views from Riverfront Park.

Sunset Safari, Sept. 18
Spend an adults-only evening at the Nashville Zoo with unlimited food samples, drinks, live music, and up-close animal encounters.

Margarita Festival, Sept. 19
Sample 12 mini margaritas and enjoy DJs, salsa dancing, and food trucks at oneC1TY.

Nashville Greek Festival, Sept. 25-27
Come hungry for spanakopita, Greek-style fries, and baklava, and make time for traditional dancing, shopping, and educational tours.

Nashville Whiskey Festival, Oct. 10
Sip your way through a newly reimagined, one-day festival offering curated tastings, VIP gatherings, cigar lounges, and barrel-aged spirit experiences.

Tennessee Beer, Wine & Shine Festival, Oct. 17
Tickets come with a commemorative glass and 3-ounce samples from local, regional, national, and import breweries.

Have you asked your pup what they want to be for Halloween this year? | Photo by Wendy O'Barr via Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Dog-friendly to-dos

Pups & Pints, Sept. 12
Bring your canine companions to the Green Hills Park Festival for a shopping spree at the Bark Market and pet-friendly arts and crafts.

Hot Diggity Dog Fest, Sept. 19
Join fellow pet lovers at this Capitol View street festival featuring pet-friendly vendors and a Top Dog contest.

BOOFEST, Oct. 24-25
Bring your pup to Baxter Bailey & Company for two days of Halloween fun, including “muttuccinos,” treat bags, and a themed photo booth.

Dog Day Festival, Oct. 17
Spend the day with your dog at Centennial Park for costume contests, agility demonstrations, live music, food trucks, and more benefiting Nashville Humane Association.

Halloween Pooch Party, Oct. 24-25
Dress up your pup for Cheekwood’s costume contests, including the new “Founding Paw-thers” category to celebrate America’s 250th.

People dressed in costumes walk down the street in between street vendors toward a small stage. — All Hallows East is set for 4 to 10 p.m. on Halloween night. | Photo provided by All Hallows East

Halloween happenings

Nashville Nightmare, Sept. 12-Nov. 13
Come face-to-face with Jason Voorhees in a new officially licensed walkthrough, one of several haunted attractions at Nashville Nightmare.

BOOze at the Zoo, Oct. 15
Collect treats along the Trick-or-Treat Trail, hear jokes from Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin, and sip on unlimited samples at this 21+ Nashville Zoo event.

Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 16-Nov. 1
Get ready for trick-or-treating, “Scary-Go-Round” carousel rides, nightly animal shows, and costumed characters.

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics, Oct. 25
A string quartet plays Halloween-inspired tunes from “Beetlejuice,” “The Addams Family,” and other classics.

HARDY Halloween, Oct.29-30
HARDY celebrates Halloween with two nights of shows at Nashville’s newest music venue, The Truth.

All Hallows East, Oct. 31
Spend the evening in East Nashville's Five Points neighborhood, where you'll find carnival games, costume contests, arts and crafts, and trick-or-treating.

A bin of pumpkins sits in front of the camera lens with a barn in the background. — These pumpkins look like the perfect fit for our carving contest. | Photo by @gentrysfarm

Orchards, pumpkin patches, and mazes

Nash Family Creamery, Aug. 28-Nov. 1 (Tuesday-Sunday) | Chapel Hill
The 18-acre corn maze is open for the season, with special after-dark flashlight maze nights held on Sept. 26 and Oct. 24. This year's maze features American flag elements celebrating the country's 250th year.

Lucky Ladd Farms, Sept. 16-Oct. 31 (Wednesday-Sunday) | Eagleville | Seasonal activities include a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and treats. GA tickets range from $12 to $32.

Nashville Fall Festival, Sept. 18-Nov. 1 (Friday-Sunday) | Bellevue | Make a day of it with a massive corn maze, sunflower field, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, hayrides, and live bluegrass, with hot air balloon rides on Saturdays. Individual tickets and season passes are available.

Walden Pumpkin Farm, Sept. 26-Oct. 31 (Sunday-Thursday) | Smyrna | A $12 activity wristband grants access to hayrides and corn mazes. General admission is free.

Shuckle’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, Sept. 26-Oct. 31 (Saturday and Sunday) | Greenbrier | Visit this farm ~30 minutes north of downtown to enjoy hayrides, an 8-acre corn maze, seasonal foods, laser tag, and more for $18+ per person. Season passes are $40.

Honeysuckle Hill Farm, Sept. 26-Nov. 1 | Springfield | Explore 45+ attractions included with admission ($22-$28), including a themed corn maze, carousel rides, barnyard paintball, and a zip line.

Gentry Farm, Sept. 26-Nov. 1 (Saturday-Monday) | Franklin | Have some fall fun with wagon rides, mini putt putt, and a tractor playground. Admission is $13 per person.

Editor's note: More pumpkin patches will be added as dates are confirmed.

A purple light marquee sign that says "615" at night with a movie screen and the Tennessee State Capitol in the background. — Plan to arrive in time to grab dinner from the food trucks. | Photo by NASHtoday

Movie nights and comic con

Movies at the Mansion: "Hocus Pocus", Oct. 2
Catch an outdoor movie on the grounds of Two Rivers Mansion and arrive early for food trucks, yard games, and popcorn.

Nashville Horror Film Festival | Oct. 3-4
The festival will showcase independent horror shorts and feature films from Nashville and beyond, with local vendors, a costume contest, and awards ceremonies also on the schedule.

Nashville Celebrity Comic Con, Oct. 9-11
Meet “Scream” actors Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, and Lee Waddell, among others, at The Fairgrounds Nashville.

NightLight615, Oct. 22-24
The 21+ outdoor movie series will screen "Obsession," "Hocus Pocus," and "Scream" as part of Halloween Film Fest.

"Frankenstein" with the Nashville Symphony | Oct. 27
Watch the original 1931 “Frankenstein” on the big screen with Michael Shapiro’s haunting score performed live.

Fear Fest | Select dates in October
Fear Fest has something for every Halloween movie fan, from family-friendly picks like “Hotel Transylvania” and “Coraline” to horror classics such as “The Shining” and “Psycho,” plus midnight screenings and special events.

Fall foliage

Fall Foliage Hike, Oct. 14
Learn basic tree ID skills before putting them to the test on a foliage-focused hike through Warner Parks.

Fall Foliage Train Ride, Oct. 17 + Oct. 24
Depart from the Tennessee Central Railway Museum for a fall foliage ride through Tennessee’s rolling hills, with a stop in Watertown for lunch.

Fall Lantern and Color Hikes, October and November
Take your pick at Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary: Explore the woods by lantern light while listening for nocturnal wildlife or follow the changing leaves on an expert-led fall color hike.