Free and Affordable Ideas in Nashville

1. The Tennessee State Museum

The Tennessee State Museum is the official museum of the state of Tennessee, open to the public for free Tuesdays through Sundays during the morning and afternoon hours. The museum, which traces its origins to an 1817 public square display by artist Ralph E.W. Earl, opened in its current 137,000-square-foot location in 2018 near Capitol Hill and the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Exhibits detail the state's history, including its participation in the American Civil War, its industrial and economic output, and its arts and culture. Six rotating galleries host temporary special exhibits, and a hands-on children's gallery allows young visitors to learn and explore using creative play.

1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, Phone: 615-741-2692

2. The Dyer Observatory

The Dyer Observatory is the official astronomical observatory of Vanderbilt University, originally constructed in 1953 at a location in Nashville suburb Brentwood. The observatory is named for university donor Arthur J. Dyer and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Tours of the observatory are offered on Open House days, which are held monthly. Visitors can also use the observatory's 24-inch reflecting telescope and explore its outdoor Star Chamber and sundial garden during Open House events. Visitors should note that all Open House events require advance registration and are held rain or shine. Though visitors of all ages are permitted to attend, events are recommended for participants ages eight and older.

1000 Oman Drive, Brentwood TN 37027, Phone: 615-373-4897

3. Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is a 19-acre urban park that was originally opened in 1996 to commemorate the state's bicentennial anniversary celebration. The park, which is located near the Tennessee State Capitol Building in Nashville's downtown district, showcases design elements that pay tribute to the state's history and culture, including a 1,400-foot Pathway of History with inscriptions detailing the state's chronology, and a Walkway of Counties, featuring planters of different native flora species around the state. Other attractions include a World War II memorial, a 200-foot map of the state etched in granite, and a 95-bell carillon, with one bell representing each of the state's counties and its musical legacy.

600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243, Phone: 615-741-5280

4. Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center

Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center is a free-access nature center located within the 1,368-acre Radnor Lake State Park, which offers more than six miles of visitor hiking trails and a multitude of wildlife watching opportunities. The Center, which originally opened in 2015, is home to great horned owls, bald eagles, and other birds of prey along its 550-foot boardwalk and aviary complex. It is open to the public Wednesdays and Saturdays, which hours varying seasonally. Future additions at the Center include a netted eagle aviary, which is currently in the process of fundraising development. While at the park, visitors can also engage in ranger-led programming, including night hikes, canoe floats, and wildflower parks.

Hall Dr, Nashville, TN 37027, Phone: 615-373-3467

5. The Nashville Symphony's Outdoor Concert Series

The Nashville Symphony's Outdoor Concert Series is held at six locations throughout the greater Nashville area each year, offering free family-friendly concerts for visitors to enjoy under the stars. Concerts are offered each year throughout June and July, with attendees invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic dinners. The renowned orchestra, which is noted as a recipient of several GRAMMY® Awards, performs a selection of classical and modern music, including an annual popular culture score or theme chosen each year by public voters to close out each concert performance. Concert locations include the city's Centennial Park, Two Rivers Mansion, Historic Rock Castle, and outdoor spaces at Cumberland University.

6. Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield is a 570-acre battlefield area overseen by the National Park Service as a public park and historic site. The National Register of Historic Places-listed park is located approximately 28 miles south of Nashville, near the city of Murfreesboro, and memorializes the site of the American Civil War's Battle of Stones River in 1862-1863. Approximately one-fifth of the original battlefield site is preserved as part of the park, along with an intact section of Fortress Rosecrans, the Civil War's largest enclosed earthwork. The 20-acre Stones River National Cemetery is also preserved, which contains nearly 7,000 Civil War interments and the Hazen's Brigade Monument, the oldest surviving Civil War-era monument in the nation that has not been relocated.

3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, Phone: 615-893-9501

7. Nashville Flea Market

Nashville Flea Market is one of the United States' top flea markets, housing a monthly average of 2,000 vendor booths showcasing the goods of over 1,000 dealers from 30 states throughout the country. The flea market was originally founded in 1969 and has been named as Tennessee's best flea market attraction today. More than half a million visitors attend the market each year, which is one of more than 1,100 flea markets located across the United States today. Visitors can explore the market and peruse vendors selling a wide range of goods, from antiques and furniture to boutique clothing, kitchen items, jewelry, and health and beauty items.

500 Wedgewood Ave, Nashville, TN 37203, Phone: 615-862-5016

8. The Nashville Public Library

The Nashville Public Library is the official public library system of Nashville and Davidson County, offering a main library building in the city's downtown and 20 branches throughout the surrounding metropolitan region. The library has been the recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service and has been named as the Library of the Year in 2017 by the Gale/Library Journal. The system's main library, which was opened in 2001 and constructed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, offers a wide variety of public programming and resources throughout the year, including special collections related to Nashville's civic and cultural history and the Civil Rights Movement in Tennessee. Visitors to the library can watch puppet shows at its children's library, attend book club meetings, take computer classes, and utilize the library's Limitless Libraries system, which offers access to more than 1.5 million volumes for student use.

615 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219, Phone: 615-862-5800

9. Free Day of Music

Free Day of Music is an annual celebration in Nashville that brings classic and popular music performers to the city's Schermerhorn Symphony Center for a day of music, dancing, and family-friendly activities. The festival, which takes place every October, includes a concert performances from the GRAMMY® Award-winning Nashville Symphony, followed by a public question-and-answer session with the orchestra and its conductor. Free music continues throughout the day on four stages, including performances by rock, jazz, country, and world music artists. Families can enjoy Day of the Dead-themed activities, including face painting and a costume contest, along with an Instrument Petting Zoo that lets amateur music lovers try their hand at a variety of instruments. Food trucks are hosted on site throughout the event, and an outdoor beer garden is available for guests ages 21 and older.