10 Things to Do in Nashville in February

Nashville is the city of music and the birthplace of important American music genres such as country, so it is also famous for its festivals, concerts by international artists and a wide variety of fairs that take place throughout the year.

Some of the best things to do in Nashville in February include visiting the Frist Art Museum during the opening of the season, seeing the Johnny Cash Museum during his birthday celebration, enjoying food festivals, experiencing fashion week, attending the Winter Shakespeare Theatre Festival and celebrating Chinese New Year.

Johnny Cash is not only considered the King of Country Music and the most influential country singer in history, but also one of the most iconic celebrities in Nashville, the city where he was born and where the Singer's Museum celebrates his birthday every February 26th with music concerts and events for visitors.

This museum contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash memorabilia in the world, has a gift shop and is located in the heart of downtown, making it one of the best museums in Nashville and a must-see if you're a music fan in general.

Tickets to the Johnny Cash Museum also include admission to the Country Hall of Fame, where the singer is also honoured on his birthday, and the RCA studios, giving you a complete tour of the history of the genre in Nashville.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the museum costs approximately 24 euros for adults and 19 euros for children.
• When... Johnny Cash's birthday events are held every February 26th.
• Where... 119 3rd Ave, Nashville.

Farmer's Market, located near downtown and Bicentennial Mall State Park, one of the city's most famous urban parks, is one of Nashville's largest and best-known flea markets. In February, in addition to its craft and antique stalls, there's a food festival at the restaurants, bars and cafés inside.

Visiting the Farmer's Market is one of the best options if you're planning to visit Nashville in winter as you can attend the food festival that features local food and food trucks and also take shelter from the cold, which can reach very low temperatures in the city.

During February, the Farmer's Market is one of Nashville's top food tour destinations and is also a great way to tour Nashville's downtown area and the Cumberland River.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the flea market is free.
• When... The Farmer's Market Food Festival is held every year in February.
• Where... 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville.

Valentine's Day is celebrated around the world every February 14th and if you're planning to visit Nashville on this date as a couple you can enjoy some of the city's Valentine's Day activities, such as Valentine's Day dances, romantic operas and Party Fowl celebrations.

Nashville is a city with a penchant for festivals and festivities, and Valentine's Day is no exception, so you can also enjoy Valentine's Day events in downtown restaurants and bars.

Other places where you can celebrate Valentine's Day as a couple include Yolan Restaurant, Bourbon Steak and the Sambuca pub , which is also a nightclub with a cocktail terrace.

If you're planning to visit Nashville in February, not only will you be able to attend the concerts and music festivals or the Country Hall of Fame, which are available all year round, but you'll also be able to discover the city's artistic profile, which manifests itself each year with the opening of the seasonal exhibition at the Frist Art Museum.

The Frist is Nashville's premier art museum and as a non-collecting entity it changes its exhibits each year in concert with other fine art museums around the world, so in February, the opening month, you can attend the seasonal opening and celebratory events, which include artist appearances, cocktail parties, painting workshops and children's activities too.

Artworks by Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, René Magritte and many other prominent artists have passed through the Frist Art Museum, making it one of Nashville's best museums since its opening and one of the best things to do in winter.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the museum is approximately 15 euros for adults and children under 18 are free.
• When... The seasonal opening is held every year in February.
• Where... 919 Broadway, Nashville.

Radnor Lake Park, just outside Nashville, is one of the city's largest and most prominent natural areas and one of Tennessee's state parks. If you plan to visit Nashville in February , you can hike the trails in the forest surrounding Radnor Lake, which in the winter are covered in snow, creating one of the city's most beautiful natural landscapes.

This nature reserve is also a great place to spot wildlife, including otters, beavers, mink, coyotes and deer, making it an ideal choice if you're planning to tour Nashville with children. Radnor Lake Park is open to the public Thursday through Monday, so you can include it as a weekend plan as well.

An alternative way to explore this nature reserve is to drive along Otter Creek Road, a road that runs through the middle of the park and through much of the forest's flora.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the nature reserve is free.
• When... February is Nashville's only snow month, the ideal time to discover the snow-covered forest.
• Where... 1160 Otter Creek Road, Nashville.

Fashion Week is one of the city's most famous events and you can enjoy it if you plan to tour Nashville in April but if you travel in February you can attend the Fashion Week Kick-Off Party, which is an event where the main festival schedule and attendees are announced.

At the Fashion Week Kick-Off Party there are also preview shows, brands set up booths to promote their garments, and there are usually musical and other shows at an event hosted by a famous or well-known American fashion personality.

If you want to attend the Fashion Week Kick-Off Party I advise you to book your tickets in advance, as it is one of the most visited preview events in Nashville and also one of the busiest.

Details of interest

• Price... Tickets start at approximately 30 euros per person.
• When... During the first weekend in February each year.
• Where... At the main Fashion Week venue, which changes every year.

Sport is one of Nashville's strong points and while its star team is the NHL's Predators, it also has the Tennessee Titans in the NFL, so the central event that defines the champion of the football season is a spectacle in itself in the city.

The Super Bowl is held every year on the second Sunday in February and pits the National Conference champion against the American Conference champion to crown the best team of the season. If you're planning to visit Nashville in February, you can experience this event from one of the city's bars to get in the city's sporting spirit.

You can also watch the game from the giant screens that are usually set up at Nissan Stadium, the home stadium of the Titans in Nashville, although seating is limited and you'll need to book in advance to gain access.

Nashville has a small but noisy Chinatown and every year in February it celebrates Chinese New Year in Hillsboro, where traditional dance events, musical performances and food stalls are held.

During the Chinese New Year celebrations you can also take guided tours of Hillsboro and other neighbourhoods in the city on foot or by bicycle and get the chance to learn more about Chinese culture. You can also make the most of your visit to the Chinatown area by taking part in some of Nashville's best ghost tours

The celebration usually lasts from midnight on the day of the celebration until the early hours of the morning and admission is free.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the festivities is free.
• When... Every year in February during the Chinese calendar date that coincides with the New Year.
• Where... Hillsboro, Nashville.

Each year in February Belmont University hosts the Winter Shakespeare Festival, in which university students perform a play by William Shakespeare that varies each year and offers several performances throughout the month. The festival is open to all who wish to attend and takes place in the Troutt Theatre on the University campus.

The Shakespeare Festival is a city tradition and also has a summer edition, which you can attend if you plan to visit Nashville in August, although winter tends to be busier as winter helps with indoor cultural alternatives.

The festival also includes musical performances, art shows sponsored by the Belmont University School of the Arts and a private show for parents of students.

Details of interest

• Price... The entrance fee is approximately 17 euros.
• When... Every year in February.
• Where... Troutt Theatre, Belmont University, Nashville.

Nashville is also noted for its architecture and landscaped gardens and if you plan to visit the city in February you can attend the Antiques and Garden Show, which consists of a hundred exhibits from experts in home, garden and home décor antiques.

The Antique and Garden Show is held each year at the Nashville Hall of Fame Annex Stadium on a weekend in February and each year has a different theme that includes all of the exhibits.

The event also includes an art show, lectures by decorating experts and other local celebrities, and special events such as parties, dinners and music shows in the gardens.

Details of interest

• Price... The entrance fee is approximately 30 euros.
• When... Every year on a weekend in February.
• Where... Music City Center, Nashville.

Temperatures in Nashville in February register lows below 0° and highs of 10°, with average temperatures of 5°, frequent snowfalls and heavy rainfall, making it, along with January, one of the coldest months of the year in the city.

During winter in Nashville, the days are short and it gets dark very early in the day, although the sun also rises early in the morning, so if you want to get the most out of your visit, it is advisable to start your sightseeing early in the morning.

Winter is the city's off-season, so the number of tourists is much lower than if you plan to visit Nashville in June or during the summer months, which is ideal if you want to get to know the city without the crowds.

It is also a good opportunity to visit Nashville at affordable prices, especially for accommodation and some tours or visits to downtown museums.

February is one of the city's low season months due to the cooler temperatures, so it's a great time to visit Nashville if you're on a budget or want to save money, especially on accommodation, which is cheaper than in summer, or on some tours.

You can also save money by booking online in advance to take advantage of online discounts.

During the winter the temperature in Nashville drops below freezing and there are days of heavy rain and snowfall, so pack the following items in your suitcase:

• Winter coats
• Waterproof and comfortable boots
• Thermal socks
• Waterproof and tactile gloves
• Woollen hat
• Woollen scarf
• Woollen jumpers
• Fleece trousers
• Thermal fleece