10 Things to Do in Nashville in November

Many people wait until November for their travels for the sake of financial convenience or perhaps logistical organisation. If that's you, read on to find out about the best things to do in Nashville during the penultimate month of the year.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Nashville in November

Streets of Nashville | ©JimmyDominico

Nashville is the capital of the state of Tennessee and within the United States is known as the Music City due to the fact that some musical genres such as Country or Rock'n'Roll have a lot to do with the history of this community. At the same time, during the month of November there are several events that can be quite entertaining for you and your companions if you decide to visit this place at this time of the year.

With this in mind I invite you to follow the recommendations of plans and activities that I have compiled in this publication, as these are the best things to do in Nashville during the month of November.

1. Take the opportunity to enjoy Opry At The Ryman

Grand Ole Opry| ©Don Sniegowski
Grand Ole Opry| ©Don Sniegowski

For many years the Grand Ole Opry was held at the Ryman Auditorium, however, since the venue for this famous radio show changed it's not often that the venue is open to the public beyond a few guided tours.

However, during the month of November through the month of December this site comes back to life and it is customary to start organising a series of special concerts at the Ryman Auditorium with the intention of celebrating the joy that defines the last months of the year.

If you want to participate in some of these concerts you should know that it will be a Country music event. Also, keep in mind that this is an evening event, so Nashville's best food tours can be a great way to explore the culinary world of downtown Nashville just before the time of this entertaining musical event.

However, if you can't get tickets to any of the concerts at the Ryman Auditorium, you can still have a self-guided experience. This will definitely be one of the best things to do during the month because it will be a safe escape from the cold temperatures that are already starting to set in during mid-November.

Enjoy a self-guided Ryman Auditorium experience.

2. Have fun at Zoolumination

Zoolumination| ©deldevries
Zoolumination| ©deldevries

The Zoolumination is an annual event held from November through early January where Chinese artists create dozens of mythological creatures to form light sculptures around the Nashville Zoo.

Overall this is one of the largest Chinese lantern festivals in the country and is not to be missed when visiting Nashville during November. Especially knowing that this month is the most appropriate month to participate in this activity, as December is the busiest month for tourists.

Keep in mind that this zoo, even during the day, is one of the best things to do in Nashville and is an excellent choice for family entertainment. As well as for a group of adults looking for quiet, harmless activities to bring the party down a notch.

3. Attend a Nashville Symphony Orchestra concert

Ryman Auditorium| ©Reading Tom
Ryman Auditorium| ©Reading Tom

The fall season, and specifically the month of November, is a prime time for concerts in Nashville. At the same time the city's symphony orchestra is right in the middle of the end of the year season and so it is usual for there to be at least six or seven recitals throughout the month by this important musical institution.

The theme of the concerts is always changing, the only thing you need to know is that it is going to be a symphony performance and the most usual thing is that there are always at least two performances that focus on contemporary artists. It has become practically a tradition that there is at least one concert during this month dedicated to Frank Sinatra as well as to some other exponent of American music.

As these types of events usually take place after dark, you have to keep in mind that you will have the whole day available for other activities. That's why I can't recommend you enough to take part in some of the city's best sightseeing tours, especially those that focus on Downtown. This is due to the fact that the symphony is based just down the street from Broadway Street and is often a staple stop on the best Nashville sightseeing bus tours.

Book a combination tour in Nashville

4. Visit the Nashville International Auto Show

Nashville Auto Show| ©Stephen Yeargin
Nashville Auto Show| ©Stephen Yeargin

Auto shows are one of the most typical events in the United States and are one of the best opportunities for tourists to learn about the best innovations in the American auto industry. As Nashville is one of the most visited cities in the United States, it is logical to have this type of event and annually this one is organised in mid-November, being one of the most important in this region of the country.

In this event it is common to have the opportunity to test some of the most modern vehicles on the planet and it is an activity for the whole family that is almost always very entertaining even for the youngest in the house. In fact, it is among the best things to do in Nashville with children, as it is an experience that can be educational depending on how you experience it and is also completely harmless.

You should know that this is a three-day convention and clearly you won't spend all that time with it, as a ride of about two to three hours will be more than enough. So a helicopter ride over downtown Nashville could be an excellent entertainment alternative to accompany this event. At least if you're keen to explore other modes of transport that are modern and impressive for your whole group of companions.

5. Visit the Christmas Village to start your holiday shopping

Santa and child| ©frogdiva214
Santa and child| ©frogdiva214

In many parts of the world, Christmas shopping starts in November and Nashville specifically hosts a special market every year to help locals and tourists start organising their wish lists well in advance. This place is called Christmas Village and is held at the Nashville Fairgrounds in mid-November.

This is a great opportunity for children to have their pictures taken with Father Christmas and get into the Christmas magic in November. Please note that this is not a free event and tickets usually cost around 10 euros per person. However, tradition has it that children under the age of 10 get in for free and there is usually no additional fee if they want to have their picture taken with Father Christmas.

If at the end of the fair you feel you still haven't managed to buy the things you are interested in, you can still take part in a tour of downtown Nashville. Just take one of those golf cart r ides for a thoroughly entertaining and quirky shopping experience. Keep in mind that these are some of the best tours in Nashville and are a great way to make the downtown shopping experience more fun and memorable.

6. See the Veterans Day Parade

Nashville Parade| ©wintersonata11
Nashville Parade| ©wintersonata11

Veterans Day is a commemorative date that occurs during the 11th of November every year in the United States with the intention of honouring all those who have served in the armed forces of this country.

Since it is such an important date it is only fitting that Nashville has a parade that usually takes place during the weekend closest to the 11th of November. It is a free event that usually takes place between 11am and 2pm on the city's most famous street, Broadway Street.

Usually everyone attending the event is dressed in the colours of the US flag as well as other patriotic elements. Note that the parade includes some military personnel as well as bands and orchestras from the city's schools.

At the same time, since you will be in the city centre, it is an excellent idea to take advantage of buying one of the Nashville sightseeing passes. This is because you could use their discounts to get into some of the attractions in the area for a fraction of what you would normally pay without this advantageous service.

Nashville Fun Pass

7. Attend the CMA Awards

Bridgestone Arena| ©Jonathan Cutrer
Bridgestone Arena| ©Jonathan Cutrer

Every year the Bridgestone Arena hosts the biggest night for country music in the United States. It's the CMA Awards and it's basically the equivalent of the Grammy Awards for this unique genre of music that is so famous in the south and central United States.

If you're in town and can get tickets you can't miss it, as it's a high-profile event that is part of one of the best musical celebrations in all of North America. It's also an excellent opportunity to see one of the biggest sporting venues in the country, the Bridgestone Arena.

The exact date of the event changes every year, always in November, and it's up to you to make sure your visit to the city coincides with the weekend of the event. Either way you should know that if you are interested in learning more about the history of country music and its cultural importance to this city you can visit some of the best museums in Nashville.

This is mainly due to the fact that the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as the Musicians Hall of Fame are two places where this genre of music is properly addressed by the exhibits available.

8. Visit the Gaylord Opryland for an afternoon among pumpkins or Christmas trees

Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Resort| ©Dave Lanz
Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Resort| ©Dave Lanz

Undoubtedly one of Nashville' s top attractions, the Gaylord Opryland is a hotel and convention centre located approximately 14 km from the city centre. November is one of the best months of the year to visit this place because you can find it in two different ways depending on when you arrive.

If you do it during the first weeks of the month you will find a completely autumnal decoration. On the other hand, from the end of the third week of November onwards, you'll find a completely Christmassy atmosphere. This is an excellent opportunity for your children to have their pictures taken with Santa and enjoy the typical Christmas village decorations. All this in one of the most impressive hotel complexes in the city.

9. Take the opportunity to visit the Arrington Vineyard Winery on Thanksgiving.

Arrington Vineyard| ©Denise Mattox
Arrington Vineyard| ©Denise Mattox

Nashville's surroundings are a fitting glimpse of what the American countryside looks like. That's why a guided tour of the Arrington Vineyard winery is a great way to celebrate a visit during the month of November.

Thanksgiving is celebrated at the end of this month and as a tourist you are probably looking for an entertaining activity to join in this important American holiday.

So it is a good idea to book in advance if you are interested in visiting this famous winery owned by one of the stars of Country music. It's also a good idea to look into a transportation option that will take you to and from the winery, as it's not exactly close to downtown Nashville.

City tours of Nashville are also a great way to enjoy Thanksgiving if you're in town. Especially since most people won't be downtown and you'll have plenty of attractions fully available to you.

Transportation to and from Arrington Vineyard Winery

10. Say goodbye to the city by riding through the streets on a tractor

Event people and tractors| ©Michael Rivera
Event people and tractors| ©Michael Rivera

The country character of Tennessee is something you'll see on many corners of Nashville despite the fact that it is a modern, cosmopolitan city. For this reason, touring the city on a tractor can be a very entertaining activity and November seems to be the ideal time for this.

That's because it's not yet cold enough to be uncomfortable and the tourist crowds are low enough to make the experience unique and unforgettable.

Keep in mind that this is an adult-focused tour, as alcohol and country music with rock'n'roll are the hallmarks of the experience. In fact, it's one of the best things to do in Nashville at night because it allows you to take in the beauty of downtown while having fun on a tractor that's conditioned to dance your heart out.

Check out Nashville's biggest and wildest party tractor tour

Temperatures in Nashville in November

Nashville's Broadway Street| ©Victor Hamberlin
Nashville's Broadway Street| ©Victor Hamberlin

Average temperatures in Nashville in November are usually around 10 °C. This is due to the fact that the highs do not usually rise above 14° while the lows are usually around 5°.

The number of tourists in Nashville in November

Streets of Nashville| ©Kari Nousiainen
Streets of Nashville| ©Kari Nousiainen

November is not a busy month for tourists in Nashville with the exception of the Thanksgiving weekend and the CMA Awards.

Prices in Nashville in November

Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

November is an economical month to visit Nashville because it is not considered high season, touristically speaking. The only difference in this trend might be the week of Thanksgiving. However, Black Friday is an excellent opportunity for discount shopping.

What to pack to visit Nashville in November?

Luggage| ©Ezequiel Garrido
Luggage| ©Ezequiel Garrido

As November is significantly cold in Nashville despite it being autumn , I advise you to pack coats that are also waterproof. Rain is a frequent feature throughout the month.

It's also advisable to bring comfortable shoes and don't forget a couple of smart clothes in case you have a fancy dinner out on the town.