Music City Brief

Weekend of Oct. 23-25

Things to do near Nashville this weekend: Oct. 23-25, 2026

The best pick this weekend is PumpkinFest on Main Street in Franklin, Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you want a free morning with kids, start at Harvest Days in Murfreesboro. Cheekwood adds food trucks and live music both afternoons. We picked 12 things to do near Nashville from Friday, Oct. 23, to Sunday, Oct. 25. They run from downtown to Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Gallatin, and Kingston Springs. Each one lists the time, the place, and the cost the organizer posted.

Updated Oct. 21, 2026. Every time, place, and cost below was checked that day on the organizer's or venue's own page. Confirm before you go.

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This weekend's best 5

  1. 41st Annual PumpkinFest (Franklin). Main Street in Franklin, Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Food, music, KidZone, and costume contests.
  2. Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Village (Murfreesboro). Free for all ages Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Crafts, music, blacksmithing, and a car show.
  3. Harvest Weekends at Cheekwood (Nashville). Food trucks, seasonal brews, and live music, noon-3 p.m. both days. Timed ticket required; adults $23 for gardens only.
  4. Trick-or-Treat at Belle Meade (Nashville). Free costumes and a candy trail Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Face painting is $5; pumpkin carving is $15.
  5. Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns (Nashville). Home game Sunday at noon at Nissan Stadium. Browns vs. Titans. Ticketed.

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One Nashville-area Saturday plan, with the times, costs, and links checked.

More for this weekend: this Saturday's plan, live music this week, pop-ups and markets, and parks and walking trails.

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Showing all 12 current picks.

24

Saturday

The main event

Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh VillageCannonsburgh Village · MurfreesboroFree · 50th annual · outside Haunted Museum Storytelling Festival 2026Tennessee State Museum, Bill Haslam Center · NashvilleFree · costumes welcome · inside Halloween in the ParkSharp Springs Park · SmyrnaFree · candy booths, inflatables, costume contests · outside Full Moon at Mound BottomHarpeth River State Park, HWY 70 Canoe Access Parking Lot · Kingston Springs$20 · register first · 1.5 miles · canceled if it rains
25

Sunday

Pick one lane

Woodburning CraftsBledsoe Creek State Park, Visitor Center Conference Room · Gallatin$5 · register first · inside · supplied tools get hot Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland BrownsNissan Stadium · NashvilleConfirm cost · Ticketed · book first · home game Trick-or-Treat at Belle MeadeBelle Meade Historic Site & Winery · NashvilleFree; face painting $5, pumpkin carving $15 · advance registration encouraged · rain or shine · outside Nashville Predators vs. Colorado AvalancheBridgestone Arena · NashvilleConfirm cost · Ticketed · book first · inside · home game

By town:

Youth and rec sports

Live music: this week's shows

Running more than one day

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Oct. 24-25 · Nashville

Harvest Weekends at Cheekwood

Sat noon-3 p.m. · Sun noon-3 p.m. · $23 adult, $16 youth 3-17, gardens only; plus $2 ticket fee and $5 parking · timed ticket required · outsideCheck Cheekwood

Oct. 23-24 · Nashville

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Fri 8 p.m. · Sat 8 p.m. · Confirm cost · Ticketed · Amy LaVere opens Friday; Tony Thomas Three opens Saturday · insideCheck Ryman Auditorium

Before you go

Quick answers for this weekend.

What is free near Nashville this weekend?

Harvest Days in Murfreesboro, the Haunted Museum Storytelling Festival downtown, Halloween in the Park in Smyrna, and Trick-or-Treat at Belle Meade are free. Belle Meade charges extra for face painting and pumpkin carving.

What can I do with kids this weekend?

Try Harvest Days on Saturday morning, the Haunted Museum until 2:30 p.m., or Halloween in the Park in Smyrna from 3 p.m. PumpkinFest and Cheekwood both work with kids. Belle Meade is the free Sunday costume stop.

What happens if it rains?

The Harpeth River full-moon hike is canceled if it rains. Belle Meade and PumpkinFest say rain or shine. The Haunted Museum, Jason Isbell, the Red Clay Strays, and the Predators are indoors. Harvest Days, Halloween in the Park, and Cheekwood are outdoors.

How did NTO check these picks?

We read each organizer's or venue's own page on Oct. 21, 2026. We list a price only when that page shows one. Otherwise it says "Confirm cost."

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