Things to do guide: How to make the most of a Nashville summer

Summer fun is back in Nashville after a year of concerts, festivals and events canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The hallmarks of a Nashville summer — the annual July 4th concert and fireworks, Musicians Corner at Centennial Park and more — should be on your calendar for 2021. 

But if you prefer something more low key, Nashville has plenty of hikes and attractions to enjoy without dealing with crowds. 

So put away Zoom and grab the sunscreen, we have a variety of summer attractions and things to do compiled here for you. Don't forget to check back, we'll be adding more throughout the summer. 

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Where to go: 

• Take a hike: May marked the 50th anniversary of the Tennessee Natural Areas Preservation Act,  which protects nearly 130,000 acres of forests, vistas, wetlands, grasslands, barrens and glades, along with some of the state's rarest species. 

Summer is the time to explore them: Here's a list of all of the natural areas statewide, along with all of the state parks in Tennessee.

• What will concerts be like? After city officials lifted capacity restrictions for indoor gatherings, venues in Music City are slowly returning to “normal” after the pandemic caused stages to go quiet and club floors to remain empty since March 2020. 

Businesses can continue to implement health precautions, and some are. Clubs, theaters and music halls in Nashville are gradually returning to full capacity. Here's what you can expect at many of Music City's venues. 

• Got to a Sounds game: Baseball is back at First Horizon Park along with some really big crowds. Minor league baseball was canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19 but has returned in a big way for Nashville Sounds fans. With sellout crowds, you might want to grab these tickets quick! 

• A grand celebration: Nashville's annual July 4 concert is set for a roaring return to Lower Broadway this year with headliner Brad Paisley.

The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. promised the biggest fireworks show in Nashville history —  Why organizers expect it to be the city's "first major post-pandemic event."

• Middle Tennessee's newest music venue: The latest spot for live music in Middle Tennessee opens this summer with a lineup featuring hitmakers in pop, country and modern rock music. See the concert schedule for the new FirstBank Amphitheater, an open-aired venue opening in southern Williamson County. 

• A guitar player's dream: For Nashville pickers, there's a new playground in town. "Gibson Garage," an 8,000 square feet shop that combines showroom, event space and six-string gallery inside Cummins Station, just opened. Take a peek inside.

• A stadium-sized Garth Brooks show: Brooks returns July 31 to Nissan Stadium for what stands to be the largest one-night Nashville concert in his career. The show is part of Brooks' ongoing in-the-round "Stadium Tour" which the singer kicked off in March 2019 before being sidelined due to the pandemic. What you need to know. 

• Did we mention concerts? After 15 months of shutdowns and socially distanced gatherings, honest-to-God concerts are coming back to Music City's arenas, theaters, clubs and outdoor stages. Check out our list of the biggest and best shows of the year.

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