29 free fall festivals in Nashville and Middle Tennessee

A wonderful way to get to know Middle Tennessee is through its festivals.

Many of them are free, and you can get a taste of everything from Shakespeare to books to goats and pumpkins.

Here are some of the best free fall 2019 festivals to put on your calendars.

1. Summer Shakespeare 

The Nashville Shakespeare Festival has relocated its annual Summer Shakespeare series to the Yard at oneC1TY, a new mixed-use development less than a half mile from the festival's former home in Centennial Park. There will be performances of "The Tempest" and "Pericles" Thursday-Sunday through Sept. 22. There is also a weekend of "The Tempest" at Academy Park in Franklin Sept. 26-29.

The events include food trucks, a pre-show lecture and family-oriented entertainment at 6 p.m., with the Shakespeare performance at 7 p.m. It's all free, with a $10 suggested donation. Reserved “Noble Seats” are available for $30 and full "Royal Packages" with VIP treatment for $75. OneC1TY is at 8 City Blvd., off the 28th/31st Avenue Connector and Charlotte Pike. 

Details: nashvilleshakes.org/shakespeare-in-the-park 

2. Green Hills Park Festival

The Green Hills Park Festival is 5 p.m. until sunset Sept. 14  at 1200 Lone Oak Road. This fourth annual event will include food trucks, outdoor activities for kids, a trailer showing football games, a beer garden and a 7 p.m. showing of "Mary Poppins Returns."

Details: friendsofgreenhillspark.org/festival.html 

3. Rolley Hole marbles

Standing Stone State Park will host the 37th annual National Rolley Hole Marbles Championships and Festival on Sept. 14. Known as the "Super Bowl of marbles," this year’s event will include: world class marble competitions, marble making exhibits and demonstrations, marble vendors and a swap meet, kids games, food and music. Standing Stone is in Hilham, Tennessee, about two hours northeast of Nashville.

Details: tnstateparks.com

4. Nature Fest at Bowie

The 35th annual festival will be held Sept. 14 at the beautiful 700-acre Bowie Nature Park in Fairview. The fest includes a chance to observe a live beehive through glass, learn how to be a beekeeper in your own backyard and harvest your own honey, and learn about pollinator-friendly plants. Plus, there will be music, living history, free kids games and crafts, hayrides, inflatables, shopping and food. 

Details: bowiepark.org

5. Hispanic Heritage festival

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in Murfreesboro has a free Hispanic Heritage Day from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 15, where you can explore the rich history and traditions of Hispanic culture across the globe through food, art and music. Discovery Center is at 502 SE Broad St., Murfreesboro.

Details: explorethedc.org or 615-890-2300

6. Kidsville Family Festival

The second annual Kidsville Family Festival is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Sept. 21 in Centennial Park. There will be a storybook parade, inflatables, music, princesses, face painting, dancing, food trucks, a Nashville Predators Fitness Zone, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and more.

Details: kidsvilleonline.org or  615-862-8431

7. Greenway Art Festival

Cultural Arts Murfreesboro's annual Greenway Art Festival is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 21. The theme is "cross pollination," and you can walk along the trail at Old Fort Park and see original art from many artists.

Details: 615-962-7725

8. African Street Festival

African American Cultural Alliance's 37th annual African Street Festival takes place Sept. 20-22 in Hadley Park, with music (gospel, reggae, jazz, blues, African drumming and R&B), street dance, ethnic cuisine and children's activities.

Details: aacanashville.org or 615-251-0007

9. Blair Academy music fest

Vanderbilt University's Blair Academy program for children, teens and adults is having its annual Festival of Music from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 22 with an afternoon of musical fun, including performances, activities, crafts, stories and backstage tours.

Details: blair.vanderbilt.edu

10. Celebrate Nashville Cultural Fest

The Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival in Centennial Park offers traditional music, languages, food, colorful clothing, decorations and traditions of the cultures that are right here in Nashville from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 5. In a city where one out of six residents is foreign born, this festival will showcase more than 60 music and dance performances and include a parade, marketplace with handcrafted and imported items, more than 50 food vendors, an interactive children's area, a teen area and the Global Village. Plus, admission to the Parthenon is free that day. 

Details: celebratenashville.org or 615-862-8400 

11. Gallatin Main Street Festival 

The annual Gallatin Main Street Festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 5 with music, a children's area, craftsmen and more than 200 vendors on the downtown Gallatin square. 

Details: downtowngallatin.com/main-street-festival or 615-452-5692

12. Granville fall festival

The historic Granville community near the Jackson-Smith County line has its annual Fall Celebration on Oct. 5, with music, crafts, hundreds of themed scarecrows and events including quilt exhibits, a motorcycle show and a 1960s Mayberry theme.

Details: granvilletn.com or 931-653-4151

13. Fall Fest at The Hermitage

Fall Fest is a free weekend of art, music and history featuring more than 50 local artisans from across the Southeast on the grounds of The Hermitage. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 5, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 6. Proceeds benefit the Andrew Jackson Foundation.

Details: fallfestatthehermitage.com

14. Nashville Farmers' Market festivals 

The Nashville Farmers' Market, 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., has some seasonally themed festivals, including Pumpkinfest on Oct. 5 and a Turnip Green Festival on Nov. 2. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ​​​​

Details: nashvillefarmersmarket.org 

15. Vet Fest

Vetlinx is hosting Vet Fest on Oct. 5 at Granny White Park, 610 Granny White Pike in Brentwood. It is a day of music, games, kids zone, a fun run/walk, food trucks and vendors, honoring our veterans and their families. It is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the Heroes Stroll fun run/walk at 9:30 a.m.

Details: vetlinx.org/vetfest   

16. Nashville Oktoberfest

The 40th annual Nashville Oktoberfest, one of the largest such festivals in the South, is expanding this year to not only include historic Germantown but also Bicentennial State Capitol Mall State Park.

The Oct. 10-13 festival anticipates more than 300,000 attendees for its performances and musical entertainment, parades, beer gardens, food trucks and artisan vendors. 

Admission is free, but you can upgrade to a VIP pass.

Details: thenashvilleoktoberfest.com

17. Tennessee STEAM Festival

Science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) will come to life at multiple free events across the state during the third annual Tennessee STEAM Festival, Oct. 11-20. The festival was founded by the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring and incorporates free events at museums, schools, community centers and other attractions across the state.

Details: tnsteam.org

18. Tennessee Craft Fair

The Tennessee Craft Fair brings 200 artisans to Centennial Park twice a year with art for sale, artist demonstrations and other family fun. The fall dates are Oct. 11-13. 

Details: tennesseecraft.org or 615-736-7600

19. Farm Day festival 

Bells Bend Outdoor Center's Farm Day is 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12, with hayrides, farm games and a chance to see farming equipment, meet some barnyard animals and enjoy old-time music, including a fiddle and banjo competition. The nature center is at 4187 W. Old Hickory Blvd.

Details: 615-862-4187

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20. Lewisburg Goat Festival 

The 17th annual Goats, Music and More Festival is Oct. 11-12 in Rock Creek Park in Lewisburg, with fainting goat shows, arts and crafts and a free concert featuring T. Graham Brown, Shelby Lee Lowe, Ronnie McDowell and Wade Hayes.

Details: goatsmusicandmore.com

21. Southern Festival of Books

The 31st Annual Southern Festival of Books, set for Oct. 11-13 in and around the Nashville Public Library and Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville, features as many as 200 authors gathered for author talks, readings, panels and book signings. Featured authors include: Ann Patchett, Ottessa Moshfegh, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Samantha Power, Casey Cep, Karen Abbott, Karen Thompson Walker, Anne Byrn and Paul Theroux. Plus, there are children's story times, a live music and new and used book sales.

Details: humanitiestennessee.org

22. Haunted Museum Storytelling Fest

The Tennessee State Museum's annual Haunted Museum Storytelling Festival is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26. There will be chilling ghost stories from Tennessee’s past, as well as snacks, games, art activities, costume parades and performances by the Nashville Public Library's Puppet Truck. Attendees are invited to wear costumes.

 Details: tnmuseum.org

23. Tennessee history event

The "Tennessee History Timeline: de Soto to Desert Storm" will be at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18-19. The event focuses on the stories of the people of Tennessee from the days of Hernando de Soto to the Gulf War and includes living history events, weapon firing demonstrations, children's activities and historical talks.

Details: tnstateparks.com or 615-741-5280 

24. Fall Fiesta

The 13th annual Fall Fiesta at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 19, celebrating Latino culture, food, music and fun. 

Details: volstate.edu

25. Lebanon Oktoberfest

Wilson Bank & Trust has a free Oktoberfest Oct. 19-20 at the bank's main office, 623 W. Main St. in Lebanon, with music, children's games, craft booths, a youth talent show, an antique car show and contests.

Hours are 9:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20.  

Details: wilsonbank.com or 615-444-2265

26. Pumpkinfest

The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County's 36th annual Pumpkinfest celebrates fall and Halloween from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 26 along Main Street in downtown Franklin, with live entertainment, a Great Pumpkin display, arts and crafts vendors, extreme pumpkin-carving and costume contests for kids, pets and grown-ups. Last year, it attracted more than 65,000 people.

Details: williamsonheritage.org/pumpkinfest

27. Jack Daniel's BBQ fest

The 31st annual Jack Daniel's World Championship International Barbecue is Oct. 25-26 in Lynchburg. There will be live music, barbecue cooking competitions, games (butt bowling, bung toss and a country dog contest) and lots of sampling.

Details: jackdaniels.com/en-us/BBQ 

28. Cannonsburgh Harvest Day

The 43rd annual Harvest Day Celebration is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St., Murfreesboro. The event celebrates fall in pioneer fashion with old-time music (including Uptown Country Band, Cripple Creek Cloggers and South 231 band), clogging, hayrides, a craft fair, blacksmithing, broom making, an antique car show, an art league show, food trucks and a Riverchase Posse Gun Show. 

Details: murfreesborotn.gov or 615-890-0355

29. Franklin Family Day festival 

Franklin's 13th annual Family Day Celebration is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. There will be live music, hay rides, a petting zoo, horse  demonstrations, pony rides, crafts, games, face painting and more.

Details: franklintn.gov/parks or 615-794-2103

Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”