13 Unique Date Ideas in Nashville, Tennessee

There are several distilleries in Nashville that offer behind-the-scenes tours for those interested in spirits. Most provide free tastings as part of the tour, and some allow visitors during business hours while the distilling process is actually taking place. Instead of hitting a sports bar to grab a drink, support the local beer community and learn how your favorite libations are made.

With so many great weather days in Nashville, an outdoor date is a lovely idea. There’s no place more romantic for an afternoon picnic than Centennial Park. Pack a blanket and a basket full of food and snag a spot on the grass. Watch the squirrels scurry by, and observe children playing. Also, get an up-close look at the park’s main attraction—the Parthenon.

Also at Centennial Park is the Shakespeare in the Park series. As part of The Nashville Shakespeare Festival, this family-friendly event takes place in August and September at the Centennial Park Bandshell. The festival, established in 1988, puts on professional productions of Shakespeare’s plays—the perfect way to enjoy a little entertainment with your special someone. The shows are free, but a $10 donation is suggested.

For a date night that involves a bit of action and incorporates Southern traditions, there’s the Iroquois Steeplechase. This annual event has been happening in Nashville since 1941. It takes place in May at Percy Warner Park and attracts more than 25,000 spectators each year. Cheer on your favorite horses as they race over the turf track to raise money for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University. Don’t forget to dress in your Sunday best, as Southern style is a big part of the celebration.

Couples who like being active and adventurous can enjoy their date night at the Soar Adventure Tower. It has four levels and over 110 climbing elements that are meant to challenge participants both mentally and physically. Each platform allows you to create your own experience by moving different directions. Throughout the tower, there are also music-themed elements that honor the music culture of Nashville.

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Embrace your creative side by signing up for a class at Dabble Studio. The facility offers painting and cooking classes, which are a fun and intimate way to bond with your partner. Painting classes last between two and three hours, and you get to take home your masterpiece. After the cooking class, you and your mate can sit and dine with other participants to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

If you and your date want to feel like Nashville Predators for a night, head to the Ford Ice Center for a little skating. The arena is where Nashville’s pro ice hockey team trains, and it offers public skating at various days and times during the week. Hockey and figure skates are available to use on the rink.

Spend a day breathing in the fresh outside air while getting in a little physical activity at Radnor Lake State Park. There are more than six miles (9.6 kilometers) of trails for hiking, taking photos and observing wildlife. Nature lovers can explore hundreds of species of plants and wildflowers, as well as watch for waterfowl, reptiles, and otters. Ranger-led programs like wildflower walks, astronomy night hikes, and canoe floats take place throughout the year.

Support Nashville’s art community while spending time with your better half at the First Saturday Art Crawl. Several art galleries near Fifth Avenue of the Arts host this monthly event that draws over 1,000 people. Admission is free, and most art spaces serve complimentary wine and refreshments. On display are pieces by local and world-renowned artists in every genre of art.

If you want to plan a date night that involves fitness, but the weather outside won’t allow for hiking, biking or sports, head to Climb Nashville. The facility offers yoga and indoor rock climbing, with belay lessons and climbing classes. Bouldering, which is done without ropes, is provided in an area encircled by 12 inches of padding. No experience is necessary to climb, but first-time visitors are required to have an orientation.

Owned by country music artist Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn, Arrington Vineyards has been producing wine in the Nashville area for more than 10 years. In addition to complimentary tastings, the venue often hosts live musical performances and has an outdoor seating area for enjoying the Nashville greenery surrounding the vineyard.

Do you like working with your hands? Build a guitar by attending a workshop hosted by Guitar Build Workshop. The facility lies in Germantown and provides all the tools, safety gear, and equipment needed. The workshop lasts six to eight hours, with lunch included, and you get to take home your handmade guitar the same day. No previous woodworking experience is necessary to participate. The Guitar Build Workshop is a fun way to spend the day with your date, but note that the cost is $650.

Music, romance, and the great outdoors—that’s what you experience with Symphony Under the Stars. Held at Ascend Amphitheater, this two-hour-long concert is put on by the Nashville Symphony in the evening. It features a light show under the stars, giving guests both a musical and visual experience to remember.