Cool Things to Do in Nashville at Night

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Formerly the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, this structure connects downtown Nashville to the residential suburbs of East Nashville. It is strictly for pedestrian use and provides incredible views of the river and downtown skyline. At night, there’s a lighting system that illuminates the span. The center includes a 15-foot wide bike path and two ten-foot wide walkways. Four scenic overlooks with renderings of the history of the Cumberland River can be found along the bridge as well.

You never know what will happen when you visit downtown’s favorite dueling piano bar because the songs performed by the musicians are all requests that come from the audience. With two pianos, and oftentimes additional musicians on the stage, the professional performers entertain with songs from years past and present. Sometimes they even take a classic and rewrite the lyrics using an audience member’s name and story. The high energy venue serves food and drinks and is the perfect place to start a Nashville night out.

One Friday evening a month at the Warner Park Equestrian Center, bluegrass musicians get together to raise money for Warner Parks through a laid-back event known as a Full Moon Pickin’ Party. The family-friendly events host bluegrass jam circles and three headlining bands on the main stage. Local food trucks and a Southern Style Photo Booth are also on site. The parties take place from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. once a month between May and October.

The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team that plays at First Tennessee Park. They play around 70 games per season with games starting around 7:00 p.m. Individual ticket prices range from $10 (£7) to $38 (£28), and options for group tickets or season tickets are also available.

Most of the bars that provide city views from a rooftop are located downtown. There are a few others in less congested areas, but they all offer the same spectacular rooftop experience. Some of the best include Virago, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Nashville Underground, and Rock Bottom Brewery.

For more than 30 years, Zanies has been Nashville’s premier comedy club. Professional stand-up comedians from across the country put on shows nearly every night of the week. Many of the performers offer meet-and-greet opportunities for audience members after their shows, although the venue is small enough for visitors to feel connected to the comedians while they’re on stage. A small food and drink menu is available for enjoying a meal while you watch the comedians perform.

Several Nashville area parks offer night hikes for those interested in trailing through the dark. At Radnor Lake, ranger-led astronomy night hikes are provided on occasion. The Edwin Warner Park Nature Center has hikes in the evenings, and Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary has a Summer Night Hike as well. Other parks also host night hikes periodically throughout the year.

Not only is the Wildhorse one of the best places to hear live music in Nashville, it’s also a great place to sign up for free line dancing lessons. With 66,000 square feet and three stories of seating and entertainment, you won’t be bored at The Wildhorse. The venue hosts events large and small, showcasing a range of local and national touring artists. Inside is a gift shop, as well as a bar and restaurant, and, for extra kicks, you can snap a photo with one of the many horse statues while you wait for the biggest names in music to hit the stage.