Free things to do in Nashville this weekend: Concerts, festivals, the flea market — and some good sales, too – The Tennessean
Planning this weekend on the cheap should be easy with this list of fun free things to do. Plus, there are a lot of great sales for bargain hunters.
Let’s start with the sales:
USN Fall Book Frenzy
University School of Nashville is having its annual Fall Book Frenzy, with books, audiobooks, DVDs, music, games and puzzles on sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the school’s Cheek Gymnasium at 2000 Edgehill Ave. Most items are less than $2, and there is a $5 bag sale at 2 p.m.
Details: usn.org
Ladies of Charity sale
The fall/winter Ladies of Charity sale opens at 10 a.m. Friday and remains open through Nov. 9. You will find gently used ladies and men’s clothing and accessories, although the sale no longer features children’s clothes. The shop is at 2216 State St. and proceeds go to help the needy in the community.
Details: ladiesofcharitynashville.org or 615-327-3453
Ms. Cheap’s Guide to Fall 2019: Free things to do between now and Thanksgiving
Donelson Heights yard sale
Donelson Heights UMC ‘s annual yard and bake sale is 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the church at 84 Fairway Drive. There will be a wide variety of household goods, clothing, books, toys, collectibles and used treasures, as well as baked goods. Everything is half-price after noon Saturday.
Details: dhumctn.org or 615-883-6103
Encores South
Encores and More South children’s sale, with more than 700 consignors and as many as 80,000 items, is open to the public Saturday, Sept. 28, through Oct. 5 in the old Toys R Us location at Cool Springs in Franklin. The sale will feature children’s clothing, toys and equipment, as well as adult’s clothing and household goods.
Details: encoresconsignmentsouth.com
Hotel furniture grand opening
Suite Upgrades High End Liquidation is having its grand opening Friday and Saturday in its permanent location at 505 Crutcher St. There will be lots of specials on furniture and furnishings from the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Ryman Properties, Westin Hotels and Homewood Suites.
Regular warehouse hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. There is a 3% upcharge for credit and debit cards. You can also shop by appointment by calling 615-584-0526.
Flea market weekend
The Nashville Flea Market is Friday through Sunday in its new Expo Center location at Fairgrounds Nashville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Market officials expect about 500 vendors and 1,300 booths. Admission is free, and parking is $5.
Details: thefairgrounds.com/fleamarket or 615-862-5016
► Related: The Nashville Flea Market debuts its new Fairgrounds location in September. Here’s what to know
Summer Shakespeare
The Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Summer Shakespeare series has wrapped up its performances at the Yard at oneC1TY and is now offering a weekend of “The Tempest” at Academy Park at 112 Everbright Ave. in Franklin, with performances Thursday through Sunday.
A pre-show lecture and family-oriented entertainment starts at 6 p.m., with the Shakespeare performance at 7 p.m. It’s all free, but there is a $10 suggested donation. There is limited bleacher seating, but you are encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket.
Details: nashvilleshakes.org/franklin-shakes
State park hikes
If you want to take a hike, all 56 Tennessee state parks will have free ranger-led hikes and other programs on National Public Lands Day on Saturday.
Details: tnstateparks.com
► Where to go hiking: Great spots to get outdoors this September
Art in the Park
The 11th annual Art in the Park festival is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in J. Travis Price Park in Springfield. The free festival, presented by Willow Oak Center for Arts and Learning and Springfield Parks, includes art, live music and children’s activities.
Details: willowoakarts.org
Sylvan Park neighborhood festival
This new, free festival, called James Bowling’s Brass Band Bazaar, is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, along 45th Avenue North at Murphy Road. There will be high school marching bands, food trucks, a kids zone and a bazaar featuring local artists and vendors.
Details: brassbandbazaar.com
Hispanic heritage events at library
The Nashville Public Library is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a number of free programs at the branches through Oct. 15. This weekend’s offerings include a “Bilingual Music and Movement for Little Amigos” program at 10 a.m. Saturday at the North branch; and Puppet Truck performances of “The Amazing Twins: Ancient Maya Tales from the Popol Wuj” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Madison branch and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Donelson branch.
Details: events.library.nashville.org
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Rose lover alert
The Nashville Rose Society’s Annual Rose Show is 1-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Belmont University, with more than 30 exhibiting rosarians from Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama competing in multiple categories. Admission is free and there will be a free 2 p.m. workshop each day on the basics of growing roses. The workshops will be followed by tours of Belmont’s rose gardens, which contain hundreds of roses in 70 varieties. Parking is free, and the show will be in Belmont’s Gabhart Student Center rooms A and B.
Details: nashvillerosesociety.org
Picasso in Hendersonville
There is still time to see the Picasso exhibit at the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center in Hendersonville. There are more than 60 Picasso-designed ceramics on display through Oct. 20, and admission is free.
Details: monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or 615-822-0789
Later in the week
Free Jamey Johnson and Ricky Skaggs concert
Hendersonville’s Drake Creek Park is hosting a free Whiskey Jam Hometown Jam concert Tuesday, featuring Jamey Johnson and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, plus the Del McCoury Band, Eddy Raven, Josh Mirenda, Natalie Stovall, Tim Watson and Frank Myers. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the show is at 6 p.m.
Hendersonville Parks Director Andy Gilley says to expect “Jamey and his full band playing for over an hour, Ricky Skaggs and his full band playing as well for an hour! Going to be a great night.”
Proceeds benefit the Hank Cochran Pen Fund, T.J. Martel Foundation and Elijah’s Heart.
Details: hvilletn.org/departments/parks/special-events
Courtyard concerts at the library
Nashville Public Library’s Courtyard Concert series continues at Nashville’s Main Library, with free concerts on Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m. to to 1 p.m. in the library courtyard at 615 Church St. The featured music on Oct. 1 is the MTSU Chinese Music Ensemble, and the WannaBeatles play Oct 8.
Details: library.nashville.org/event/courtyard-concerts
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.”
Published 6:00 AM EDT Sep 25, 2019
