Lots of kids grow up playing with toy cars. It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl, there’s just something fun about a wheeled object gliding across the floor. You can encourage your child’s love of cars at many places in Middle Tennessee from museums to cruise-ins. Check it out:
Cars at Museums
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
502 S.E. Broad St., Murfreesboro
615-890-2300 | explorethedc.org
Cost: $8 ages 3 & older, free for ages 2 & younger
At the Discovery Center, kids can rotate car tires, check oil levels and even replace a muffler in the Nissan Super Service Center hands-on exhibit complete with sound.
Lane Motor Museum
702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville
615-742-7445 | lanemotormuseum.org
Cost: $12 ages 18 – 64, $8 ages 65 & older, $3 ages 6 – 17, free ages 5 & younger and members
The Then & Now exhibit at this car museum features several car makers and models from decades past up to today. You can compare and contrast the differences. There’s also French cars and tons of other classic and unique cars on display here, too. Check out the museum’s Lil’ Learning Lane preschool program that takes place monthly.
Car Cruise-Ins/Shows
Davidson County
Old Skool & New Kool Car, Truck & Rat Rod Show
615-668-8090
Come out to the this seventh annual show benefiting the children’s ministry of Life Church of Nashville (215 Broadmoor Drive, Nashville) on Saturday, Sept. 21 with car registration beginning at 8 a.m. Check out classic cars, trucks, muscle cars, street rods, sports cars, low riders and more. There will be live music, food, a bake sale, a silent auction and more. Free to attend.
Rutherford County
Crossroad to Victory Benefit Car Show
224-339-0221
On Saturday, July 20 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., families can see cars, trucks and motorcycles during this show benefiting Special Kids of Tennessee. It takes place at Victory Christian Center (1641 Middle Tennessee Blvd., Murfreesboro). Be a part of the show with a $20 registration fee — FREE to attend as a spectator! There will be door prizes, oldies music and concessions available.
Gateway Classic Cars of Nashville
615-213-1800
Takes place Saturday, July 27 at Gateway Classic Cars (320 Tech Park Drive, Ste. 600, La Vergne). View more than 250 classic and exotic cars on display (that are also for sale). Free to attend.
Murfreesboro Hot Rod Club
615-405-5271
“Cruisin’ the Boro” takes place at Central Magnet High School (701 E. Main St., Murfreesboro) Saturday nights July 27, Aug. 10 and 24, Sept. 7 and 21 from 4 – 8 p.m. With a $1 donation for charity, you can enjoy music, door prizes and hot dogs.
Smyrna Parks Cruise-In
615-459-9773
The biggest car show in Smyrna happens in conjunction with Depot Days at The Depot on Front St. on Friday, Sept. 27. From 6 – 9 p.m. Free admission.
Summerfest
On Sunday, July 21 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., families can enjoy a free day of fun featuring an antique car show, inflatables for kids to jump on and more. There will also be concessions available for purchase. It takes place at Central Magnet School (701 E. Main St., Murfreesboro).
Sumner County
38th Annual Bowen Campbell Auto Expo
615-347-7839
Enjoy classic cars and more on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Moss-Wright Park (745 Cladwell Road, Goodlettsville). $20 to enter a car in the show, free for spectators.
4th Annual Kars for Kids Car Show
615-859-5888
On Saturday, Sept. 7, families can head to Goodlettsville Church (226 S. Main St., Goodlettsville) from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for cool cars, concessions, oldies music and more. The Car Show is in conjunction with the Salty Dog Festival, which features craft booths, art, music, petting zoo, dog costume contest, car show, and a variety of fun family-friendly activities will be available. The Car Show benefits the Samaritan Kids Backpack and Food Ministry. Free admission.
Authentic Coffee’s 6th Annual Jeep Meet
615-881-0698
On Saturday, Aug. 3, families can enjoy a free car show from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. featuring classic cars, vendor booths and more.
Pink Christmas Classic Car Show
615-330-9709
This car show benefits breast cancer survivors and takes place Saturday, Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at RiverGate Mall (1000 Rivergate Pkwy., Goodlettsville). This family-friendly event will have fun for kids, music, vendors and more. Free to attend.
Hendersonville Cruise In
866-704-3000
Every Friday from April – October, the entire family can enjoy checking out cool cars at Glenbrook Shopping Center (1006 Andrews Run, Hendersonville) from 6 – 9 p.m. Free to attend.
Williamson County
Touch of Gold Fall Open Car Show
615-631-5970
Bring the kids out to the Nashville Corvette Club’s show at Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes (1310 Franklin Road, Brentwood) on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. to see all kinds of cars from originally built designs to antiques to classics to street rods and more. Free to attend.
Rita’s of Nolensville
615-776-2100
Head out for a cool treat every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Rita’s (7171 Nolensville Pike, Nolensville) to check out custom cars, trucks and hot rods. Sometimes there’s live music and face painting, too. It changes, just give ’em a call. Free to attend, and you get a discount on frozen treats!
Wilson County
38th Annual Mustang and All Ford Show
713-305-6274
Check out classic to custom to new Ford cars in this show on Saturday, Sept. 21 at West Wilson Middle School (935 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet) beginning at 9 a.m. There will be a DJ playing music, concessions, a silent auction, vendors, activities and more. Free to attend.
14th Annual Fall Redneck Rumble Car Show and Swap Meet
615-364-1828
Sept. 20 – 21 at the Wilson County Expo Center (945 E. Baddour Pkwy., Lebanon). See pre-68 rods, customs, rats, bikes, live music and more. $15 passes/ $25 show entry that includes driver pass. Camping availabl for $50 per person includes admission for Friday and Saturday.
