There’s a lot of great spring festivals and fairs in April and May here in Middle Tennessee. Here are our top picks that you’ll want to enjoy with your kids this season (pictured above: a local girl gets smoochy with Peter Cottontail at Eggstravaganzoo):
APRIL
EGGSTRAVAGANZOO
Saturday, April 15 • Nashville Zoo
Music City’s biggest Easter outing for children includes egg hunts, visits with the Easter Bunny, games and other festive spring activities.
EASTER FESTIVAL
Friday, April 14 – Saturday, April 15 • Lucky Ladd Farms, Eagleville
Hop around the farm with the Easter Bunny, play games, create crafts, meet baby farm animals, enjoy non-stop egg hunts and more. New this year: journey through the story of Jelly Bean the Unbreakable Egg.
SPRING ART HOP
Saturday, April 15 • Cheekwood
Cheekwood’s signature spring festival is a mash-up of spring color and Easter hoopla. Enjoy the view of more than 100,000 vibrant flowers while posing for pics with the Easter Bunny. There are several egg hunts for kids, plus art activities, entertainment and more.
SPORTS FEST
Saturday, April 15 • Nissan Stadium, Nashville
104.5 the Zone hosts this interactive family experience featuring sports demonstrations and games, inflatables, an Easter egg hunt and more.
RIVERS AND SPIRES FESTIVAL
Thursday, April 20 – Saturday, April 22 • Downtown Clarksville
This free annual festival features lots of live music on several stages. This year’s headliner is Montgomery Gentry. In addition, there are also arts and crafts vendors, kids’ games, the popular “Quilts on the Cumberland” show and more free fun.
NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL
Thursday, April 20 – Saturday, April 29 • Regal Hollywood 27, Nashville
Ten days of film festivities at a new location this year. Enjoy a variety of features, shorts, documentaries and animated films. The most kid-friendly flicks are typically in the shorts. There are selections from the NY Dog Film Festival this year, and those tickets benefit the Nashville Humane Association.
EARTH DAY FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 22 • Centennial Park, Nashville
Your family can celebrate Mother Earth by exploring all sorts of environmental exhibits and hands-on activities for kids. Furthermore, take in the lineup of live entertainment.
THE BABY FAIR
Daryus Frazier enjoy stilt walking during Pioneer Days.
Saturday, April 22 • CoolSprings Galleria, Franklin
Nashville Parent’s premier event for all-things infant features exhibitors, giveaways, seminars and more. It’s FREE!
41ST ANNUAL PIONEER DAYS
Saturday, April 22 • Cannonsburgh Village, Murfreesboro
Old-time family fun featuring music, demonstrations, crafters, an antique car show and more.
MOVERS FOR MOMS FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 22 • Fannie Mae Dees Park, Nashville
Kids’ fun includes art activities with the Frist Center, storytime, a musical petting zoo with Nashville School of Rock, kid yoga, parachute play with Gymboree and more. There will also be pet adoptions and other activities benefiting Safe Haven Family Shelter.
34TH ANNUAL MAIN STREET FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 29 – Sunday, April 30 • Downtown Franklin
It’s one of the biggest spring celebrations in the Southeast. The popular juried arts and crafts show is a big draw, and there’s lots of live entertainment. This year features a bigger children’s area.
MAY
TENNESSEE CRAFT FAIR
Friday, May 5 – Sunday, May 7 • Centennial Park, Nashville
For starters, more than 180 craft artists show and sell their handiwork at this crowd-pleasing festival. In addition, the Kids’ Tent is a popular spot featuring lots of hands-on creativity for little hands along with artistic performances.
TENNESSEE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Saturdays & Sundays in May + Memorial Day Monday • Castle Gwynn, Arrington-Triune
First of all, start lickin’ your lips because those giant, mouth-watering turkey legs are the bomb! Step back into medieval time with excitement like jousting knights, the human chess game, kids’ activities and more. Each weekend has a different theme.
HISTORIC RURAL LIFE FESTIVAL
Thursday, May 11 – Friday, May 12 • Tennessee Agricultural Museum, Nashville
Kids can have a blast petting farm animals and experiencing old-time activities like butter churning and basket making.
DAYS ON THE FARM
Local kids compete during the pie-eating contest during the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival.
Thursday, May 11 – Friday, May 12 • Sam Davis Home, Smyrna
Geared toward school groups, this is a popular outing for home-school families, and 2017 marks its 46th anniversary. Furthermore, children can experience more than 20 demonstrations, learn about Civil War life and more.
76TH ANNUAL MIDDLE TENNESSEE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Saturday, May 13 • Downtown Portland
Celebrate spring’s favorite fruit with contests, a parade, live entertainment and more.
IROQUOIS STEEPLECHASE
Saturday, May 13 • Percy Warner Park, Nashville
It’s the 76th installment of Middle Tennessee’s most popular social occasion. Most noteworthy, it benefits the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The children’s stick horse race on the festival field is a favorite.
