The CMA Music Festival is likely the most anticipated yearly event for country music fans. The festival originally began in 1972 as an event called Fan Fair after fans started appearing at the annual DJ convention in Nashville. Leaders in country music provided Fan Fair as an alternative and 5,000 people turned up to the very first event. In 1982 the event moved to the Tennessee Fairgrounds and then to downtown Nashville in 2001. The name changed to CMA Music Festival to better reflect the representation of the event as a city-centered, world-class music festival with massive audiences and numerous venues which included various and diverse activities.

The CMA Country Music Festival is held annually in June at Nashville LP Field in downtown Nashville. Every year there is an outstanding line-up of artists and enthusiastic fans who travel from all over the globe to attend the event. A lot of residents from major cities such as Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis pack up the family at this time of year and head to Nashville for a weekend of fun. The CMA Country Music Festival provides single-night tickets or four day passes to the event. Prices vary so check before purchasing tickets..

Every year at the CMA Country Music Festival there are all kinds of events and exhibits. Over 400 country music artists and celebrities join the CMA Country Music Festival for over 70 hours of live music and 30 plus hours of autograph signings. There is a daily music lineup and schedule, special appearances, daytime stages, a sports zone, After Hours, a Fun Zone and a Family Zone. At the Exhibit Hall at the Nashville Convention Center fans can meet their favorite country stars up close and personal..

Nashville Map

There are several options for transportation while visiting Nashville during the Nashville Music Festival. For 4-day ticket holders only there is a free shuttle available moving from all the major event sites on a continuous loop every 5 to 10 minutes. Nashville Metro Transit and the commuter rail train is available to those coming into downtown from other areas of the city or from outside the city. If choosing to fly into Nashville for the festival be sure to make hotel and flight reservations as far advance as possible as everything gets booked really fast! If opting out of a car rental try to book your hotel close to downtown where walking and shuttle service will be adequate transportation.

Tour groups are readily available during the event if you’re not comfortable going alone or unsure of the area and event procedures but book into a tour group as far in advance as possible! Summers in Nashville can be extremely hot so pack appropriately and make sure to wear sunscreen. There are lots of attractions in the downtown area so make the most of your visit and research some other sights you might want to see.

One of the events to take advantage of as a true party-goer during the Nashville Music Festival is After Hours. Downtown clubs have live entertainment after the nightly concerts at various downtown blues clubs and bars but make sure to drag yourself out of bed in time for the daytime concerts! The Nashville Music Festival is a really exciting time in the city and residents gear up for the events with special preparation long before the first string of the festival is strummed. Prepare well ahead for an extremely lively and exciting time in Nashville and don’t forget to pack your dancing shoes!