Enjoy a host of cultural, entertainment and leisure activities at the beautiful Centennial Park. Admire architectural masterpieces and decorative gardens, watch performances by upcoming musicians and browse varied art installations. Centennial Park covers 132 acres (53 hectares) in Nashville’s West End. Originally farmland, the park has also functioned as a fairground, racecourse and the site of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition.
Get an overview of the park as you stroll on the 1-mile-long (1.6-kilometer) walking trail. Pass grassy lawns, which are ideal for picnics on sunny days, and a flower-filled sunken garden. Spot families of ducks on Lake Watauga below the branches of weeping willows. Marvel at the Parthenon, a replica of the famous ancient Greek temple in Athens. It shelters a copy of the Athena Parthenos statue and artworks by American artists from the 1800s and 1900s.
Peruse free art exhibits and take part in painting and pottery classes at the Centennial Art Center. Follow the park’s interactive If Trees Could Sing outdoor exhibit. It features 18 videos, available to watch on a smartphone, narrated by Nashville musicians and explaining the importance of trees. Alternatively, get exercise and have fun playing beach volleyball on the public-use courts.
Look for Musicians Corner on a Saturday in May, June, August or September to attend free concerts. Inspired by Speakers’ Corner in London’s Hyde Park, this stage offers emerging bands and established musicians the chance to showcase their talents. The Blind Boys of Alabama and Emmylou Harris are among more than 1,000 previous performers. Find children’s activities, food trucks and artisan market stalls here, too.
Visit the park during open hours from dawn until late evening. The Parthenon is open from Tuesday to Sunday and has an admission fee. While you are in the area, wander through the campus of nearby Vanderbilt University.
Centennial Park is about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) southwest of Downtown Nashville. Public buses travel frequently between the park and downtown. The park is one of the 15 stops on the Old Town Trolley Nashville city tour. The on-site free parking fills fast on the day of an event.