One of our area’s most exciting annual events is just around the corner. The 26th Annual Nashville Blooming Festival is coming to downtown Nashville next week!

“The event brings 30,000 people to Nashville over the 4-day period, boosting our economy while also offering visitors a snap-shot of how great of a town The Original Nashville is,” said festival chairperson Jo Anne Cooper.

This year’s event promises to be a great time for all ages with a variety of vendors, music, and more. Grab a chair and bring your friends and family to enjoy the full slate of festivities.

Carnival rides begin on Wednesday, May 8. Purchase a wristband for $25 per night and get unlimited rides from 5:30 until 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

The schedule gets busier starting on Thursday with the free Kickoff Concert at 7 p.m. at the Nash County Arts Council. Music continues on the main stage in downtown Nashville on Friday night and all day Saturday, including the headliner, Easton Corbin.

This year’s Blooming Festival will have a shuttle bus for the first time. Parking is available at 1114 S. First Street, Nashville (Fellowship Church). The bus will carry visitors to the downtown area and will run Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The parade is at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Make sure to get there early to get a good seat.

The parade’s Grand Marshal is this year’s Mother of the Year award winner, Cindy Brantley. The Nashville Chamber of Commerce will present Brantley with the award at 9:50 a.m. at the Blooming Festival Stage.

You can also pick up one of this year’s Blooming Festival shirts designed by Nash-Rocky Mount Early College student Drew Collier for $20. Shirts are also available now at Jody’s of Nashville.

This year’s Blooming Festival will feature plenty of food trucks, local vendors, and a beer garden, in addition to great music. Check out the 2024 Blooming Festival Guide for more information about the musical talent, available food trucks, and much more.

The full schedule is:

Thursday, May 9

7 p.m. | FREE Kick-off Concert w/ Miss Mini & the Sandman Band at the Nash County Arts Council

Friday, May 10

6 p.m. | Beer Garden and Food vendors open

7 p.m. | Sleeping Booty Band

Saturday, May 11

9 a.m. | Vendors open

9:50 a.m. | Mother of the Year Award

10–11 a.m. | Curtis Joyner and Resurrection

11:30 a.m. | Parade

12 p.m. | Beer Garden opens

1 p.m. | East Coast Rhythm & Blues

3:30 p.m. | Jim Quick & Coastline Band

5:30-6:15 p.m. | Meredith Davis Johnson

6:30–7:30 p.m. | Chandler James and the Banned

8:30 p.m. | Easton Corbin

Photo provided by Tim Sia