26 Things to Do in Middle Tennessee This Weekend: Jul 24–26, 2026
- Khristian Schlemmer
- Jul 22
- 7 min read
This weekend in Middle Tennessee (July 24–26, 2026), the biggest draws are Bluegrass Along the Harpeth in Franklin, a free outdoor screening of Field of Dreams at Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet, and Usher and Chris Brown at Nissan Stadium. Twenty-six events span Wilson, Davidson, Rutherford, and Williamson counties.
Franklin has been doing Bluegrass Along the Harpeth since 1991, and it is still the best thing on this weekend's calendar Friday night pickin' on the square, then a full day of instrument and band contests Saturday. I would drive the forty minutes south for it. Closer to home, Mt. Juliet is putting Field of Dreams on the lawn at Charlie Daniels Park Friday night for free. And if you want the exact opposite of small-town, Usher and Chris Brown are at Nissan Stadium Saturday.
Wilson County: Lebanon, Mt. Juliet & Watertown
Craft workshops dominate the Wilson calendar this week Hammer & Stain alone accounts for three of the eight but the Capitol has a musical running and Mt. Juliet is doing a movie outdoors.
Movie in the Park: "Field of Dreams"
Friday, July 24 · 8:30 PM · Charlie Daniels Park Amphitheater Stage, Mt. Juliet · Free
Free, outdoors, and the only confirmed no-cost event on this entire list. It starts at dusk and runs until about eleven. Concessions are on site if you would rather not pack a cooler.
AOO Prince of Egypt the Musical
Thursday, July 23 – Sunday, August 2 · Capitol Theatre, Lebanon · Check listing for pricing
Audience of One Productions has it on the Capitol stage downtown, and the run goes through August 2 so if this weekend fills up, you have another one. Showtimes and pricing live on the theatre's ticket page, not the event listing.
Story Time at Breeden's Orchard
Friday, July 24 · Breeden's Orchard, Mt. Juliet · Check listing for pricing
The listing shows multiple sessions Friday but does not publish the times. Confirm with the orchard before you load everybody up.
Back to School Teacher/Classroom 3D Sign Making DIY
Friday, July 24 · 6:00 PM · Hammer & Stain Mount Juliet · Check listing for pricing
First of three Hammer & Stain workshops this weekend. Teacher-gift oriented 3D classroom signs, Friday evening. Registration and pricing go through the shop.
Mariano Mallia at Hillside Hangout
Saturday, July 25 · 12:00 PM · Hillside Hangout, Mt. Juliet · Check listing for pricing
Live music from noon to four out on Lebanon Road. Afternoon show, so it will not eat your whole Saturday night.
Rhonda Funk at East Nashville Beer Works Wilson County
Saturday, July 25 · 6:00 PM · East Nashville Beer Works Wilson County, 1688 Callis Rd, Lebanon · Check listing for pricing
The name throws people off. The Callis Road taproom is in Lebanon, not East Nashville. Rhonda Funk plays six to ten.
Crushed Glass Framed Creations DIY Resin Night
Saturday, July 25 · 6:00 PM · Hammer & Stain Mount Juliet · Check listing for pricing
Resin and crushed glass, Saturday evening. Adult workshop.
Creative Candle Class Make a Candle for Your Child's New Teacher
Sunday, July 26 · 2:00 PM · Hammer & Stain Mount Juliet · Check listing for pricing
The third Hammer & Stain class of the weekend, Sunday afternoon, also pointed at back-to-school gifts.
Wilson County is the reason I write this every week. If a weekend out here has you running numbers, I put together the rent-versus-buy math for Lebanon with the actual 2026 figures.
If you are driving in from out of state to check out the area, I will tell you the honest version of what each town is like — including the parts the tourism sites leave out. Get in touch.
Davidson County: Nashville
Nashville is stacked this weekend a stadium show, two nights at the Ryman, and a Premier League friendly but the park programming is what I would actually pick.
Full Moon Pickin' Party
Friday, July 24 · 6:00 PM · Warner Park Nature Center, Nashville · Check listing for pricing
Bluegrass at Warner Parks under the full moon, six to ten. One of the few Nashville traditions that has not been sanded down for tourists.
Blackberry Smoke
Friday, July 24 – Saturday, July 25 · Ryman Auditorium, Nashville · Check listing for pricing
Two nights at the Ryman. Southern rock in that room is about as good as live music gets in this city. The listing does not post times pull them off the Ryman calendar.
Usher & Chris Brown: The R&B Tour
Saturday, July 25 · 7:00 PM · Nissan Stadium, Nashville · Check listing for pricing
Co-headlining stadium show. Give yourself real margin on the drive in if you are coming from the east side of the county.
Liverpool FC vs. Sunderland AFC
Saturday, July 25 · 5:00 PM · GEODIS Park, Nashville · Check listing for pricing
Premier League friendly at GEODIS, five o'clock. Liverpool does not come through here often.
DinoTrek at Nashville Zoo Final Weekend
Friday, July 24 – Sunday, July 26 · Nashville Zoo at Grassmere · Check listing for pricing
Last weekend for the animatronic dinosaurs at Grassmere. If this has been sitting on your list all summer, the deadline just arrived.
Family Day at TPAC
Saturday, July 25 · 1:30 PM · Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville · Check listing for pricing
Afternoon programming downtown at TPAC, starting at 1:30.
Wizards and Woodlands
Saturday, July 25 · 12:30 PM · Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, Nashville · Check listing for pricing
Fantasy-themed afternoon in the woods at Shelby Bottoms, 12:30 to four. All ages.
2026 Big Band Dance
Saturday, July 25 · 7:00 PM · Centennial Park, Nashville · Check listing for pricing
Outdoor big band in Centennial Park, seven to ten. The series runs through August 15, so a rainout is not the end of it.
If Nashville proper is genuinely on your list, know that the new condo loan rules take effect August 3 worth ten minutes before you write an offer downtown.
Rutherford County: Murfreesboro & Smyrna
Rutherford is markets and mornings this weekend three farmers markets, an author talk, and Willy Wonka over in Smyrna.
Rutherford County Farmers Market at Lane Agri-Park
Friday, July 24 · 7:00 AM · Lane Agri-Park, Murfreesboro · Check listing for pricing
Opens at seven Friday morning, done by noon. Runs Tuesdays and Fridays, May through October.
"Willy Wonka, Jr." at Springhouse Theatre
Friday, July 24 – Saturday, July 25 · 7:00 PM · Springhouse Theatre, Smyrna · Check listing for pricing
The Roald Dahl version, both nights at seven.
Murfreesboro Saturday Market
Saturday, July 25 · 8:00 AM · Historic Rutherford County Courthouse, Public Square, Murfreesboro · Check listing for pricing
This is the good one. It wraps the courthouse square from eight to noon produce, meats, eggs, bakers, artisans, live musicians and they run it rain or shine straight through October 31.
Smyrna Depot Farmers Market
Saturday, July 25 · 8:00 AM · Smyrna Depot · Check listing for pricing
Same eight-to-noon window as Murfreesboro's, smaller footprint. Produce, honey, baked goods. Season closes September 19.
Coffee & Conversation About Local History
Saturday, July 25 · 9:00 AM · Ransom School House, 717 N. Academy St, Murfreesboro · Check listing for pricing
Local history conversation inside a historic one-room schoolhouse, nine to noon. The listing says the coffee and donuts are free.
Shelley Shepard Gray at Linebaugh Library
Saturday, July 25 · 11:00 AM · Linebaugh Public Library, Murfreesboro · Check listing for pricing
The novelist speaks, takes questions, and signs her two latest releases.
Williamson County: Franklin & Brentwood
Four events down here, and one of them is the reason I would point you south this weekend.
Bluegrass Along the Harpeth
Friday, July 24 – Saturday, July 25 · 7:00 PM Friday · Historic town square, Franklin · Check listing for pricing
Running since 1991 and named in honor of Opry stars Sam and Kirk McGee. Friday's pickin' goes seven to ten. Saturday is the real day instrument and band contests from nine in the morning until ten at night, food and craft vendors filling the square. If you do one thing this weekend, do this.
Tennessee Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair
Friday, July 24 – Sunday, July 26 · 5:00 PM Friday · The Factory at Franklin · Check listing for pricing
Dealers from around the country hauling in first editions, maps, prints, and fine bindings. Opens Friday at five and runs through Sunday afternoon.
Factory Farmers Market
Saturday, July 25 · 8:00 AM · The Factory at Franklin · Check listing for pricing
Same building, next morning. Eight to noon.
Field & Folk Seasonal Market Series
Sunday, July 26 · 11:00 AM · Southall Farm & Inn, Rambling Pad, Franklin · Check listing for pricing
Sunday market out at Southall local vendors and makers, live music, a food truck, lawn games, and enough open grass that nobody has to stand in a line the whole time. Eleven to three.
Details can change dates get moved and events get cancelled. I link every event to its source so you can confirm before you drive out.
I post one of these every week because I think the best argument for living in Middle Tennessee is just showing people what a normal weekend looks like. If you want to make it your normal weekend, I can help.
Khristian Schlemmer is a REALTOR® and the founder of First Class Real Estate in Lebanon, Tennessee. He lives and works in Wilson County and helps buyers, sellers, and folks relocating to Middle Tennessee find their footing here. Reach him at 615.427.5672 or khristian@nearnashvillehomes.com.
Brokerage: First Class Real Estate | Keller Williams · 120 Public Square, Lebanon, TN 37087
Event details are compiled from public listings and were accurate at the time of publication. Confirm with the organizer before making plans. First Class Real Estate is not affiliated with and does not endorse the events listed.
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