Nashville can be a fun and vibrant city for sober people of all walks of life. Part 1 in our series of Ways to Have Sober Fun in Nashville talked about many of the outdoor, historical, arts, and group adventure opportunities in this city. Today’s blog will look at other options for getting out and having a good time in Nashville, such as live sports, concerts, and festivals.
As you venture out and try new things in sobriety, it can be useful to know that some situations, especially ones that remind you of things you did while drinking or using, can be triggers. Events like sports games or live concerts might be the type of places you regularly drank, and if so, it may be best to give yourself some time to build up your recovery before returning to activities like this. Working closely with your sponsor and surrounding yourself with recovery friends as you venture out can help you enjoy yourself while having a safety net for handling triggers if they arise.
Sporting Events
Music City’s minor league baseball team, The Nashville Sounds, recently built a brand new stadium named First Tennessee Park that is equipped with comfortable amenities and beautiful skyline views that make games even more fun. At Sounds games, you can enjoy everything from fine dining to a ballpark hotdog, and every night of the week features special events that provide fun for all ages. For hockey fans, catching a Predators game always makes for an exciting evening. The Predators are Nashville’s successful National Hockey League team, who play at Bridgestone Arena in the heart of downtown. For football fans, Music City is home to the Tennessee Titans who play at Nissan Stadium, which also hosts college football events like the annual Music City Bowl. If you enjoy live sports, Nashville has many options for cheering on some great teams.
Outdoor Music
Nashville’s premier spot for outdoor concerts is Ascend Amphitheater, located right next to Riverfront Park. Ascend has gorgeous views of the city and the Cumberland River and has a unique set-up that truly reminds you that you are in Music City. Acts featured at Ascend range in genre and include everyone from the Counting Crows to Twenty One Pilots. Country, bluegrass, and classic rock artists are also staples at Ascend, and the venue provides opportunities for any music lover to come enjoy live concerts at this special venue.
Intimate Indoor Concerns
Nashville has many famous landmarks for live music in small, intimate settings. The Station Inn is a favorite among bluegrass and acoustic music fans and has been a Nashville landmark since 1974. The Ryman Auditorium has long been hailed as the Mother Church of Country Music, but acts of all genres play this historic and enchanting venue. The Ryman also hosts other acts, like the upcoming Wild West Comedy Festival featuring some of today’s funniest comedians. Another must-see classic Nashville music venue is the Bluebird Cafe in Green Hills, which features both up-and-coming Nashville singer-songwriters along with seasoned veterans of Music Row. If you’re the musical type, you can also sign up for one of Bluebird’s many open mic nights.
Nashville Film Festival
Every spring, Music City hosts the acclaimed Nashville Film Festival, which celebrates the talent of filmmakers in all genres of the industry and draws in over 23,000 guests annually. Many notable actors, directors, and producers travel to the festival to meet fans and host question-and-answer sessions about their latest projects. Guests can also attend workshops and discussions with industry professionals to learn more about the art of filmmaking. The Nashville Film Festival is an Academy Awards qualifying festival that receives film entries from all across the globe, so you might just be among the first people in the area to see an Oscar-winning film.
Renaissance Festival
If you and your friends love Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings, the Tennessee Renaissance Festival might be the perfect way to spend a weekend this spring. The RenFest offers guests the opportunity to travel back to 16th Century England and experience what each aspect of life was like during this interesting period, including food, entertainment, art, hobbies, and, of course, jousting. Guests can participate in live shows and demonstrations and come on special weekends that feature themes like Pirates or Celtic arts and music.
Stay tuned for future posts in this series that will highlight other ways to have sober fun in Nashville including upcoming festivals and fun summer events.
From the JourneyPure team where we get to explore a wide variety of substance abuse- and mental health-related topics. With years of experience working alongside those suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues, we bring important messages with unparalleled knowledge of addiction, mental health problems, and the issues they cause.