If there’s one thing we know, it’s that Southerners pride themselves on tradition, and nowhere is that more true than in the buckle of the Bible Belt: Nashville, Tennessee. While there are plenty of genteel and time-honored traditions here, there are also plenty of bizarre traditions in which Nashville shows off its weird and wild side. Not surprisingly, these events draw folks in from all over the country and even the world. From people dressing like tomatoes to people throwing fish at hockey games, Nashville certainly has its fair share of regular weirdness. Here’s just a few of those weird things that Nashvillians love to do.
- Tomato Art Fest
Tomato Art Fest - Facebook As if East Nashville wasn’t already weird enough, the Tomato Art Fest is here to remind us that it’s incredibly and proudly weird. It takes place over a weekend in early August every year and features tomato art, tomato-themed food, and tons of people dressed up like tomatoes.
- Throwing catfish on the ice at Predators games
Brent Moore - Flickr When you attend Nashville Predators games, you expect to see people on the ice, but if you’re lucky (that’s right, we said lucky), you’ll see a catfish too. The first documented catfish on the ice was in 2003 and started presumably as a Nashville-styled homage to Detroit, where octopuses routinely make it to the ice. Just don’t get caught taking one of these “instruments of crime” to Pittsburgh. You might get arrested.
- Anything else that happens at Predators games
Stephen Yeargin - Flickr Nashville fans are known for their weird, popular, and often slightly aggressive chants. From thanking the arena announcer after every “one minute remaining” announcement to reminding the opposing goalie that every goal is “all his fault,” Predators chants are a thing that everyone should experience.
- CMA Fest
Denise Mattox - Flickr Every June, downtown becomes completely inundated with tourists, locals, and big name country musicians for CMA Fest. Lower Broadway is shut down and stages are set up on the streets and at the waterfront. The festival routinely draws over 250,000 visitors.
- Iroquois Steeplechase
Kellsboro - Flickr Nashville’s annual rite of Spring has been the Iroquois Steeplechase since 1941. Every May, the whole city heads out to the Warner Parks to watch the race and dress in their finest Southern horse race garb. It’s a truly unique blend of tradition meeting modern times.
- Pedal Taverns
Brian Hancill - Flickr Pedal Taverns are great because they truly define the downtown/Lower Broadway scene. Droves of drunk tourists clogging the streets, which is exactly what makes them great. We’re kidding of course - these things are the bane of every Nashvillian’s existence.
- Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Friends of Warner Parks - Facebook Also at the Warner Parks, every full moon from May to October sees a bluegrass concert in the park after the sun goes down. It’s a great way to get out and enjoy music without baking in the summer sun.
Continue honing your in-depth knowledge of Nashville by exploring these great spots that even most Nashvillians overlook.
Tomato Art Fest - Facebook
As if East Nashville wasn’t already weird enough, the Tomato Art Fest is here to remind us that it’s incredibly and proudly weird. It takes place over a weekend in early August every year and features tomato art, tomato-themed food, and tons of people dressed up like tomatoes.
Brent Moore - Flickr
When you attend Nashville Predators games, you expect to see people on the ice, but if you’re lucky (that’s right, we said lucky), you’ll see a catfish too. The first documented catfish on the ice was in 2003 and started presumably as a Nashville-styled homage to Detroit, where octopuses routinely make it to the ice. Just don’t get caught taking one of these “instruments of crime” to Pittsburgh. You might get arrested.
Stephen Yeargin - Flickr
Nashville fans are known for their weird, popular, and often slightly aggressive chants. From thanking the arena announcer after every “one minute remaining” announcement to reminding the opposing goalie that every goal is “all his fault,” Predators chants are a thing that everyone should experience.
Denise Mattox - Flickr
Every June, downtown becomes completely inundated with tourists, locals, and big name country musicians for CMA Fest. Lower Broadway is shut down and stages are set up on the streets and at the waterfront. The festival routinely draws over 250,000 visitors.
Kellsboro - Flickr
Nashville’s annual rite of Spring has been the Iroquois Steeplechase since 1941. Every May, the whole city heads out to the Warner Parks to watch the race and dress in their finest Southern horse race garb. It’s a truly unique blend of tradition meeting modern times.
Brian Hancill - Flickr
Pedal Taverns are great because they truly define the downtown/Lower Broadway scene. Droves of drunk tourists clogging the streets, which is exactly what makes them great. We’re kidding of course - these things are the bane of every Nashvillian’s existence.
Friends of Warner Parks - Facebook
Also at the Warner Parks, every full moon from May to October sees a bluegrass concert in the park after the sun goes down. It’s a great way to get out and enjoy music without baking in the summer sun.
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