2022 Driving Distance Festivals
Here are the Summer's most exciting festivals within driving distance of Nashville. Catch us at the Redneck Rumble, Tomato Fest, and Louder Than Life, among others.
April
4/21-24
French Quarter Festival - New Orleans, LA
I know it’s far but it has the best lineup on the list and it’s FREE.
Info
4/23
Rarity Festival - Memphis, TN
Beer festival held by Wiseacre. Breweries from all over the country showcase their beers. A ticket gets you a taster glass and 4 hours of unlimited drinking.
Info
4/28 - 5/1
Merlefest - Wilkesboro, NC
One of the largest bluegrass festivals in the country. Large lineup, a variety of stages, camping, and, unfortunately, NO ALCOHOL.
Info
4/29 - 5/1
Shaky Knees - Atlanta, GA
Notable bands: My Morning Jacket, Nine Inch Nails, Amyl and the Sniffers, and King Gizzard.
Info
4/29 - 5/1
Beale Street Music Festival - Memphis, TN
Southern Rap + Rock. This is the most ratchet festival on the list.
Info
4/29 - 5/1
SweetWater 420 Fest - Atlanta, GA
Jam band heavy lineup.
Info
May
5/5-7
Boxcar Pinion Bluegrass Festival - Chickamauga, GA
Another good ole bluegrass fest tucked away just south of Chattanooga.
Info
5/7
Spring BierFest - Helen, GA
Helen is a Bavarian style village in North Georgia famous for it’s Oktoberfest.
Info
5/11-14
World Championship BBQ Cooking Competition - Memphis, TN
Info
5/20-21
Kilgore Station Bluegrass Festival - Crossplains, TN
You’ll likely see someone playing the jug here.
Info
5/21-22
Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival & Games - Townsend, TN
Info
5/21-22
GA Mushroom Fest - Cave Spring, GA
Music and mycology.
Info
5/20-22
Poorcastle - Louisville, KY
The poor man’s Forecastle.
Info
5/27-29
Forecastle Fest - Louisville, KY
The Coachella of KY.
Info
5/28-30
Atlanta Jazz Fest - Atlanta, GA
Free!
Info
June
6/3-4
Black Mountain Jamboree - Monticello, KY
Intimate bluegrass fest on a beautiful stretch of the Cumberland River.
Info
6/4
Folk Medicine Festival - Red Boiling Springs, TN
Info
6/5
Dunlap Coke Ovens Bluegrass Festival - Dunlap, TN
Bluegrass festival held on a historic coal mining site containing the ruins of 268 Beehive Coke Ovens built in 1902.
Info
6/9-11
Cherokee Bluegrass Festival - Cherokee, NC
Bluegrass in the smokies.
Info
6/10-11
Redneck Rumble - Lebanon, TN
Great gathering of gearheads, possibly the rowdiest party on the list.
Info
6/16-19
Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
The Coachella of the TN.
Info
6/22-25
Rompfest - Owensboro, KY
Large bluegrass music festival with camping.
Info
July
7/27-32
Floydfest - Patrick County, VA
Big lineup of bluegrass, blues, country, folk, and rock.
Info
7/7-10
Byrd’s Creek Music Fest - Crossville, TN
Country and Bluegrass heavy lineup, notable names include Del Mcoury, Hannah Juanita, The Tillers, and Chelsea Lovitt.
Info
7/9
Cave Spring Motorcycle Rally & Music Fest - Cave Spring, GA
Info
August
8/12-13
Tomato Fest - Nashville, TN
Only fools don’t dress up like a tomato for this.
Info
8/20
German Bierfest - Atlanta, GA
One day of biers, brats, döners, pretzels, kraut, and schnitzel.
Info
September
9/9-11
Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion - Bristol, TN
Info
9/22-25
Louder Than Life - Louisville, KY
Most aggressive lineup on the list. Slipknot, Helmet, Incubus, Tenacious D, and the like.
Info
9/23-25
Furnace Fest - Birmingham, AL
Most sacrilegious lineup on the list. The descendants of Black Sabbath really love symbols of Catholicism, but hey, don’t we all?
Info