This weekend in Gatlinburg marks the beginning of a week-long Firefly Light Show in the Great Smoky Mountains. Thousands of fireflies blink in unison, and visitors travel from all over to visit the spectacle. We’re sort of jealous that the fireflies in Nashville don’t seem to be as exciting, but we do have a lot happening this weekend to take your mind off what you’re missing. But if you’ve got the time, don’t let us stop you from hopping in the car and taking a trip down to the good ol’ Smokies!
FRIDAY
- Poolapalooza. Opryland’s Cascades Pool, 6pm, free. This week’s Poolapalooza features a performance by local band Armed Forces, plus the usual sun, fun and booze.
SATURDAY
- 7th Annual Catfish Rodeo & Water Festival. Shelby Park, registration begins at 7am, free. Take the kids out to celebrate Free Fishing Day at Shelby Park, where 2,000 pounds of catfish have been dumped to ensure a good time. Then, swing up the hill to the nature center, where the Water Festival will provide entertainment for the whole family.
- Bags For Africa. Art House Garden Center, 9am, free. The annual used bag sale in East Nashville to benefit our friends at Blood:Water Mission is this weekend, with coffee and live entertainment while you browse the giant
- Snow Patrol Grimey’s Instore. Grimey’s, 2pm, free. Too poor for those pricey Coldplay tickets? Head over to Grimey’s to see opening act Snow Patrol do an instore set before the big show that night.
- Big Band Dance. Centennial Park, 7:30pm, free. The year’s first Big Band Dance is this weekend, and will kick off with an evening of The Moonlighters Big Band and doing the rumba!
- Museums On Us. Cheekwood & the Frist Center, all day, free. Bank of America cardholders can participate in the Museums On Us program, which provides free admission on the first Saturday and Sunday of every month to participating museums around the country. Currently, the only museums participating in Tennessee are the Frist Center and Cheekwood.
- First Saturday Art Crawl. Downtown art galleries, 6pm-9pm, free. First Saturday art-crawlers know the drill by now. Every month on the first Saturday, many downtown galleries open their doors to the public for free, with a complimentary shuttle between galleries. It’s a monthly favorite for many, and if you haven’t gone yet, maybe this is the month!
SUNDAY
- Dragon Music Sunday. Fannie Mae Dees Park, 3pm-5:30pm, free. Dragon Music Sundays are a summer staple at Dragon Park (er, excuse us, Fannie Mae Dees Park). Come out this week to enjoy music from Webb Wilder and hang out with some friends.
Photo by jamelah.
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