Visitor’s Guide To CMA Fest: Tips, Tricks And Things To Remember To Make The Most Out Of Your Experience In Nashville

It’s that time of year again. CMA Fest is back, which means four straight days of day drinking, baking in the Nashville heat, and taking in an overload of country music. This year’s festival officially kicks off Thursday, and runs June 5-8, but there are plenty of events going on all week as hundreds of thousands of people flock to Music City.

After you’ve got the Pedialyte packed and your Walmart cowboy hat ready to go, here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your CMA Fest experience here in Nashville.

New For 2025

This year, CMA Fest is debuting a new “Fan Alley” on 1st Avenue, between the Riverfront Stage and the Dr. Pepper Amp stage, which will feature activations from brands like Celsius, Busch Light, Dude Wipes, Wild Turkey, Kawasaki, and more, along with a tequila bar and food trucks.

Flying In And Out Of BNA

There are some changes going into effect at Nashville International Airport this week, with rideshare drivers no longer allowed to drop off passengers at the departure terminal. All Uber and Lyft pickups and drop-offs will now have to meet at the Ground Transportation Center on level 1 of Parking Garage 2. There are signs to point you in the right direction, but just a heads up to make sure you leave yourself plenty of time when getting to the airport via rideshare.

Don’t Stay at One Stage

CMA Fest is unique for the sheer number of concerts going on at any one time – and most of them are free. The main show at Nissan Stadium in the evenings obviously requires a ticket, as does Fan Fair X in Music City Center and the evening show at Ascend Amphitheater. But during the day, there are tons of different stages, both indoors and outdoors, and countless other free events going on all around downtown Nashville.

The free stages for this year’s CMA Fest are:

-Chevy Riverfront Stage – Located at 1st Avenue and Broadway, and featuring some of the biggest free shows throughout the weekend.

-Dr. Pepper Amp Stage – Located at 1st Avenue and Demonbreun, behind Ascend Amphitheatre

-Chevy Vibes Stage – Located in Walk of Fame Park at 5th Avenue and Demonbreun

–Maui Jim Reverb Stage – Located outside Bridgestone Arena on 5th Avenue and Broadway

–Hard Rock Stage – Located outside of the Hard Rock Cafe on 1st Avenue and Broadway

But aside from the official CMA-sponsored shows, there are also a ton of other free shows going on at any one time. Blake Shelton’s bar, Ole Red, is once again playing host to the free Spotify House, with a steady lineup featuring some pretty killer acts throughout the weekend. And Eric Church’s bar, Chief’s, is playing host to SiriusXM The Highway’s Music Row Happy Hour, which will feature appearances from artists all throughout the weekend.

Many other bars throughout the city have their own lineups, or will play host to pop-up shows throughout the week. It just takes a little bit of research to find who you want to see, but if there’s somebody on your must-see list, make sure you follow them on social media because that’s usually how they announce surprise appearances and shows.

All that to say, there’s a lot of free music going on at any one time – so don’t just plan on posting up at one stage all day. That’s how you end up seeing Mason Ramsey and missing Luke Combs.

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Bring a Clear Bag

All of CMA Fest’s events have a clear bag policy – so don’t get turned away from your favorite show because you didn’t know the rules.  In addition to a clear bag, a small clutch bag or wallet 4.5” x 6.5” or smaller is allowed.

The clear bags can’t be bigger than 12” x 12” x 6”, so make sure your bag fits the measurements. Otherwise, you may have to pay to check your bag while entering the festival areas.

One thing that I always see is guys having to leave their pocket knives behind while going through security, so make sure you don’t contribute to the collection and leave it at your hotel when you head out for the day.

Leave the Cowboy Boots at Home

Comfort is the name of the game.

Because the stages are spread out all over downtown Nashville (and because parking is non-existent and traffic is a nightmare), you’ll be doing a lot of walking. In fact, it’s pretty much your only option for getting between the different stages due to all of the road closures.

I know everybody wants to show off their country cred and break out their cowboy boots for CMA Fest, but don’t. It’s not worth it to be miserable when your feet start hurting during the first day. CMA Fest is a marathon, not a sprint, so dress for comfort and not for style. Everybody’s too busy watching the concerts to notice your boots anyway.

Prepare for All Weather

Just like you don’t want your feet hurting after the first day, there’s nothing more miserable than getting sunburnt the first day and having to bake in the sun the rest of the weekend when you’re already fried. Bring plenty of sunscreen (non-aerosol, because aerosol cans are prohibited) and throw that sh*t on every chance you get.

But don’t just prepare for the sun. It looks like there’s a chance of rain during at least part of this year’s festival, so plan for that too. Umbrellas are prohibited at all stages, because if you’re the guy who opens and umbrella in front of somebody at a concert you’re obnoxious and everybody hates you. Ponchos, though, are your friend: No matter how ridiculous you think they look, at least you’ll be dry.

Download the CMA Fest App

The CMA Fest app has all the information you need for the weekend, from lineups to maps to what you can and can’t bring in to the concerts. You can even use the app to create your own schedule and get reminders throughout the weekend. Announcements about special events and surprise pop-up shows are also made through the app, as well as changes to the schedule due to weather, so it’s a good one to have on your phone if you want to stay up-to-date on what’s going on and make the most of your experience.

But on that note…

Cell Service Might Be a Problem

Even on weekends in downtown Nashville, the crowds can get so big that cell service is hard to come by. Figure out a plan to meet up with your friends, and plan on having to walk a couple blocks away from the action to call an Uber or Lyft.

Watch for Pop-Up Shows

It’s Nashville, so artists are constantly showing up to the different bars on Broadway or other stages to play surprise shows. Some of these are announced in advance and some aren’t, but if you’re hanging out at a bar, you never know who you might see. Check social media and a lot of times you can track down a surprise performance from your favorite artists.

Getting Around Town

Don’t plan on driving around downtown Nashville. Roads have been shut down for days already, and it’s going to be a nightmare getting around. Plus, parking is going to be at a premium, and if you’re able to find it you’re going to pay a hefty price. If you’re not staying within walking distance of downtown, just plan on catching an Uber or a Lyft.

Uber and Lyft both have designated pickup and drop off zones, so don’t expect them to meet you wherever you are when you decide you’re ready to leave. The good news is that there should be plenty of drivers available this weekend, so it shouldn’t take long to get a ride either to or from the festival.

Nashville also has a plague of electric scooters, so those are another quick way to get around if you’re just going a few blocks. Bird and Lime all have scooters that are easy to find and relatively cheap, so go ahead and get the app set up if you think you’ll want to take a scooter while you’re in town.

Where To Eat

Most of the bars on Broadway serve food, but some will have much longer lines than others. Along with their restaurant, Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Chief’s on Broadway has a to-go window right on the sidewalk which makes it perfect for grabbing a quick bite, and of course there will also be food trucks on 5th Avenue between Demonbreun and Korean Veterans Boulevard, right beside Music City Center and Fan Fair X.

Assembly Food Hall, located at 5th and Broadway, is also a great place to grab a quick bite with plenty of options from local restaurants. And if you can manage to get into Robert’s Western World for a Recession Special…well nothing beats a fried bologna sandwich during a day of drinking and listening to country music.

HYDRATE!

Saving the most important for last. This one’s common sense and should go without saying, but every year I see lines of people waiting for fluids in the medical tents so I’m going to say it anyway.

Resist the urge to hydrate with Busch Light all weekend and mix in some water with your drinking. And of course, replenish with Pedialyte or Liquid IV in the morning so you can keep it going for 4 days. You don’t want to have to cut your CMA Fest experience short because you’re dehydrated.

And obviously there are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby, but lines are going to be long and it may take awhile to find somewhere to sit down and grab a drink. Plan ahead and don’t wait until you’re ready to pass out before you take a break for food or drink.

CMA Fest is a hell of a time in Nashville – so if you’re going to be in town: Welcome, enjoy yourself, say hi if you see us around, and make the most of your time here in Music City. And don’t forget to follow Whiskey Riff for all of the best CMA Fest content all weekend long.

Oh, and don’t be this lady…

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