Food Festivals in Nashville

Dine Nashville fills February with chef collaboration dinners and deals, ending with Nashville Restaurant Week's prix-fixe brunch, lunch and dinner menus.

TipThe collaboration dinners sell out early, so buy those tickets when the line-up is announced; Restaurant Week menus need no ticket.

The Nashville Predators Wine Festival and Tasting in Nashville benefits the team foundation, with 200 wines, signature pours and chef stations inside.

TipVIP tickets get early access and access to a special grand-cru room; general admission opens 60 minutes later.

Music City Food and Wine Festival runs three days at Centennial Park in Nashville each April with Grand Tasting, mixology competitions and chef-led dinners.

TipThe General Admission tier covers the Grand Tasting; upgrade to Connoisseur for chef dinners and seminars.

Nashville's free Music City Hot Chicken Festival in East Park celebrates the city's signature dish each July 4 since 2007, plus a fire-truck parade.

TipArrive by 10:30 for the parade; bring cash and sunscreen. The amateur cook-off is the unsung draw.

Nashville Wine Auction l'Été du Vin, founded in 1980, is billed as the country's longest running charity wine auction, with three late-July nights of tasting, dinner and auction for cancer causes.

TipThe three nights are the seated Vintners' Tasting on Thursday, the Patrons' Dinner on Friday and the l'Été du Vin dinner and auction on Saturday; in 2027 they fall on 29, 30 and 31 July.

Tomato Art Fest in East Nashville's Five Points runs free over two days each August, with costumes, tomato-themed art, food vendors and concerts.

TipCostumes are encouraged; tomato red is the unofficial dress code. Bring cash for art and food vendors.