Nashville Fourth of July 2022: What to know, who's playing, what to bring and more
Organizers are gearing up for the annual "Let Freedom Sing!" Music City July 4th event, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands to downtown Nashville.
Last year, the event attracted a record-setting 350,000 people, according to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Another record crowd is expected this year.
From performances by Old Dominion and fireworks to family fun and other festivities, here's what you need to know about Nashville's 2022 Fourth of July celebration.
Who's playing?
The main event starts July 4 at 4 p.m. on the Jack Daniels Broadway Stage. Old Dominion will be joined by Gramps Morgan, Cassadee Pope and Levi Hummon on the main stage, located at 1st and Broadway. This year's event is presented by Dr. Pepper.
After main stage acts, the Nashville Symphony will play at the Ascend Amphitheater, accompanying fireworks, which are set to start at 9:29 p.m.
A total of 17 local Nashville acts will also play at the Broadway Stage and at Amazon Family Fun Zone on Sunday and Monday.
Sunday performances at the Amazon Family Fun Zone are scheduled to include Troubadour Blue, Craig Duncan & Friends, Les Kerr & The Bayou Band, The Woods, Jesse Labelle and Emily Earle, along with DJ Dave Audé.
On Monday, performances will include SanRafaelBand, Joe West Band, Jenny Tolman, Nick Howard and Jeverson, along with DJ Rod Youree.
Middle Tennessee weather: Heat advisory in effect through Friday
Do I need a ticket?
All July 3-4 events are free of charge, including musical performances, fireworks and access to the Amazon Family Fun Zone. Vendors selling food and merchandise will also be set up, alongside other downtown Nashville businesses.
What time are the fireworks?
The fireworks will start at 9:29 p.m. on July 4 and run for roughly 30 minutes. They will be accompanied by a synchronized performance with the Nashville Symphony.
CMT will nationally broadcast part of the main stage concert and the full fireworks show on tape delay from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. CT.
This year will mark Nashville's biggest and longest fireworks display yet, with 40,000 pounds of explosives and 200 miles of wire used.
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What's the best place to watch the fireworks?
Organizers recommend you watch the fireworks from the following locations:
Lower Broadway
Ascend Amphitheater
Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge
Riverfront Park
The Green at Riverfront Park
Public Square Park
Music City Walk of Fame Park
The fireworks will also be livestreamed at visitmusiccity.com/july4th and shown on the big screen at Ascend Amphitheater.
What's included in the Amazon Family Fun Zone?
The Amazon Family Fun Zone will be set up at the Music City Walk of Fame Park, located at 4th Avenue South and Demonbreun Street. Free inflatables, games and other kid-friendly activities will be available on July 3 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and July 4 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
What's the schedule?
Music and festivities will kick off July 3-4 at noon and run through the evenings. Local acts will play throughout both days.
Main stage acts will kick off at 4 p.m. at the Broadway Stage, located at 1st and Broadway. Levi Hummon is set to start a 4:55 p.m., followed by Cassadee Pope at 5:40 p.m., Gramps Morgan at 6:45 p.m. and Old Dominion at 8:05 p.m.
The Nashville Symphony will perform in sync with the fireworks at 9:29 p.m. for roughly 30 minutes.
Organizers noted that all event times are subject to change. A full schedule can be found at visitmusiccity.com/july4th/schedule.
What to bring and what to leave at home
Attendees should also plan to walk through metal detectors and may be subject to wanding. Several first aid and information tents, water refill stations and misting stations will be scattered throughout the event grounds.
Organizers also urge people to stay hydrated, wear and reapply sunscreen as needed, and wear hats and sunglasses. Over-exposure to the heat and sun can cause sunburns, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, among other medical conditions.
Permitted items include:
Collapsible chairs
Small handheld umbrellas (up to 36 inches)
Blankets and ground tarps (up to 6' x 8')
Bags measuring up to 16'' x 10 '' x 4''
Personal cameras
All chairs and umbrellas must be taken down and stored by 4 p.m. each day.
Here's a look at prohibited items and activities:
No coolers
No backpacks or luggage
No guns, knives, other weapons or dangerous devices of any kind
No outside alcoholic beverages. Only alcoholic beverages purchased from a designated official event vendor are allowed on site.
No illegal substances, drugs or drug paraphernalia
No fireworks
No laser pointers
No pets (except service animals)
No drones or other remote-controlled aerial or ground-based devices
No unauthorized vending, sales, sampling, solicitation or distribution of materials including handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, giveaways, etc. (event credentials required)
No wagons or pull-carts
No unauthorized personal transport devices, including bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, Segways, golf carts, mopeds, scooters, electric scooters (Bird, Lime, Spin, Lyft, JUMP, Gotcha, Bolt) or any personal motorized vehicles other than wheelchairs or ADA Devices (event credentials required)
No pedicabs or pedal taverns
No unauthorized amplification devices permitted, which disrupt event production, including handheld megaphones
No noisemakers (musical instruments, bullhorns, air horns, whistles, etc.)
No performances or demonstrations of any type outside of the Designated Freedom of Expression Zone
No pop-up tents
No beach or pole-style umbrellas
No inserting stakes, poles or any other objects into the ground, or use of ropes, cords, tape, etc. to reserve space
No hammocks or attaching anything to any park structures or trees
No audio recorders or video cameras
No camera stands, monopods, tripods, attachment sticks or selfie sticks
No pepper spray
No aerosol containers of any kind
No sealed containers of any kind
No throwing objects
No professional-grade radios or walkie-talkies
No large chains or spiked jewelry
No signs, flags on sticks or poles
No collapsible chairs in Ascend Amphitheater
Phone recording of concerts are illegal. No bootleg recording, streaming or reposting.
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke
The Nashville Office of Emergency Management provided the following signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Keep in mind that children and older adults are especially vulnerable to the dire effects of heat.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include:
Dizziness
Thirst
Heavy sweating
Nausea
Weakness
If you or someone you know is showing signs if heat exhaustion, act fast and move to a cooler area, loosen clothing, sip cool water and seek medical help if symptoms do not improve.
Keep in mind that heat exhaustion can also lead to heat stroke.
Heat stroke symptoms include:
Confusion
Dizziness
Loss of consciousness
If you or someone you know is showing signs of heat stroke, call 911 immediately, move to a cooler area, loosen clothing and remove extra layers and cool with water or ice until help arrives.
Road closures
Road closures will vary throughout the week leading up to the celebration, alongside closures on July 3-4 in downtown Nashville along Lower Broadway and the Cumberland River.
Sections of Broadway and Korean Veterans Boulevard will be closed around downtown both days, along with several main roads that intersect them. The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and other areas near the fireworks display will be closed during the fireworks starting at 8 p.m. Monday.
The latest information can be found at visitmusiccity.com/july4th/road-closures.
Parking
July 4 parking options range from $15-$20 at the Metro Courthouse, Music City Center, downtown public library and Fifth and Broadway parking garages. Nissan Stadium is also offering $15 parking.
More downtown parking options can be found at parkitdowntown.com.
Information on rideshares, public transit, bike and scooter storage and more can be found at visitmusiccity.com/july4th/parking-transportation.
Find reporter Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What to know about Nashville's downtown 4th of July bash