Your Plans for the Month of October

This week saw a turn of the calendar which means a whole new page to fill with activities. It seems like as the weather cools, people are squeezing in everything they can before people turn in for the winter. So get out and enjoy as much as you can!

How fun would it be to stomp grapes this weekend? What a great idea. A Vintage Affair continues the celebration of its 12^th year of supporting nonprofit organizations in Williamson County with The Grape Stomp at Animalia. It will be held this Sat, Oct 6 from 2-7 at Animalia, a veterinarian clinic near the Westhaven neighborhood.

If you love cheese as much as I do, then the Southern Artisan Cheese Festival is a must-do event. On Sat, Oct 6, sample 75+ handcrafted cheese from over 20 artisanal cheesemakers from six states around the Southeast. Each cheesemaker will be on hand to introduce and share their cheeses with. And with each $44 ticket comes a $5 voucher. They’ll also be craft beers, wine, tea and other beverages on hand to wash down such creamy, stinky goodness.

This week is the last chance to catch Smokey Joe’s Cafe! The Franklin Theater is putting on the broadway revue that features fun hits that range from rock to rhythm & blues from legendary songwriters Lieber & Stoller. It promises to be a really good time and with an outstanding cast, could be the perfect date night with dinner in downtown Franklin.

I am so excited to explore Germantown during it’s heyday–Oktoberfest. Any festival with steins, sausage and lederhosen has to be a good time so be sure to be there out and about on Sat, Oct 13th. And to relieve some of the guilt of overindulgence, there is a 5k around historic Germantown beginning at 8:00 AM the morning of the street festival.

I am totally ready to whip out my English-degree-pants and head to the Southern Festival of Books Oct 12-14. Each year the Festival brings to Nashville approximately 250 of the nation’s and region’s most prominent authors, spanning all genres (including chefs). There are so many things on this schedule, I can’t even handle it, and every session is free and open to the public with no advance registration or tickets required. Just make sure to get out early since seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Luke Bryan is set to headline the 5th annual Capitol Street Party on Weds Oct 17. The free concert will move from Demonbreun Street to Lower Broadway this year with Luke and newcomers Kelleigh Bannen and Jon Pardi performing on a stage set up on Broadway between 1^st and 2^nd Avenues.

 

I think it’s clear I love a good wine festival (here and here) so I am very glad to see another one on the calendar in Nashville. On Friday, Oct 19 from 7-10 pm at the Factory in Franklin will be 300+ wines to sample, live entertainment, seminars and so much more. Tickets run $75 or $85 at the door.

To celebrate the Latin American holiday of Los Dias de Los Muertos, head out to Cheekwood for their Fall Festival. The event has tons of kid-friendly, artsy activities as well as a marketplace, live music, and food. AND the event is free for anyone under 17.