Nashville has one of the country’s most impressive 4th of July fireworks shows. Thousands of people flock to the downtown area to take in the sights, the music, and the drinks every Independence Day.
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Many visitors watch the firework show by flooding Broadway with their friends and family, but there are some alternatives to just standing in the street. Below, we talk about the best free and paid experiences in Nashville to enjoy the 4th of July fireworks this year.
1. Rooftop Bars on Broadway (Paid)
If you’d like to get a relative reprieve from the horde of people on Broadway, you can visit one of the many rooftop bars lining the street. Nashville is known for its multi-tier, artist-themed bars. They draw visitors year-round but are especially sought-after during holidays and special events.
Most, if not all, of the bars on Broadway offer rooftop experiences during the 4th. They usually require a ticket to enter, which comes at varying prices depending on the bar and the package a visitor wishes to select. Below, are a few Broadway rooftop bar experiences that will hopefully fit a number of budgets.
- L27’s July 4th Bash! (SoBro/Downtown) – $40 a person / TICKET INFO
- Moxy Rooftop (Lower Broadway/Downtown) – $125-$250 a person / TICKET INFO
- Bobby Hotel Rooftop Lounge BBQ (Downtown) – $125-$175 a person / TICKET INFO
- Acme 4th of July (Downtown) – $200 / TICKET INFO
2. Skydeck on Broadway (Paid)
In the same vein, the Skydeck at Assembly Food Hall is another great option. Tickets are going for $10 a piece, making the Skydeck one of the cheapest rooftop experiences. Given the cheaper price though, the crowd size will likely be much larger than that of the other rooftop bars–nothing like the crowd standing on Broadway though.
The Skydeck has been offering a rooftop experience on the 4th for three years now. This year they boast a line-up of live music featuring Sam McCrary & The Mix and Aubrey Grant. Find more ticket information, HERE.
3. Riverfront Park (Free)
The entirety of Broadway is fair game when it comes to claiming a standing spot throughout the night. But, if you want to be up and close and personal with the acts slated to play Let Freedom Sing! (i.e. Brad Paisley, The War And Treaty, Langhorne Slim, and more), plan to watch from Riverfront Park.
Riverfront Park is located on the Cumberland end of Broadway. Only there will you get a front-row seat to both the concert and the fireworks show. It is highly coveted and free, so plan on getting there early if you choose this option.
4. East Park (Free)
On the other side of the river is East Park. This location offers similar front-row views to Riverfront Park, but less of the downtown crowd. Prior to the fireworks show, East Park is hosting their annual Hot Chicken Festival.
If you head over to the East side of Nashville, you’ll not only get a view of the fireworks exploding over the downtown skyline, but you’ll get to enjoy one of Music City’s finest delicacies.
5. Parking garages (Free-ish)
If you don’t want to pay for a ticketed event, make your own rooftop experience by trekking up to the top of a parking garage.
If you are fortuitous enough to already live downtown in a high-rise apartment, perhaps your resident-only parking garage will be the best option for you. Grab some friends and start the party yourselves.
There are several parking garages downtown that would likely offer good vantage points for the fireworks for those traveling, but that means paying a parking fee and navigating around roadblocks and hordes of pedestrians. Despite some of the setbacks, a public parking garage could be a fantastic option for those looking for alternatives to the Broadway scene.
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