InterNASHional Food Crawl Leads List of Things To Do Around South Nashville Labor Day Weekend

SOUTH NASHVILLE, TN — The unofficial end of summer means cookouts, one last dip in the pool, putting away the seersucker and white shoes until Easter, and a bevy of community events.

The Music City has plenty to offer revelers of all kind for Labor Day weekend. Between the start of football season, outdoor concerts, and festivals across the city, there's no reason to be bored before the summer slips into...the later part of summer.

InterNASHional Food Crawl
Nolensville Road, beginning at Plaza Mariachi
Saturday, Noon
Wristbands are $55

The annual, much-anticipated celebration of food and culture in the hub of the city's immigrant community, the food crawl guarantees visits to at least five restaurants, offering samples of cuisine from all over the world. Restaurants are traditionally not announced in advance, but maps will be available the day of the event with recommended routes. Charter buses and curated tours are also available. The event benefits the Tennessee Immigrant and Refuge Rights Coalition. More information at the event website.

Live On The Green
Public Square Park
Thursday 5:30 p.m., Friday 5 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m.
Free

The weekly concert series wraps the season with a three-day finale with 25 bands on two stages over three days. California alt-rockers Young the Giant, Seattle-based Southern-inspired indie darlings Band of Horses, and jammy noodlers Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals headline. Other highlights include local rockers and purveyors of ferocious live shows Bully and snarling country chanteuse Nikki Lane. Performances are scheduled to wrap around 11 each night.

Food trucks will be on site. Get a full schedule at the Live On The Green site.

Tennessee State vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 17th John Merritt Classic
Nissan Stadium
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Ticket prices vary

Nashville's annual contribution to the slate of historically black college and university Classics football games, this year's edition brings the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions to town to kick off the season against TSU's Tigers.

Of course, one of the highlights of any Merritt Classic is the halftime Battle of the Bands, pitting TSU's Aristocrat of Bands against UAPB's Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South.

Rewind Festival
Riverfront Park
Sunday, 2 p.m.
Tickets starting at $40

The traditional Sunday accompaniment to the Saturday Merritt Classic is this celebration of food and old-school music across the river in Riverfront Park. This year's performers include the Zapp Band, Lenny Williams, Adina Howard, Troop, Pastor Troy, and Bruhman. For information and tickets, visit the festival's website.

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Tennessee Volksfest
East Park
Friday through Sunday, gates open at 11 a.m.
Admission is free, tokens and steins are $5

Advertised as Nashville's only "Munich-style Oktoberfest" to differentiate itself from the street festival free-for-all of the Germantown Oktoberfest, the Volksfest focuses on the beer, the music and the food. It's an all-ages event (after all, the kids can enjoy bratwurst and pretzels while the parents get sudsy and everyone loves the oompah). More information and advanced tickets at the event web site.

National Beard & Mustache Championships
Ryman Auditorium
Saturday, 8 p.m.
Tickets starting at $27

There's a championship for everything, it seems. Facially-hirsute folks will face off in a mind-boggling 18 different categories for the honor of declaring themselves the bearer of the best beard in the seventh edition of the Just for Men-sponsored event. More information at the event website and tickets available from the Ryman.

Music City Balloon Festival
Percy Warner Park
Sunday, 4-9 p.m.
General admission $12, VIP $60, Kids under 5 are free

Arts, crafts, music, food and the glories of the gentle giants of the sky highlight the gathering on the Steeplechase infield at Percy Warner.
No, the hot-air balloons do not let slip the surly bonds of earth and ascend into the summer sky. Instead, the night culminates with a "glow," as the balloonists stay anchored to terra firma and illuminate the balloons.

Image via the United States Department of Agriculture.