One thing I’ve really come to appreciate lately is how Nashville still rewards curiosity. You can live here forever and somehow still hear about a park, bakery, trail, or little neighborhood spot you’ve never been to before. That’s what I loved about this week’s Locals List with Brittney Farrow. It’s full of the kind of family-friendly hidden gems that don’t always make the big “Top 10” lists, but end up becoming the places you and your kiddos actually want to repeat visit. Plus, if you’re looking for some last-minute ideas for where to take Mom for Mother’s Day, she’s got you!

And while we’re on the subject of good local hangs, Whiskey, Wine & Whiskers on May 16th feels like one of those events that knows exactly what it is: drinks, adoptable pets, hype music, and a crowd of people who are probably going home happier than they arrived. That’s the power of puppies, and if that sounds like your kind of Friday night, go ahead and give it a whirl!*

JUST ANNOUNCED

• Bella White and Erin Rae take over The Basement East on May 16th for a night of quietly devastating folk songs and harmonies that’ll stop your conversation mid-sip. If you like country music with actual feelings in it, then enter to win tickets, and mark your calendars now!*

• Live music at an old airpark just feels cooler than live music almost anywhere else. Cornelia Airpark Concerts kicks off on May 23rd with Blue Cactus, Milly Raccoon, and HWY ’94 taking over the runway at Cornelia Fort Airpark right around golden hour. Win tickies, bring a blanket, and stay awhile!*

• Rosé season officially arrives on May 16th at East Park with the Nashville Rosé Festival: an afternoon of pink drinks, spring outfits, live music, and people pretending they “only came for one glass.” Win your way in, use code DO615 for $10 off, and lean into the aesthetic.*

• Still looking for Mother’s Day ideas for mom? How about bringing her right to the source and spending a day shopping at Tanger Nashville, one of the newest and most well-curated areas in town. Browse the shops, have lunch, and enjoy the day out together spoiling her back.*

• Salute the Troops on Memorial Day weekend (May 22nd-24th) at the Nashville Flea Market, bringing you vintage finds, handmade goods, summer décor, and that one item you absolutely do not need but will think about for three straight days if you don’t buy it. Win free parking!*

• Plus other just announced shows from DJ Shadow, Darius Rucker’s St Jude benefit, two nights of Kacey Musgraves, and more!

LOCAL’S LIST: BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY HIDDEN GEMS w/ BRITTNEY FARROW

Between school pickups, snack negotiations, and figuring out what to do with the kids that won’t immediately drain your soul, local mom and owner & operator of Woodland Play Cafe, Brittney Farrow, somehow still found time to round up some of Nashville’s best family-friendly hidden gems, including a few ideas for Mother’s Day weekend!

Consider this your gentle reminder to all the moms, caretakers, aunties, grandparents, and everyone else holding it down: you deserve fun too. From low-key parks to under-the-radar activities around town, this guide’s packed with places that make getting out of the house actually feel worth it.

THIS WEEKEND, ETC

LOCALS ONLY

• Mother’s Day can hit a little differently for some people, and these two gatherings are offering softer places to land. Creative Connections with Horses for Women Without Mothers happens on May 9th for anyone needing fresh air and quiet reflection, while Quiet Pages on May 14th creates space for writing, conversation, and being around people who get it.*

• The Turnip Truck’s throwing a 25th Anniversary block party on May 9th at the Historic Edgefield location with live music, local vendors, food, drinks, giveaways, and a kids’ area. Few things feel more East Nashville than hanging out on Woodland Street, eating snacks with neighbors.*

• The Nashville Spring Festival takes over Nashville Chinatown on May 9th–10th with international food, live music, lanterns, kite flying, giveaways, and enough photo ops to fill your camera roll by 2 pm. Free parking too, which honestly deserves its own round of applause around here.*

WIN STUFF

FEATURED