CMA Fest weekend is officially upon us, and Nashville is primed and ready for the summer’s greatest Country Music celebration. Whether you're a first timer or you’re old-school and have been doing this thing since they called it Fan Fair at the Fairgrounds back in the day, we've got an updated Insider's Guide to CMA packed with tips, tricks, and lessons learned from surviving Nashville's biggest week.

In other news, we’d like to wish everyone a Happy Pride Month! We're giving away a pair of 2-day passes to 2DP: A Two Night QDP Pride Celebration at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville. Two nights of drag, DJs, dancing, and delightful camaraderie? Sounds pretty gay. Sign yourself up to win.*

JUST ANNOUNCED

• New Orleans institution The Iguanas bring their irresistible blend of roots rock, Tex-Mex, R&B, and Latin rhythms to 3rd & Lindsley on June 12th. If your summer plans could use a little more dancing, this is a good place to start. Win tickets!*

• Skip fighting for a lounge chair and level up your pool day instead. Grand Hyatt Nashville's rooftop cabanas come with shade, privacy, and easy access to drinks. Enter to win pool passes and claim your spot in the sun.*

• Coco Fest Summer returns to Hop Springs on July 19th with a free night of music, community, and purpose. Founded in honor of Cobyn Johnson, the festival celebrates the healing power of music while supporting youth access to instruments, creative expression, and mental health awareness. Support the cause!

• WNXP's Summer Line Series is bringing free outdoor shows to Nashville Yards all summer long, with performances from Devon Gilfillian (June 26th), Bully (Aug 22nd), Ratboys (Sept 25th), and more artists still to be announced. The price is right, the lineup is strong, and your summer concert calendar just got a little fuller. RSVP now!*

• Plus other just announced shows from Bully, Maren Morris, Jim Gaffigan, and more!

PRO TIPS FOR CMA FEST THIS WEEK

CMA Fest is equal parts country music paradise, endurance sport, and social experiment. You'll sweat more than you planned to, walk farther than you expected, accidentally discover your new favorite artist, and wonder why everyone else looks so much more prepared than you.

Luckily, we've rounded up the tips, tricks, and hard-earned wisdom that'll help you navigate four days of free concerts, stadium shows, celebrity sightings, and downtown tomfoolery like a seasoned CMA Fest veteran.

THIS WEEKEND

LOCALS ONLY

• Need a break from Broadway before you've even hit Broadway? Recovery Ranch takes over the Friends In Low Places rooftop on June 6th with workouts, DJs, matcha, wellness activations, shopping, and enough good vibes to make your CMA Fest weekend feel slightly more balanced. Heal yeah!*

• Roller derby and Pride? That's a combo we can get behind. Nashville Roller Derby hosts Memphis Roller Derby for a Pride-themed doubleheader at The Fairgrounds on June 13th, featuring four teams, plenty of hard hits, and enough rainbow-fueled fanaticism to keep things interesting. Slay, Kings and Queens!*

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