Memorial Day Celebrations in Nashville, Tennessee: Honoring the Fallen

Family Celebrations and Weekend Festivals for Memorial Day in Nashville, Tennessee

Having lived for five years in Washington, D.C., Memorial Day celebrations in Nashville are somewhat limited compared to many other U.S. cities. However, there are quite a few ways to celebrate Memorial Day in Nashville, so let's take a look at some of the ways Nashvillians will be celebrating Memorial Day this year.

Traditional Memorial Day Celebrations in Nashville

My family used to spend the day on our grandparents' farm, cooking out, climbing grape vines, swinging over streams, and running amok in the fields. People in Nashville like to take to the country: farms, parks and pools for Memorial Day. It is common to find parking lots full at places like Edwin Warner State Park, Percy Priest Lake, and other outdoor attractions. While most of the local Metro Swimming Pools don't open for another week or two, several water parks will be open on Memorial Weekend including Wave Country, Nashville Shores, and Tie Breaker. Picnics, cook outs, a day at the pool - spending time with family and friends - these are the traditional Memorial Day celebrations in Nashville.

Also, some of the city's cemeteries offer special Memorial Day ceremonies for those who have fallen in war, so some Nashville families make a trip to their local cemetery to put a flag on the grave of their military loved one. Many of Nashville's cemeteries are decorated with American Flags by local Boy Scout Troops. Although not quite on the scale of the National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., it is still a moving sight and a great way to honor our fallen veterans. Several participating cemeteries include: Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, Nashville National Cemetery, and Stones River National Cemetery in Murfreesboro and other cemeteries also have special ceremonies for Memorial Day.

Weekend Memorial Day Festivals and Celebrations in Nashville

Nashville does have a few bigger events planned for Memorial Day in 2009 for those looking for more of a festival atmosphere or large Memorial Day event.