NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — This week downtown Nashville will be buzzing as thousands of country music fans convene for the 2024 CMA Fest.
Hundreds of artists on more than half a dozen stages in and around downtown Nashville will rock out for four days starting Thursday, June 6. Country icons like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Keith Urban and Kelsea Ballerini are set for performances at Nissan Stadium, with fan favorites like Lauren Alaina, The War and Treaty and 49 Winchester rocking out the Chevy Riverfront Stage. A mix of ticketed and free concerts will be taking place each day of the festival.
If you’re making the trek to the home of country music for the first time, here’s what you need to know before you go.
CMA Connect App
The most important thing CMA Fest recommends is downloading the free CMA Connect App. The app is the “one-stop shop for all things CMA Fest,” from lineups and stage schedules, maps, official merchandise and more.
The app is available in the Apply Store and Google Play Store.
Fans with CMA Fan Access will also be able to scan QR codes on-site in the app to be entered for chances to win special prizes. The more QR codes scanned, the better prizes available, the fest says.
Festival footprint
The festival takes place in the heart of downtown Nashville, stretching from 8th Avenue S across the river to Nissan Stadium.
Road closures are already in effect for the festival, so traversing the city will be more difficult throughout the day.
As of 9:30 a.m. Monday, no vehicular traffic is allowed on Broadway between 1st and 2nd Avenues, nor on 1st Avenue from Demonbruen to Church Streets. By Wednesday, June 5, even more road closures begin:
- All of 1st Avenue from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun
- All of Molloy Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
- All of Demonbruen from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
- All of Broadway from 2nd Avenue to 4th Avenue
- All of Demonbreun from 4th Avenue to Rep. John Lewis Way
- All of 2nd Avenue from Demonbreun to Broadway
Stages are set up across the area, including by Walk of Fame Park (Chevrolet Vibes Stage), Bridgestone Arena (Good Molecules Reverb Stage), Ascend Amphitheater (Dr. Pepper AMP Stage) and the Hard Rock Café (Hard Rock Stage, Riverside Retreat and Chevy Riverfront Stage).
To view the full festival footprint map, click HERE.
Getting around
The festival itself is easily walkable, but shuttles are available for four-night pass holders. They stop about every 20-30 minutes, though times may vary depending on traffic conditions.
Daytime shuttles run from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., then nighttime shuttles take over from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Daytime shuttle locations include:
- Fan Far X (Music City Center) on 6th Avenue at Demonbreun Street
- Ascend Amphitheater on Korean Veterans Boulevard at 1st Avenue South
- Bridgestone Arena Plaza on Broadway between Rep. John Lewis Way and 6th Avenue South
- Walk of Fame Park/Fan Alley on 4th Avenue South between Broadway and Demonbreun Street
- Nissan Stadium on the South corner of Woodland Street and South 1st Street
Nighttime shuttle locations include:
- Nissan Stadium on the South corner of Woodland Street and South 1st Street
- Korean Veterans Boulevard on Korean Veterans Boulevard between 2nd Avenue South and 3rd Avenue South
- Commerce Street near 3rd Avenue North
Because of ongoing construction for the new Nissan Stadium, CMA Fest recommends fans utilize ridesharing, as parking is “extremely limited.” They also recommend public parking options in downtown Nashville and using the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, Woodland Street Bridge or Korean Veterans Boulevard Street Bridge to get to the stadium.
WeGo Public Transit will also operate a special event train on Saturday, June 8, from Lebanon to downtown Nashville for the concert at Nissan Stadium. The train will depart from Lebanon Station at 4 p.m., Hamilton Springs at 4:08 p.m., Martha at 4:15 p.m., Mt. Juliet at 4:25 p.m., Hermitage at 4:35 p.m., Donelson at 4:45 p.m. and arrive at Nashville’s Riverfront Station at 5 p.m. The return train departs Riverfront Station one hour after the concert. Tickets can only be purchased in advance for $15 plus a $2 processing fee at ticketsnashville.com.
Clear bag policy
In an effort to increase safety at the festival, CMA Fest requires clear bags at all venues and stages.
The bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and may not exceed 12″ x 12″ x 6″ in size. In addition to the clear bags, fans can also carry a small clutch bag or wallet that measures no larger than 6.5″ x 4.5″.
Exceptions will be made for medically-necessary items. Fans with medically-necessary items should enter through the ADA-designated entrances at the outdoor/daytime stages, including Chevy Riverfront Stage, Riverside Retreat, Dr. Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park, Hard Rock Stage at Hard Rock Cafe, Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park and Food Molecules Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Plaza. There will also be an ADA-designated entrance at Fan Fair X in the Music City Center and Ascend Amphitheater.
As for what to pack inside that clear bag, CMA Fest recommends at least the following:
- Your phone with the CMA Connect App downloaded and tickets ready
- Phone charger and/or external battery
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Raincoat or poncho, just in case
- Photo ID for alcohol purchases (if you’re at least 21 years old)
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Cicadas
While they seem to be dying out now, cicadas are still in the area, and CMA Fest organizers have information on them as well.
“While they may be plentiful, have no fear – they are harmless,” organizers say. “They do not bite or sting. Just like thousands of you will be buzzing around downtown Nashville singing your hearts out to all the amazing Country Music, so will the noisy cicadas!”
They say the cicadas are, as the great George Jones said, “here for a good time, but not for a long time.”
Prohibited items
While fans can bring all the cowboy hats and boots they want into the festival, there are some things that will be prohibited. Things fans should leave at home include inflatables, cameras with detachable lenses/selfie sticks, chairs, coolers, drones, firearms and weapons, flags, outside food and drinks, and umbrellas.
For the full list of prohibited items, click HERE.
CMA Fest is back! News 2 crews are giving you a front row seat to all the action as country artists and fans flood Music City. Follow our continuing coverage right here on WKRN.com.
