Events

THE CONTRIBUTOR CALENDAR

Nashville’s Best Free Events Downtown

Whether you’ve lived in Nashville for years or you’re just in town for a few days, there’s always a way to get out and about without spending a ton. Every two weeks, The Contributor rounds up some of the best local fun to help you navigate all the city has to offer as well as volunteer opportunities and the occasional quick hot tips for the tourists from a vendor.

NASHVILLE READS "FREADOM" SCAVENGER HUNT

Jan. 7 | 10 a.m.. at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street

The Nashville Public Library has leaned in to celebrating the freedom to read banned or challenged texts in the past year — even creating banned book library cards that quickly went out of stock at several locations. On Jan. 7, the library is inviting folks to the main branch downtown to participate in a scavenger hunt centered around banned and challenged books throughout history. Families, work teams and other groups are welcome to participate as a team

CRAFT A NEW YEAR: CHEROKEE BASKET/MAT WEAVING WITH SARAH THOMPSON

Jan. 7 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Tennessee State Museum, 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.

The Tennessee State Museum's “Craft a New Year: Learning Craft Workshop Series," which is done in partnership with Tennessee Craft, begins anew in January 2023. Though the courses do come with a cost, they are taught by traditional makers: Sarah Thompson is a third-generation basket maker and enrolled member of the Eastern band of Cherokee Indians. She has worked for both the Cherokee Historical Society and the Museum of Cherokee Indians. She’ll be leading the class on Cherokee Basket/Mat Weaving. There will also be chances throughout January to learn book making, weaving and clay techniques. The museum notes that all skill levels are welcome, but classes are designed for beginning adults with little or no experience.

STACY WILLINGHAM, AUTHOR OF ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS, IN CONVERSATION WITH RACHEL HAWKINS

Jan. 11 | 6:30 p.m. at Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike

Stacy Willingham will be at Parnassus Books to discuss her latest book All the Dangerous Things with Rachel Hawkins. All the Dangerous Things follows Willingham’s New York Times bestseller, A Flicker in the Dark. The latest book is the story of a mother whose son is taken from his crib in the middle of the night.

KEEL HUNT, AUTHOR OF A SENSE OF JUSTICE , IN CONVERSATION WITH BRUCE DOBIE

Jan. 17 | 6:30 p.m. at Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike

Keel Hunt is slated to discuss his book A Sense of Justice: Judge Gilbert S. Merritt and His Times with local publisher and writer Bruce Dobie. This is a free event which will take place in store on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 6:30pm Central Time. Hunt’s biography follows the life and times of Judge Gilbert Merritt as a vehicle to “understand modern U.S. politics of the mid to late 20th century—how it came to be, and how it worked—particularly in the American South,” the event reads.