Helpful Hints

Several things you can count on during your visit to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, TN. It will be HOT, You will do a lot of walking/standing, and you are likely to see a thunderstorm or two pop-up during your stay. Below are some things you should have or do.
  • ​Wear comfortable shoes (don't break in a new pair of boots here)
  • Drink lots of water (stay hydrated)
  • Sunscreen (non aerosol)
  • Insect Repellent (non aerosol)
  • A hat or cap
  • Ponchos for the rain (umbrellas are not allowed)
  • Towel or Blanket if you are planning on going to the Riverfront stages
  • Extra batteries for your electronic devices (phone, camera, etc.)
  • Phone
  • Camera
  • Extra SD Cards for you camera
  • Autograph book/CD covers (leave the CDs at home), photos of where you met the stars before, etc.
  • Sharpies, you never know who you will run into and where
  • Download the Official CMA Music Festival app to your phone to get the latest up-to-date information

​If you can think of anything we may have missed, let us know at countrystarphotos@gmail.com

Useful Items

Below, you can find items that will come in handy during you trip to Nashville for the CMA Country Music Festival. ​Click on the images to purchase your items prior to your trip so you want be running around trying to find them when you get there.

NOTE: These are tied to my Amazon Affiliate Account

Camera Equipment & Accessories

This is the camera I own and I love it!
See ALL Cards

Phone Chargers and Cables
It would be nearly impossible to list all possible phone cables for the large numbers of models available. The following link will take you to a list of all charging cell phone cables offered by Amazon.
Portable Phone Chargers
Charging Cables

Autograph Supplies

Always have a sharpie on hand. You never know who you will run into or where.

I like to use a sketch book to collect autographs. That way, I can have the artist autograph one page and put our picture together (in scrapbook fashion) on the facing page.

​Two other items I  always have on hand are the stiff plastic sleeves for inserting pictures I collect during the week so they don't get bent and post tubes. Many fan clubs give out pre-signed posters at their parties. You will be glad for the tubes by the end of the week.

Parking

Picture
 Park it Downtown has information on 177 lots and 32,000+ parking spaces in and around downtown Nashville.

​Keep in mind that during certain events, such as the CMT Awards, certain lots may be reserved for staff and television crews. ​Also, during this time, some of the lots may not be accessible due to road closures especially along Broadway between 1st Avenue and 5th Avenue.

​This site also provides a search function for your convenience. ​Visit: ParkitDowntown.com for more details.
You an pre-purchase a parking pass for the Metro Courthouse: DETAILS

Music City Circuit

Music City Circuit is a FREE bus shuttle service for the downtown Nashville area. It is a great way to get from one end of town to the other efficiently.

The Music City Circuit serves many downtown destinations including Bridgestone Arena, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), Farmers' Market, Country Music Hall of Fame, First Tennessee Park, Historic Second Avenue, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Bicentennial Mall, Gulch bars and restaurants, downtown hotels and other downtown attractions and landmarks.

Circuit buses traveling on the Blue and Green Circuits operate every seven to eight minutes between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and every 15 minutes after 7 p.m. along 4th and 5th Avenues to and from Demonbreun Street and the Bicentennial Mall area. On weekends, the Blue and Green Circuits operate every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Purple Circuit operates every 15 minutes on weekdays.

​Visit the Music City Circuit WEBSITE for more information.
​

Restaurant Guide

The Country Music Association has put together a nice map of dining options in and around the downtown area of Nashville. See their MAP on the official CMA Festival Website.

​Some of these restaurants will take reservations thru their own sites or thru Open Table.

Read Reviews before you go (click below to view)
​Trip Advisor​
Nashville Eater
​Southern Living

Prohibited Items

There is quite a bit of information on the official CMA Music Festival Web-site regarding prohibited items. Some of those are listed here. For the most complete up-to-date list, please visit CMAfest.com

​PROHIBITED
  • Aerosol Cans
  • Animals (service animals are permitted)
  • Beach or sports balls
  • Camera attachments, tripods, monopods, etc.
  • Cameras with a detachable lens
  • Coolers, canisters or glass
  • Drones
  • Drugs
  • Firearms and other weapons
  • Fireworks
  • Flags
  • Frisbees and projectiles
  • Hoverboards
  • Horns, whistles, boomboxes, and other noise makers
  • Infant car seat carriers
  • Laser pointers
  • Outside alcohol
  • Outside food and beverages
  • Poles, selfie sticks, and/or sticks of any kind
  • Skateboards, bikes, rollerblades
  • Umbrellas and other objects that obstruct another patron’s view
  • Video, Audio, and/or recording devices (including GoPros)
  • Other items deemed disruptive or dangerous at the discretion of Event Management

Allowed
  • Binoculars
  • Camera phones, disposable cameras, and small digital cameras
  • Empty water bottles (no glass)
  • Ponchos
  • Sunscreen