| Lesson Four: Planning a Trip to the CMA Music Festival | |
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Updated 06/09/09
Things to do
While you're in Nashville for the CMA Music Festival, you'll most likely want to see some other sites, besides the LP Field and where the nightly shows are held, and the Nashville Convention Center, where you can meet the stars for autographs, and the Riverfront Park, where daytime concerts are held.
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Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry shows are on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The Tuesday night show lasts 2 hours and on Friday and Saturday the shows lasts 2 1/2 hours. The line-up for each the performances are released on Wednesday the week of the show. Ticket prices range from $34.00 - $49.00 for adults. Children age 3 and under are free if they can sit in your lap. Buy your tickets at the Opry site online. See links below for specific shows. The shows at the Grand Ole Opryhouse are on Tuesday at 7pm, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm. There is also a matinee held at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm.- Lineup for Tuesday - June 9 Opry: Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Little Big Town, Ricky Skaggs and Lorrie Morgan.
- Lineup for Friday Opry at Opryhouse - June 12 - Charley Pride, Del McCoury and Pam Tillis.
- Lineup for Saturday matinee at the Ryman - June 7th - Pam Tillis and Buddy Jewell.
- Lineup for Saturday Opry at Opryhouse - June 13 - Charley Pride, Mel Tillis and Pam Tillis.
- Lonestar & Friends Bowling Party - The fifth annual Lonestar & Friends Bowling Party will take place at the Hermitage Lanes on June 8 from 6:00 - 10:00 pm. The benefit raises money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Tickets are $30.00, and include BBQ dinner, admission to the bowling party and silent auction, and each ticket holder will be eligible to participate in drawings for a spot on the celebrity's bowling team. Purchase tickets at Countrycares.org.
- ABC Block Party - Held on Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13 at Hall of Fame Park. Cameron Mathison ("Ryan Lavery" on "All My Children") hosts the event, which is free. There is a "Wipeout" obstacle course, for kids and more daring adults, and music from the Divas of Daytime: Kathy Brier and Kassie DePaiva ("Marcie McBain" and "Blair McBain," respectively, from "One Life to Live"), and Bobbie Eakes ("Krystal Carey" on "All My Children"), who are making their Nashville debut as a trio. There will also be autographs and a Q&A featuring the Divas and other daytime stars Bree Williamson ("Jessica Brennan" on "One Life to Live"); Thorsten Kaye ("Zach Slater" on "All My Children"); and Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash, Kimberly McCullough, Greg Vaughan, Laura Wright, and Rebecca Herbst ("Damian Spinelli," "Johnny Zacchara," "Robin Scorpio," "Lucky Spencer," "Carly Corinthos Jacks," and "Elizabeth Webber" respectively, on "General Hospital"). You can also listen to some music from up-and-coming stars Love and Theft, Caitlin & Will and Sarah Buxton.
- For the Love of IFCO A memorial benefit in honor of the Johnson sisters, Loretta, Loudilla and Kay. Together, the sisters have headed up the IFCO show for years. With Loretta's passing, this benefit has been planned, and will be held on Tuesday, June 9 at 6:00 pm at the Nashville Palace. Ticket prices are $30.00 for reserved, and $25.00 for general admission. For tickets, you can email: ifcoshow@aol.com or call 740-974-9885. Artists that are scheduled to participate include: Annie Simms, Tommy Cash, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Deborah Allen, Billy Yates, Baillie and the Boys, David Church, Moore & Moore, Pierre Lorry - France, Ty Herndon and Michael Peterson.
- The City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, held at Greer Stadium, on Wednesday June 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Watch the stars compete against each other for charity. Artists participating include: Adam Gregory, Carrie Underwood, Chuck Wicks, Titan Craig Hentrich, Josh Turner, Justin Moore, Titan Kerry Collins, Luke Bryan, Montgomery Gentry, Carter Twins, Trailer Choir and Whitney Duncan, playing for the Opry Team. Titan Cortland Finnigan, Darius Rucker, Dean Brody, Jake Owen, Jason Michael Carroll, Jimmy Wayne, Joe Nichols, Julianne Hough, Keith Anderson, Mark Wills, Marty Roe, Titan Michael Roos, Randy Houser and Trent Tomlinson will play for Blair Garner's After Midnite team.Buy your Tickets. Tickets are $18.00.
- Country Weekly Fashion Show The third annual Country Weekly Fashion Show will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 12:00 noon at the Wildhorse Saloon. Doors open at 11:00 am. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on April 10, 2009 at 10:00 am CT. Special VIP tickets in the front-row areas and prime runway seating area on sale as of April 1, 2009. A limited number of $125.00 Runway tickets and $50.00 Reserved tickets near the runway will be available. Or, you can purchase a table for $750.00, which seats 8. Name recognition from the stage, appetizers from the Wildhorse Saloon and two buckets of domestic beer (8 beers) are included with the table price. General admission seats are on floors 2 and 3/limited seating, first come, first served. Buy VIP Tickets. Money raised benefits the Musicians on Call charity, which provides live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. The show is hosted by Chuck Wicks and Jessica Harp. Stars who will model on the runway include: Keith Anderson, Chris Young, John Michael Montgomery, Mark Wills, Adam Gregory, Trent Willmon, Emily West, Aaron Tippin & Thea Tippin, Sarah Buxton, Trent Tomlinson, Jennifer Hanson, Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys, Bo Bice, Katie Armiger, Joey + Rory, Whitney Duncan, The Roys, Crystal Shawanda, Megan Mullins, Justin Moore, Dean Brody, Mica Roberts, Carter's Chord, Bomshel, Jypsi, LoCash Cowboys, Krista Marie, Love & Theft, Brad Cotter and Eric Durrance.
- Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam will be held at the Ryman on Wednesday night, June 10 at 10:00 pm. Buy tickets now on Ticketmaster. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Cherryholmes, The Oak Ridge Boys, Connie Smith, Tanya Tucker & more! More artists to be announced. Tickets are $39.50 and 29.50.
- GAC Kick-off Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 am at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Mark Wills will host the event, with performances by Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Emily West, Lane Turner and special guests. Tickets go on sale starting on April 27 at Country Music Hall of Fame. Tickets are $40.00 and include breakfast, live performances, three autographs, and admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit institution.
- Ride for the Cure featuring Little Big Town. This is the third annual Ride for the Cure event. It features a motorcycle ride from the Harley-Davidson of Cool Springs to the Harley-Davidson of Columbia. Motorcycle riders and non-riders are invited to attend. A BBQ lunch provided by Applebees and a post ride performance by Little Big Town and friends is included in your ticket. The T. J. Martell Foundation is offering a special VIP ticket for $300 that includes breakfast, access to the VIP areas during the ride, lunch, a gift bag, t-shirt and performance. Rider and non-rider tickets are $35 and include the ride (if a rider), lunch, t-shirt and performance. Tickets may be purchased on line at NashvilleRideforaCure.com
- Country Music Hall of Fame
- Bluebird Cafe
- Ryman Auditorium
- Wildhorse Saloon
- General Jackson Steamboat
The Nashville Convention and Visitor's Bureau has Coupons for discounts on everything from attractions, tours, dining, lodging, and shopping. Go visit their site to print out the coupons.
I will update this page when performers, prices, and actual dates are announced for these events.