Ok, it's late May, and if you are going to the CMA Music Festival, chances are you have your hotel and tickets already. If not, you can plan to stay in the outlying areas, and sit in the nosebleed seats. CMA Music Festival attendees plan in advance... WAY in advance. We're talking a year in advance. On June 10, 2006, you can purchase your tickets for 2007. Then, as soon as the hotels start allowing booking for the following June, you can book your hotel room. I prefer staying downtown and being within walking distance of everything, but you can buy a 4-day shuttle pass from the Music Valley area through Grayline. The shuttles run every 30 minutes, and the last shuttle back leaves 30 minutes after the Coliseum Show is over.
I Don't Have Tickets!
Well, as I mentioned, you're not totally out of luck. You can purchase Four Day Passes, which include admission to the nightly Coliseum shows, Access to the photo line at Coliseum, the Daytime Stages, the Convention Center Exhibit Hall where you can get autographs of many of today's top country stars, plus transportation around town, Collectible Program Book, Label Pin and more. Tickets start at $125, and go up to $155, plus applicable Ticketmaster fees.
Can't do all four days? There are Single Day Tickets still available, which ONLY cover the Coliseum seat. These are $30.00, plus applicable Ticketmaster fees. If you want to see some of the shows at the Riverfront Stages during the day, you can purchase a Single Day ticket the day of the event. These are available for $14.00.
What Else Can I Do?
There's lots of other events to do during the CMA Music Festival. One free event you can attend is the YW Martina McBride Charity Auction on Saturday from 10:30 - 3:00 pm at the Family Zone. Join Martina McBride, Blue County, Martina McBride, Jay Teter, Jimmy Wayne, Trent Willmon and others.
There are lots of other shows you can attend as well. The Opry has five performances during CMA Music Festival week. Four of the performances are at the Opryhouse, and there is a matinee at the Ryman Auditorium.
Here's the schedule of artists:
Tuesday: (7:00 pm) Diamond Rio, Craig Morgan, Blake Shelton, Jimmy Dickens. Buy Tickets
Friday: (8:00 pm) Steve Wariner, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, Darryl Worley, Ralph Stanley, Josh Gracin, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Jimmy Dickens. Buy Tickets
Saturday: (This is the Matinee at the Ryman at 3:00 pm) Sara Evans, Charley Pride. Buy Tickets
Saturday: (6:30 and another show at 9:30 pm) Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Gretchen Wilson, Mark Wills, Ralph Stanley, Montgomery Gentry, Keith Anderson , Chris Young, Charley Pride (first show only), Billy Walker, Bill Anderson.Buy Tickets for 6;30 performance ~ Buy Tickets for 9:30 performance
Opry Tickets run from $31.50 - $46.50 for adults and $21.50 - $46.50 for Children 4-11 Years, plus applicable Ticketmaster fees. There is also a special show hosted by Brenda Lee at the Ryman on Sunday at 2:30 pm, featuring: ean Shepard, Dottie Rambo, Jimmy Wayne, Linda Davis, George Hamilton IV, Margo Smith & Holly, Charlie McCoy, The Fox Brothers, Doyle Dykes, Ricky Headley, The Babcocks, “Country Chorale®,” & many more artists TBA. Buy Tickets Price for this show only is $13.00 - $18.00 plus applicable Ticketmaster fees.
