Formally known as Fan Fair, CMA Fest began in 1972. This year’s festival raised more than $2.5 million for music education and saw more than 90,000 people flock to Nashville, Tennessee.

Attending CMA Fest can be a scary, confusing and overwhelming time for those who have never been before. So, I’ve gathered together some tips and tricks for making your four-day experience at the world’s largest country music festival hopefully, well, easier.

Above all else, have a great time. Music brings people together and creates a sense of community with everyone there to have a good time. That feeling is palpable, especially when everyone is up singing and dancing together. CMA Fest is a huge yet incredibly well run event, and well worth going to at the very least once in your life if you’re interested in country music.

Stages

CMA Fest has five free day stages located around downtown Nashville – Chevy Riverfront Stage, Dr Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Good Molecules Reverb Stage and the Hard Rock Stage.

The Chevy Riverfront Stage is the largest (and most intimidating) of the free stages. It is located at Riverfront Park on the bank of the Cumberland River, so audiences watch from the grassy hill. A Riverside Retreat upgrade pass allows for a private entrance and exclusive amenities.

The Dr Pepper Amp Stage is situated near the Chevy Riverfront Stage in Ascend Park but is a lot smaller. The stage is a short walk to the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge which offers prime views of downtown and the Cumberland River.

The Chevy Vibes Stage at the Walk Of Fame Park is centrally located nearby Music City Center, Bridgestone Arena and the Country Music Fall of Fame and Museum. Similar to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in California, the park itself has plaques that honour music legends like Reba McEntire, Jimi Hentrix, Martina McBride, Elvis Presley, Keith Urban and many more.

The Good Molecules Reverb Stage is at Bridgestone Plaza beside Bridgestone Arena.

The Hard Rock Stage is next to the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant. It is the smallest of the stages but nearby the Chevy Riverfront and Dr Pepper Amp stages as well as on Broadway.

CMA Close Up Stage and Spotlight Stage are situated at Fan Fair X inside the Music City Center building. Tickets cost $10USD per day or $25USD for a four-day pass (or is included with a stadium pass), but it’s well worth it as it gives you access to exclusive Q&As, meet and greets, games and exclusive exhibits. There is also shops and food stalls. The CMA Close Up Stage does fill up so going early is recommended, whereas the Spotlight Stage is a great place to see newcomers.

My tip: Don’t stay at one stage. There is so much to see, and most of the time you discover it by randomly walking past on the way to somewhere else. Most of the roads are closed so even if you do catch a ride in, your only real option for getting there will be some degree of walking.

Additionally, there are two night stages – Ascend Amplitheater and Nissan Stadium. Ascend Amphitheater runs across three nights, and Nissan across all four. I didn’t attend the former but both venues are where you can see some of the biggest names in country music. It’ll cost you a pretty penny but for Nissan, a four-night pass is available. Prices vary depending where you sit.

My tip: If you’re not willing to fork out big bucks to be close to stage, buy the cheapest seats as either way you’ll be looking at the big screen all night. If you’re sitting up the very back too, you get an incredible view of the city at dusk and sunset. Walking up all the stairs, however, is exhausting.

*Stage names are subject to change depending on the year’s sponsors.

Passes

CMA Fest is a mostly free event, with even artists giving their time and talent to support the CMA Foundation. Certainly one can spend nothing on music across the four-day festival if they stick to the outdoor daytime stages, showcases and venue gigs that are free and open to the public.

My tip:I would, however, recommend purchasing a pass for at least one day at Fan Fair X and a show at either Ascend Amplitheater or Nissan Stadium to get the full CMA Fest experience.

Fan Fair X was my favourite place to discover new and up-and-coming talent. If open to, one could easily spend their whole day in Music City Center as you get to experience a little bit of everything in a large air conditioned room (that being music, Q&As with big name artists, meet and greets, and shopping). And a nighttime show, like at Ascend Amplitheater or Nissan Stadium, is incredible to see a taste of big name artists in a showcase format. A must see experience.

My tip: If safety is a concern too, being at Fan Fair X, Ascend Amplitheater or Nissan Stadium, you know you’re surrounded by fellow country music fans just wanting to have a good time. Nashville is relatively safe city, especially with so much security around, but bad eggs can unfortunately lurk in dark corners as in most cities, so exercise normal safety precautions like staying in well-lit areas.

Navigation & Transport

Although Nashville is notorious for a being a car city, the CMA Fest footprint extends a little over two square miles, so the most efficient way to get around is by foot (most stages are within a 10 minute walk of each other). Maps are located around Broadway to help with navigation (although I still found this confusing). There are also purple public buses that go downtown.

My tip: (as someone who isn’t used to streets with north and south sides) is to pay attention to street signs. I know it sounds simple, easy and common sense but if you see N – 2nd Ave – S, for example, that means that if you go left you’ll be on 2nd Ave North and right, 2nd Ave South. The street name running adjacent to you when facing forward is the street you are on. It’s worth arriving an extra day or two to get accustomed with location as it’ll help once the festival begins.

Complimentary shuttles are available for four-night pass holders. Taxis, ride shares and buggys are also available but pricey and limited during peak hours. After one night at Nissan Stadium, a taxi quoted us $40USD for a five minute drive back to the hotel, so avoid if possible. Public street parking is available but also limited and pricey (make sure you check closing times) – even hotels that include parking typically charge around $30-$40USD a day (but this will vary). You can also hop on a scooter – they are easy to find around town and relatively cheap too.

Limited parking passes for Nissan Stadium are available too, but only sold in advance.

App

The free CMA Connect app is really helpful in knowing where and when your favourite artists are playing. If you open the app and click on ‘lineups and schedules’ you’ll see ‘lineup’ (which shows all the artists appearing officially at CMA Fest), ‘stage schedules’ (which lists what artist is appearing when and where), ‘meet and greet schedules’ (which lists where you can meet every artist available for a meet and greet, even if they’re not officially performing) and ‘events around town’ (well, that’s self-explanatory, although there are more events than are listed.)

Another idea, is going to the website, clicking on ‘experience fest’ and going down to ‘activities’. There’s a lot of extra information here, including fun activities like this year’s Dolly’s All Access Pop Up Experience, Carly Pearce Presents Carly’s Closet and The Archives – Artist Closet Sale.

My tip: In the app, pin the artists and shows you’re interested in seeing, so when you go to ‘stages schedule’, click on ‘my schedule’ for a full rundown. That way if you’re looking for something to do, you can easily see what’s available to you. I would recommend being open to a loose schedule though because there’s so much to see and hear that going off schedule is often a good thing.

Other Events

Like I said above, the free app is wonderful but keep an eye on social media for the hundreds of unofficial CMA events happening around Nashville – frustratingly, some are announced in advance and others aren’t.

Following social media websites of venues and artists, or googling popular spots like Spotify House at Ole Red (300 Broadway), Chiefs (200 Broadway) or Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge (422 Broadway) is your best bet to find information and line-ups. But sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time, but if you walk past a huge line, chances are something big is happening.

There’s also the Nashville Visitor Centre (501 Broadway) who can help you out.

Weather

CMA Fest takes place in June, the hottest month in Nashville, with temperatures averaging 30 degrees Celsius (but summer humidity makes the weather feel hotter). With little cloud coverage, even on its cooler days, it can get extremely hot around the free stages without shade covering.

So, it’s important to stay hydrated. My tip: don’t forget to slip, slop, slap.

Free water stations can be found on Broadway and at most stages. Patrons may bring one empty clear plastic container or canister and one factory-sealed clear plastic bottle or aluminium can of water into the daytime stage areas and Fan Fair X in Music City Center.

Additionally, some volunteers were seen handing out handheld fans with artist/venue branding. There is also medical personal around CMA Fest to help if needed. My tip: If, however, you do feel like you need cooling off, it’s best to just duck into a nearby venue where there is an artist playing. That way, you don’t miss out on any music, and you’re still able to enjoy the festival.

Nashville is also prone to severe weather conditions like strong winds, tornadoes and thunderstorms. Notifications can be turned on via the CMA Connect App with safe shelters listed (or proceed to the nearest business for cover if you’re unable to get to one). At night in Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater, follow the instructions provided in the venue.

Clear Bag

When attending CMA Fest, having a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag is recommended. It must not exceed 12” x 12” x 6” (or 30cm x 30cm x 15cm). There is security at every stage entrance but having a clear bag allows you to walk straight in (unless they pull you over, like if you set off the metal detector, for example). A small bag or wallet not exceeding 4.5” x 6.5” (or 11cm x 16cm) is also allowed but subject to inspection, so easier and quicker to just get a clear bag. I found one at the Salvos on sale for $1.50 but you can find a decent one for less than $10 online.

There is also a number of prohibited items so check the CMA Fest website for more information.

Storage

If you do have luggage, you won’t be allowed into most venues, especially the daytime stages, so CMA Fest offers two storage locations near Broadway for the daytime shows, and two storage locations at Nissan Stadiums for night time shows. Times vary between days and prices are subject to change but start at a fee of $10USD. See the CMA Fest website for more information.

Phone charging stations are also available around CMA Fest.

What To Pack

I always pack very light so what is important to me might not be to others. In my clear bag, I had a refillable water bottle, my passport for alcohol purchases and entering certain venues, a snack (such as some hardy candy lollies), sunglasses, sunscreen, phone and small camera.

The CMA Fest website also encourages a rain coat or poncho, just in case. Umbrellas are prohibited, so bare that in mind.

My tip: Wear comfortable shoes. If, like me, you will be doing sooooooooooooo much walking! Most of that was time spent lost/navigating. Again, learn from my mistakes.

Money & Taxes

CMA Fest venues and vendors are cashless, so leave your cash at home (although carrying a bit of cash doesn’t hurt especially at pubs, shops and restaurants). Also note, in the US, taxes are added to the purchase total at the time of payment which results in the total price being different than what is listed/expected. The amount of tax varies from state to state and even city to city. According to taxfoundation.org, sales tax in Tennessee is at 9.55 percent, making it one of the highest in the country, ranking #2 after Louisiana.

The United States does not have a system of tax-free for tourists, so even if you do not live in the USA, you need to pay taxes on your purchases and do not receive a refund for these amounts.

Tipping

Tipping isn’t something that us Aussies are accustomed to and can be intimidating and confusing. From what I can gather, from the locals I spoke to, tipping is only mandatory when someone is giving you some kind of service (like a waiter, uber driver, hairdresser etc.).

So, for example, if you go to a restaurant and have a waiter, it is customary to give them a 15-25% tip. If you order a drink at a bar and they simply hand you a glass, you aren’t required to tip. Of course you can, but you don’t have to (bare in mind they’re probably earning $2-$3 an hour).

I always tipped the minimum except when someone really deserved it. For example, if I had a good uber driver I’d tip them an extra $10. I’m awful at maths so I preferred when bills said how much the tip percentage would be, but this didn’t always happen. I’d usually give bar staff an extra dollar or two for good service if a percentage wasn’t written on a bill/receipt.

As a side note, it pained me having to give a tip to the one uber eats driver who verbally abused me and the hotel receptionist (he violently pounded on the locked door without any food in his hand, then yelled that he’d been driving around lost for ages). You have to tip in advance for uber eats and how I wish I could take that tip back.

Visas

As an additional note, I wasn’t aware of Australians needing to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if visiting for less than 90 days. It’s relatively simple to fill out (a contact in the US is required when filling it out) and can be done online 72 hours before travel, but there is a fee involved.

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This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.