CMA Fest 2019: What you need to know
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Thousands of people will be in Nashville for the CMA Fest. Whether you're a local trying to navigate downtown roads or a fan trying to get the best seat at a concert, we've got you covered.
How much of the festival is free?
Much of CMA Fest is free and can be enjoyed simply by walking around downtown Nashville. In fact, all daytime, outdoor stages and activities are open to the public.
All concerts at the following stages:
- Chevy Riverfront Stage
- Budweiser Forever country Stage
- Chevy Breakout Stage
- Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgeston Plaza
- Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage
Nissan Stadium and the Fireston Country Roads Stage (Ascend Amphitheatre) will house some of this year's biggest shows and of course, require tickets. The other stages that require tickets are:
- CMA Close Up Stage
- CMA Spotlight Stage
- Radio Disney Country Stage and
- HGTV Lodge (Admission is open only to winners of the Ultimate Fan Experiences Drawing . Admission to this daytime stage cannot be purchased.)
When is everything happening?
The festival officially begins Thursday and ends Sunday, but there are multiple events leading up to the weekend.
Monday:
- Darius & Friends concert at The Ryman (10th annual anniversary)
Tuesday:
- Grand Ole Opry Free Plaza Party : live music from Riley Green, Tegan Marie, Tenille Townes and Travis Denning as well as some drinks, food, games and more.
- Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole tournament
- "CMT Crossroads Brooks & Dunn and Friends" free concert: Gates open at 7 p.m. on the corner of 5th and Broadway. Fans encouraged to get there early as it's standing room only on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wednesday:
- CMT Awards
Thursday:
- Xfinity Fan Fair X
- Festival begins see the schedule here
What roads will be open/closed?
Several roads will be closed in the downtown area, but the closures don't go far beyond downtown.
Who's playing the festival?
The great thing about the CMA Fest is that talent ranges from emerging artists to major headliners. Taking the nightly Nissan Stadium stage this year are Country Music superstars Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.
Here's a look at the complete lineup.