Vanderbilt graduation weekend 2027: things to do in Nashville

Friday, 14 May 2027 · ExpectedNashville, United States

Vanderbilt Commencement brings parents, grandparents and siblings to Nashville for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in Nashville Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Alumni Lawn and Commencement Lawn

Nashville (BNA) is 15 minutes from downtown.

West End Avenue; rideshare from downtown.

Public transport directions to Alumni Lawn and Commencement Lawn

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Airport and Music Valley	Chains near the Opry.
Mid-range	The Gulch and Midtown	Near Vanderbilt and downtown.
Splurge	Downtown	Luxury hotels near Broadway.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Hampton Inn Nashville Downtown
Mid-range: Graduate Nashville
Splurge: The Hermitage Hotel

Links search the nights from 13 May to 15 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for Friday, 14 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Thursday 13 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeBroadway live music (no cover in most bars).
EatBiscuit Love Brunch

Ceremony day

Friday 14 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatArnold's Country Kitchen Meat and three
Easy outingCountry Music Hall of Fame Half day · Indoor · Family
Downtown.

The day after

Saturday 15 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-dayHot chicken and food tour Half day · Food
Hot chicken and biscuits.
EatHattie B's Hot chicken

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickGrand Ole Opry show Evening · Nightlife · Family
Country music institution.
Rain or heat backupRyman Auditorium tour.

Family-friendly picks

Evening · Nightlife · Family

Grand Ole Opry show

Country music institution.

See times and prices

Half day · Indoor · Family

Country Music Hall of Fame

Downtown.

See times and prices

Nashville Zoo.
Adventure Science Center.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Nightlife

Honky-tonk pub crawl

Broadway bars.

See times and prices

Evening · Nightlife · Family

Grand Ole Opry show

Country music institution.

See times and prices

Full day

Jack Daniel's distillery day trip

Lynchburg.

See times and prices

After dark

Broadway honky-tonks.

5 tours worth booking for Vanderbilt

Tour	Length	Good for
Country Music Hall of Fame	Half day	Bad weather, Families
Hot chicken and food tour	Half day	Food lovers
Jack Daniel's distillery day trip	Full day	Everyone
Honky-tonk pub crawl	Evening	Night owls
Grand Ole Opry show	Evening	Night owls, Families

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Hattie B's Hot chicken
Biscuit Love Brunch
Arnold's Country Kitchen Meat and three

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Indoor · Family

Country Music Hall of Fame

Downtown.

See times and prices

Ryman Auditorium tour.
Frist Art Museum.

Getting around on event days

WeGo buses and rideshare; downtown is walkable.

Day trips from Nashville

Franklin: 30 minutes
Lynchburg: 1.5 hours

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for Vanderbilt.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is Vanderbilt Commencement 2027?

The next edition is Friday, 14 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Alumni Lawn and Commencement Lawn?

Nashville (BNA) is 15 minutes from downtown. West End Avenue; rideshare from downtown.

Where should I stay for Vanderbilt Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is The Gulch and Midtown: Near Vanderbilt and downtown.

What else can we do around Vanderbilt Commencement?

Good short outings in Nashville include Country Music Hall of Fame, Hot chicken and food tour. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near Vanderbilt Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Grand Ole Opry show, Country Music Hall of Fame. Nashville Zoo.

How far is Alumni Lawn and Commencement Lawn from Nashville centre?

About 3 km in a straight line. West End Avenue; rideshare from downtown.

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