March in Nashville is the month when you learn to stop trusting the 5-day forecast. The average high sits at 17°C (63°F) and the low around 6°C (42°F), but those numbers disguise the real story. You might walk down Lower Broadway in a t-shirt on a 22°C (72°F) Tuesday afternoon, then wake up Wednesday to 3°C (37°F) and sideways rain. Locals call the late-season cold snaps 'second winter,' and they tend to hit at least once in March, sometimes with frost as late as mid-month.
That said, March is when Nashville's live-music calendar shifts into a higher gear before the summer festival crush. Spring break visitors from SEC college towns across the Southeast start filling the honky-tonks by mid-month. Hotel rates creep up around St. Patrick's Day weekend near March 17, but you're still well below the summer peak pricing that hits in June and July. A standard hotel room in Midtown or the Gulch tends to run noticeably cheaper than in peak summer, with early March offering the best value before spring break demand kicks in. The math works in your favor.
If you're coming specifically for rooftop bars and guaranteed outdoor dining weather, April and May are safer bets. March delivers 141mm of rain spread across 11 days, which likely means 2-3 days of steady drizzle. The rainy days push you into Nashville's deep bench of indoor venues, though. The Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, and the songwriter rounds at Bluebird Cafe are all better experienced when you're not competing with peak-season crowds. And on the clear days, Centennial Park's trees start leafing out, Cheekwood Estate opens its spring gardens, and the dogwood and redbud trees along Shelby Bottoms Greenway put on a quiet show.
Why visit in March
- Hotel rates in Germantown and East Nashville run 25-35% below the June peak, with walkable neighborhoods and strong restaurant scenes at shoulder-season prices.
- The live-music circuit is fully operational without summer crowds. Songwriter rounds at the Bluebird Cafe, Station Inn, and 3rd & Lindsley have shorter waitlists in March than in May or June.
- Early spring blooms at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and along the Shelby Bottoms Greenway bring color back to the city after the gray of January and February.
- Nashville Predators hockey at Bridgestone Arena is in the final stretch of the regular season, and the atmosphere gets noticeably louder as playoff positioning tightens.
Worth knowing
- Rainfall averages 141mm across 11 days in March. Rain arrives in multi-hour frontal systems, not quick showers, so plan on losing 2-3 full outdoor days.
- Temperature swings of 15°C (27°F) within a single week are common. You might pack for spring and get hit with a frost advisory overnight.
- Lower Broadway gets rowdy on St. Patrick's Day weekend and during spring break weeks. The pedal taverns and party buses peak around mid-to-late March.
- Several seasonal rooftop bars and outdoor pools don't open until April or May, so the warm-weather Nashville experience is still limited.
Best for
Think twice if
March in Nashville feels like three seasons shuffled into one month. Stretches of mild, sunny days around 18-22°C (64-72°F) get interrupted by cold fronts that drop overnight lows near freezing. The average high of 17.2°C (63°F) and average low of 5.8°C (42°F) smooth out what are often sharp day-to-day swings. Rain arrives in multi-hour frontal systems rather than quick afternoon showers, and the 141mm total across 11 rainy days means you should expect to lose at least a couple of afternoons to gray, damp weather. Humidity holds around 67%, which isn't the sticky wall of August but still feels damp on cooler days. Morning fog along the Cumberland River is common in the first two weeks of the month.
Seasonal caution
- Late-season frost is possible through mid-March. Overnight temperatures occasionally dip below 0°C (32°F) during cold snaps, which catches visitors off guard if they've packed for spring weather.
- Severe thunderstorms with tornado watches occur in Middle Tennessee during March. Nashville sits in the secondary tornado corridor, and March marks the start of the spring severe weather season. Follow the NashSevereWx account for localized alerts that tend to be more precise than national forecast services.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | -1 | 127 |
| Feb | 12 | 2 | 138 |
| Mar | 17 | 6 | 141 |
| Apr | 21 | 10 | 133 |
| May | 26 | 15 | 157 |
| Jun | 31 | 20 | 157 |
| Jul | 32 | 22 | 198 |
| Aug | 31 | 21 | 180 |
| Sep | 28 | 18 | 195 |
| Oct | 23 | 12 | 86 |
| Nov | 16 | 6 | 106 |
| Dec | 12 | 3 | 113 |
Best things to do in March
Songwriter rounds at the Bluebird Cafe
musicThe 90-seat listening room in Green Hills hosts nightly in-the-round songwriter sessions where Nashville's working songwriters perform and tell the stories behind country and pop hits. March's smaller crowds mean better odds of getting a seat without booking weeks ahead.
Shorter waitlists than the May-August peak. Reservations open 7 days in advance and tend to go within minutes during summer, but March dates often remain available for 2-3 days.Booking tipCheck the Bluebird's website at noon exactly 7 days before your target date. Sunday and Tuesday shows are the easiest to get.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens spring blooms
natureThe 55-acre botanical garden and art museum in the Belle Meade neighborhood opens its spring season in March with early daffodils, crocuses, and the first magnolia blooms. The Japanese garden path smells like wet cedar and fresh earth after the rain.
March is when the earliest spring bulbs break through, and the gardens are uncrowded compared to the April tulip peak and the summer wedding season.Nashville Predators game at Bridgestone Arena
sportsBridgestone Arena on Broadway holds over 17,000 fans for Predators hockey. The March stretch features rivalry matchups as Central Division teams fight for playoff spots. The catfish-throwing tradition and the arena's noise level are something you feel in your chest.
Late-season games carry playoff intensity without the premium ticket prices that come once the postseason bracket is set in April.Tennessee Whiskey Trail distillery tours
food_drinkThe trail covers over 30 licensed distilleries across Tennessee. Within Nashville, you can visit Corsair Distillery in the Marathon Village complex or Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Germantown without needing a car. The warm mash smell hangs thick inside the barrel houses.
March temperatures in the 10-17°C range make the bourbon-heavy tastings more appealing than in summer heat. Tour groups are smaller before the May-October rush.Lower Broadway honky-tonk crawl
musicThe 4-block stretch of Broadway between 2nd and 5th Avenues packs in Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Robert's Western World, and The Stage, all with free live music starting around 10am daily. The sound of competing bands bleeds out of every open door.
March weekdays still have breathing room on the sidewalks. By June, the pedestrian traffic on Lower Broad gets thick enough to slow you to a shuffle.Shelby Bottoms Greenway walk or bike ride
outdoorsThe 5-mile paved greenway follows the Cumberland River through 960 acres of bottomland forest on Nashville's east side. In March, the redbud and dogwood trees start blooming in patches of pink and white along the trail, and you might spot great blue herons fishing near the river bends.
The early spring canopy is thin enough to let sunlight through, and the trail is far less crowded than Percy Warner Park's more popular routes.Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
cultureThe 350,000-square-foot museum on Demonbreun Street houses rotating exhibits alongside permanent collections spanning from Jimmie Rodgers' 1927 recordings through modern Nashville. The vault holds over 2.5 million artifacts. Plan for 2-3 hours minimum.
Rain days in March make this a natural fallback. The museum typically rotates a new major exhibit in late February or early March, so the galleries feel fresh.Nashville Farmers' Market
food_drinkThe year-round market on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard near the Tennessee State Capitol has an indoor food hall and outdoor vendor sheds. March brings the first ramps, spring onions, and early greens from Tennessee farms within 150 miles of the city.
Mid-March marks the transition from winter root vegetables to the first spring harvests. The outdoor stalls expand their hours as temperatures climb above 15°C.What to eat in March
In season: fruit
Tennessee strawberries
Early-season berries start appearing at Nashville Farmers' Market on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard by the last week of March. They're smaller and tarter than the summer crop, with a sweetness that signals the turning of the season.
On menus now
Nashville hot chicken
March temperatures in the 10-17°C (50-63°F) range make the cayenne-crusted fried chicken more comfortable to eat than in the 32°C (90°F) summer. Prince's Hot Chicken on Dickerson Pike still draws lines, but the cooler March weather makes the outdoor wait more tolerable.
Meat-and-three lunch plates
Nashville's signature lunch format. Pick a protein and three sides from a steam table. March's transitional weather suits the heavier comfort food, with turnip greens, mac and cheese, and fried catfish rotating through the daily selections.
In markets
Ramps
These wild leeks appear at Nashville Farmers' Market stalls starting mid-March. East Nashville restaurants around Five Points feature ramp pesto, ramp butter, and pickled ramps as seasonal specials for a 4-6 week window each spring.
Turnip greens
Late winter's final harvest of turnip greens shows up at Nashville Farmers' Market through mid-March. You'll find them braised with pot liquor at meat-and-three spots like Arnold's Country Kitchen on 8th Avenue South and Monell's in Germantown.
Festival food
Corned beef and cabbage
St. Patrick's Day on March 17 brings Irish-American comfort food specials to pubs and honky-tonks across Lower Broadway and Midtown. Nashville's Irish community centers the celebration around the downtown parade route.
Regular events in March
Nashville St. Patrick's Day ParadeFree
Downtown parade running along Broadway and 2nd Avenue, typically drawing several thousand spectators. Green beer flows freely at the Lower Broadway honky-tonks afterward.
Saturday closest to March 17Nashville Predators home games
Multiple home games at Bridgestone Arena during the late-season NHL push. The arena sits at the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue, walkable from most downtown hotels.
Various dates throughout MarchNashville Flea Market at the Fairgrounds
One of the largest flea markets in the Southeast, held on the 4th weekend of each month at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds on Nolensville Pike. Over 800 vendors spread across indoor and outdoor spaces selling antiques, vintage clothing, and local crafts.
4th weekend of MarchTin Pan South Songwriters Festival
Nashville Songwriters Association International hosts 5 nights of songwriter rounds across 10+ venues including the Bluebird Cafe, 3rd & Lindsley, and the Listening Room Cafe. Multiple shows per night, typically late March or early April.
Late March to early April (varies by year)Best places this March
Ryman Auditorium
music_venueThe 'Mother Church of Country Music' on 5th Avenue North seats 2,362 and still hosts 200+ shows per year. The wooden pew seating and stained glass windows give it the acoustics and atmosphere of a 19th-century revival hall. March shows tend to be easier to get seats for than the packed summer calendar.
DowntownCentennial Park and the Parthenon
parkNashville's full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon sits in the 132-acre Centennial Park in Midtown. The 42-foot Athena statue inside is the largest indoor sculpture in the Western Hemisphere. March afternoons around 18°C bring joggers, dog walkers, and the first picnic blankets of the year.
MidtownGermantown
neighborhoodNashville's oldest neighborhood, north of the Capitol, has evolved into a dense pocket of restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques along 4th and 5th Avenues North. The brick row houses date to the 1850s-1860s. March evenings are cool enough to make the walk between dinner spots comfortable.
GermantownThe Gulch
neighborhoodA former rail yard turned mixed-use district south of Broadway. The neighborhood packs restaurants, boutique hotels, and the iconic 'What Lifts You' wings mural into a few walkable blocks. March foot traffic is lighter than the summer Instagram crowd.
The GulchPercy Warner Park
parkThe 2,684-acre park in Belle Meade offers 12 miles of hiking trails through old-growth forest west of downtown. The steep switchbacks on the Warner Woods Trail gain about 240 meters of elevation. March's bare canopy opens up views of the Nashville basin that disappear once the leaves fill in by May.
Belle MeadeMarathon Village
shoppingA converted 1880s auto factory on Clinton Street that now houses Corsair Distillery, Antique Archaeology (of American Pickers), Batch Nashville, and a rotating mix of small shops. The industrial brick hallways still smell like old wood and machine oil.
North NashvilleNashville Farmers' Market
marketYear-round market near the Tennessee State Capitol with a permanent food hall and seasonal outdoor vendors. March is when the first spring produce starts appearing alongside the indoor international food stalls serving Somali, Kurdish, Mexican, and Southern dishes.
Germantown
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Insider tips
The songwriter rounds at smaller venues like Bobby's Idle Hour on Music Row and The Listening Room Cafe on 4th Avenue South are often better than the Bluebird for actually hearing the stories behind the songs. Fewer tourists, more industry people in the audience.
Skip the pedal taverns on Broadway and walk to Robert's Western World instead. The fried bologna sandwich at the bar and the house band playing real honky-tonk are the genuine article. The pedal tavern experience is mostly screaming over traffic noise.
Nashville Farmers' Market's food hall stays open year-round and has some of the best international food in the city. The Kurdish and Somali stalls tend to be less crowded at lunch than the Southern food vendors.
NashSevereWx on social media provides hyper-local weather alerts that are more useful than national services during March storm season. Locals check it before checking the Weather Channel.
Germantown's restaurant row on 4th Avenue North is walkable from downtown in about 15 minutes across the Jefferson Street bridge. Taking a rideshare for that distance is a waste during March's mild afternoons.
The Ryman Auditorium offers daytime self-guided tours when there's no evening show. The building is worth seeing even without a concert. The acoustics are noticeable even when it's empty.
Avoid these mistakes
- Packing only for spring weather. March in Nashville can swing from 22°C to 3°C within 48 hours, and at least one 'second winter' cold snap is nearly guaranteed. Bring layers for both.
- Spending every evening on Lower Broadway. The tourist corridor is loud and repetitive after the second night. East Nashville's Five Points neighborhood and the Gulch have better food and a calmer atmosphere.
- Ignoring severe weather alerts. Nashville sits in a secondary tornado corridor, and March is the start of the spring storm season. Tornado watches are not hypothetical here.
- Assuming all rooftop bars are open. Many of Nashville's rooftop venues close for winter and don't reopen until April or May. Check ahead if rooftop drinking is a priority.
- Driving everywhere. Nashville's core neighborhoods, including Downtown, Germantown, the Gulch, and Midtown, are walkable from each other in 10-20 minutes. Parking downtown is expensive and stressful, especially on weekend evenings.
Practical tips for March
Book accommodations in Germantown, East Nashville, or Midtown rather than directly on Broadway if you want to sleep before 2am. The honky-tonk noise carries several blocks. March hotel rates are well below summer peak, but St. Patrick's Day weekend around March 17 and spring break weeks create short demand spikes, so book those windows early. Rideshare wait times stretch past 15 minutes on Friday and Saturday nights downtown. The WeGo Star commuter rail and city buses cover some routes, but Nashville remains largely car-dependent outside the core. For live music, check venue calendars 7-10 days ahead. The Ryman, Bluebird Cafe, and 3rd & Lindsley post schedules online, and popular songwriter rounds fill up fast even in shoulder season.
FAQ
Is March a good time to visit Nashville for live music?
March is one of the better months for live music if you want the full experience without peak crowds. The honky-tonks on Lower Broadway run live music daily starting around 10am year-round, and the ticketed venues like the Ryman Auditorium and Bluebird Cafe have full calendars. Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival often falls in late March, adding 5 nights of songwriter rounds across 10+ venues. You'll find shorter lines and easier reservations than in the June CMA Fest window.
How bad is the rain in Nashville in March?
Nashville averages 141mm of rain across 11 days in March, making it one of the wetter months. The rain tends to arrive in multi-hour frontal systems rather than brief afternoon showers, so you might lose 2-3 full outdoor afternoons. That said, the dry stretches between systems can be sunny and mild around 18-22°C. A packable rain jacket and flexible itinerary handle it well.
What should I wear in Nashville in March?
Layers are essential. Daytime highs can reach 20-22°C (68-72°F) between cold fronts, but evenings drop below 7°C (45°F) regularly. A medium-weight jacket, a light rain layer, and a mix of t-shirts and flannels cover the range. Closed-toe shoes are practical for wet Broadway sidewalks and honky-tonk floors.
Is Nashville crowded in March?
March falls in Nashville's shoulder season, so crowds are moderate compared to the June-August peak. You'll notice more visitors during St. Patrick's Day weekend around March 17 and during spring break weeks, particularly on Lower Broadway. Weekdays remain relatively calm, and restaurants in neighborhoods like Germantown and East Nashville are easy to get into without reservations on most March evenings.
Are there any major festivals in Nashville in March?
March doesn't have a single blockbuster festival on the scale of June's CMA Fest. The Nashville St. Patrick's Day Parade on the Saturday closest to March 17 draws crowds downtown, and the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival often falls in late March across multiple venues. The Nashville Flea Market at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds on the 4th weekend draws antique and vintage shoppers from across the Southeast.
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