One of the best shows you can see in Music City won’t cost you a dime, and it happens every night at sundown over a rare patch of green space near downtown. Station yourself under a tree at the edge of the field near Bicentennial Mall’s seldom-used amphitheater and watch the shift change. The big birds head for their nests first, followed by sparrows. Then, just as the sky fades from orange to smoky blue, bats come out to hunt their breakfast. One or two soon becomes a dozen, cutting zigzag paths across the grass, swooping and snapping up mosquitos and flies. They appear to defy the laws of physics as they do their part to keep nature’s delicate balance. STEPHEN TRAGESER
Best Place to Watch Nature’s Bug Zappers
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
