Cocktail lovers, rejoice! I’m about to fill your calendar with some fun tasting events.
First up is the return of a music and cocktail event with the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Aug. 14 with the return of the Spirits of Summer event. This year's combination concert and cocktail party has an ancient Greek theme (Hello, The Odyssey!) and is titled “Mythos and Melodies.”
Local mixologists will be crafting cocktails inspired by a piece of classical music while attendees sip on their creations and listen to live performances of the music from the Schermerhorn stage. The participating bartenders are:
Cal Caplan from Modern Love at Fairlane Hotel
Josh Lindsey from Soho House
Jordan Spaulding from Love's Alibi
Hunter Thammavongsa from Demure Cocktail Lounge
The evening begins at 6 p.m. for VIP ticket-holders with an exclusive preevent cocktail party that includes a guided Greek wine tasting, living statues, a harpist performance and more. Regular tickets provide admission at 7:30 p.m. for the cocktail party and concert. Everyone can participate in the silent auction for items including VIP shopping experiences, luxury car rentals, custom portraits, hotel and vacation home stays, plus a guitar signed by Vince Gill.
You can still grab early-bird tickets through the end of July via the Nashville Symphony website for general admission ($100) and VIP tickets ($200). On Aug. 1, prices bump up to $150 for general admission and $250 for VIP tickets. It’s a standing room event, so wear your most comfortable sandals and tunic, or you can add on a $25 upgrade for both ticket levels that includes a reserved seating area in the rear orchestra.
Nashville Cocktail Festival 2026
Saturday, Sept. 12, is the date for this year’s edition of the popular Nashville Cocktail Festival put on by the people behind PourTaste. Since starting out more than a decade ago in Nashville, this event has become the prototype for festivals in seven cities around the country in 2026, but we know ours will always be the best, right?
The party returns to East Park from 6-9 p.m. for a festive evening of tastings and education. Food will also be available for purchase so that you don’t have to sample all those cocktails on an empty stomach. Tickets go on sale on July 30 at the event website, but I’ve got a little hint for you: If you sign up to become a “festival insider” at this link, you can buy your tickets starting July 23, and even receive a small discount. Cheers!
Finally, it’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays, or at least fantasizing about cooler weather. Plan ahead for Holiday Spirits, A Christmas Cocktail Affair on Dec. 12 at The Factory at Franklin. From 5 until 8 p.m., attendees will enjoy sample-size seasonal cocktails along with small bites courtesy of Husk. There will be live music from South Margin, a father/daughter duo who play badass acoustic versions of rock ’n’ roll classics. Santa will be there for grown-up photos for your Christmas card, and your admission helps to support the land conservancy efforts of TennGreen.
Tickets are on sale now, and if you use the discount code “MERRY,” you’ll save $10 until July 25.
