Music City, USA

Its winter in Nashville and spring is around the corner. Residents and visitors are counting down and getting ready. The Nashville Convention Center hosts the 2012 Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville February 10 through the 12th, with the 23rd Annual Nashville Lawn and Garden Show at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, March 1st through the 4th. Soon the signs of Tennessee’s spring appear. The 2012 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival celebration is March 24th. Held at the Public Square in Nashville, join the Japan-America Society of Tennessee and celebrate the arrival of spring. Bring friends and family to enjoy music and martial arts, food, crafts and Japanese cultural demonstrations.

Film Buffs, plan your visit to Nashville in April for the 2012 Nashville Film Festival. Presented by Nissan, NaFF runs April 19th through the 26th. With the new slogan “Film Today, Change Tomorrow”, the festival marks its 43rd year with screenings of more than 250 films from across the globe. This is a great opportunity for middle Tennessee film enthusiasts to rub shoulders with industry professionals and see the latest cutting edge films.

The Parthenon in Tennessee? Well it’s a duplicate, but at full-scale, a visit is a must. Home of the City of Nashville’s art museum, be sure to tour inside Nashville’s Parthenon any time of the year to see the latest 2012 exhibits. Through May 19th, see “Wish you were Here: Cultural Tourism and the Parthenon” showcasing historic documents and postcards of Nashville’s Parthenon and the Acropolis of Athens.

Murfreesboro, 45 minutes southeast of Nashville, is at the heart of Rutherford County. Home of many sites including, Stones River National Battlefield and Historic Cannonsburgh Village, along with classic Tennessee architecture in buildings like the Rutherford County Courthouse.

Stones River National Battlefield celebrates Black History Month and Women’s Month in February with special programs. Visit on the weekends to understand the Civil War experience of African Americans and hear the stories of women during the Civil War. Stones River is an entertaining and educational American experience.

The all out horsemanship experience and competition “Road to the Horse” is a unique experience. Road to the Horse International 2012 comes to Murfreesboro March 9th through the 11th. A fascinating event to watch as trainers and clinicians develop relationship with horses and test their skills using natural horsemanship. Road to the Horse is held at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum on West Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro.

Ten miles to the north of Nashville, Goodlettsville offers the tranquility of rural Tennessee along with convenient access to Nashville’s popular destinations. Book your stay at Best Western hotel in Goodlettsville and relax before venturing into Nashville for the Grand Ole Opry or the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Smoky Mountains National Park

Visit Tennessee, from Nashville, at the heart of the Volunteer State, and Memphis, anchoring West Tennessee, to Chattanooga, in the south, and East Tennessee’s Knoxville, adventure and fun await amidst Tennessee’s natural beauty. Recognized across the globe, the Chattanooga Choo Choo draws visitors to the heart of Chattanooga, and its world-class restaurants and venues. This is the season Tennessee explodes with specular spring blossoms, none more breathtaking than the dogwood trees. Music fills Knoxville’s Tennessee Theatre, the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum and Bijou Theater. And Pigeon Forge is gearing up for spring break at Dollywood as Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains come alive.

Chattanooga welcomes spring, with the 2012 4 Bridges Arts Festival. The Chattanooga festival celebrates its 12th year April 14th and 15th. Regional and National artists gather at 4 Bridges, to showcase a variety of unique and original artwork. Browse artist’s exhibits as you enjoy live entertainment and artisan foods from Chattanooga’s best restaurants. The festival is produced by Chattanooga’s Association for Visual Arts and hosted at the First Tennessee Pavilion, across from Finley Stadium in downtown Chattanooga.

Music lovers visiting southeastern Tennessee, be sure to check the calendar at Chattanooga’s Track29. A top-notch venue featuring an intimate setting for world-class entertainers and national touring acts, Track29 brings They Might Be Giants and Martin Sexton to the stage with Terri Clark and Jake Owen, entertaining country music fans in March. Located in the Southside of downtown Chattanooga in the Chattanooga Choo Choo complex. This is an ideal location for a night out on the town in Chattanooga.

It’s the season for classical music in Knoxville. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra has a full 2012 calendar of events and performances. The Knoxville News Sentinel sponsors the Pops Series featuring Manhattan Transfer on February 4th, Celtic Celebration on March 3rd and in May, a tribute to the Carpenters.

Knoxville’s media and public relations firm, Moxley Carmichael, sponsors KSO’s masterworks series. Monthly performances through May include Mahler in February, “The Planets” by Holst in March and Carnival of the Animals in April. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra wraps up the season in May with Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G.

You know its spring in Tennessee when the Dogwoods bloom. Knoxville celebrates the beauty of spring with the 2012 Dogwood Arts Festival. Dogwood After Dark kicks off the festival with a gala evening of gourmet food and entertainment on March 29th. A variety of events and exhibits through out Knoxville fill April and May’s calendar including the Knoxville Student Art Exhibit, Dogwood Trails, Open Gardens and Camera Sites.

Downtown Knoxville hosts the Market Square Art Fair April 13th through the 15th. Downtown streets fill with tents showcasing art and crafts, stages of live entertainment liven the atmosphere and a variety of food and drink is on hand to keep the party going. Join the fun at Market Square in the center of downtown Knoxville.