TOP EVENTS IN NASHVILLE & TENNESSEE

All Events Sources for Tennessee from Globalnews.net

Buffalo Bill Rides Again  
Buffalo Bill’s back in town.

10/1
Tue - Sat 10am to 5pm; Sun 1pm to 5pm

The Tennessee State Museum
Nashville, TN

Buffalo Bill’s back, riding in on his – now did he ride a horse or a buffalo? There’ll be answers to this and many more as Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show leads you on a vicarious journey through the life and times of Buffalo Bill, Chief Sitting Bull and sharpshooter Annie Oakley. These people shaped the Wild West portion of American history with their hair raising and high-spirited adventures, and in turn played a large part in the America we know today. Take the kids; they’ll love it and you’ll remember how much you loved Buffalo Bill stories when you were young. -- Rebecca Malone Melo

Butterflies, Birds and Bugs!  
A colorful collection of captivating creatures!

10/1
9:30am to sunset

Memphis Zoo
Memphis, TN

Back by popular demand, this year’s incarnation of the zoo’s butterfly exhibit includes more than 40 species of butterflies in all stages of development, 20 species of birds and a variety of backyard bugs. This has proven to be one of the zoo’s most popular exhibits during the last several years, so if you haven’t seen it, be sure to put it on your calendar this summer. If you have seen it, there are enough new features this year to bring you back. The spectacle of thousands of butterflies fluttering in one place is enough to stir the nature-lover in anyone. -- Betty Spence

Jazz on the Porch  
Pack a picnic and head for the Porch.

10/1
5pm to 7pm

Two Rivers Mansion
Nashville, TN

You’ve seen it as you’ve passed by on McGavock. Now is your chance to see the house up close and personal. You won’t pay a dime to hear some of Nashville’s most talented musicians play a tune or two from the mansion’s porch. Among the artists scheduled to appear are HOKE and his Orchestra BOP, and John Michael Zov. Now is the perfect time of the year for a picnic, so pack a blanket and a basket. It’s also the opportune time to relax with your family or friends before the demands of the week are upon you. – Rebecca Malone Melo

Les Miserables  
Victor Hugo's unforgettable tale of life and love.

10/1

Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Nashville, TN

Les Miserables is the legendary musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic epic novel, which spans three decades in the life of one man, fugitive Jean Valjean. You’ll follow him through time and place as he struggles against capture by the devilish Inspector Javert. The novel’s adaptation into a musical has enjoyed 15 years on Broadway as well as 14 years in London, winning numerous awards, including Best Musical of 1987. The national company will bring Broadway’s revamped and enhanced version of Les Mis to TPAC for one week only and promises to be a musical attendees will remember for years to come. – Rebecca Malone Melo

Nashville Legends on Parade  
Legends immortalized in bronze.

10/1

Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Nashville, TN

If you don’t think country music’s legends have been immortalized as they should be, you’ll be happy to know that Montana artist Bill Rains has done just that. He’s taken the images of the greats and cast them in larger-than-life bronze sculptures. For the first time his works will be exhibited along an open-air gallery running between the Ryman and TPAC through the end of October. Along the path you’ll see Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Hank Snow, Hank Williams Sr., Ernest Tubb and -- just to throw you off a bit -- the not-so-country Elvis. He has not one, but three sculptures entitled “Journey to Graceland,” which portray the King during three stages of his career. Once the exhibit is over, the sculptures will move into the Grand Ole Opry complex, except for Elvis. They’ll make their permanent home in the TPAC lobby. – Rebecca Malone Melo

Paul Robeson  
Controversial Paul Robeson comes alive.

10/1

Cumberland County Playhouse
Crossville, TN

 Something different, new and exciting comes to the Crossville as Horace Smith brings his one-man show Paul Robeson to the Cumberland County Playhouse stage. The story is based on Robeson’s actual life, which was one of struggles and triumph. He was an All-American athlete, Columbia-educated attorney and a world-famous actor and singer who sacrificed everything to speak out against racism and discrimination at a time when it was controversial to do so. Even the NAACP denounced him. And McCarthy’s Senate Committee called on him to defend himself against Communist charges. The play with music will not only entertain you, but will educate you and open your eyes to the sacrifices people make to do what is right. Paul Robeson was the first African American man to play Shakespeare’s Othello since 1865. You may have heard him in his earth-stopping performance of “Ol’ Man River” in the London production of Show Boat. -- Rebecca Malone Melo

Pride in Place: Landscapes by The Eight in Southern Collections  
Take pride in your surroundings.

10/1

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens & Museum of Art
Nashville, TN

The Cheekwood Museum of Art presents a group show to highlight landscape paintings culled from the collections of Southern museums. Pride in Place focuses on that group of artists whose ranks included John Sloan and George Luks, and emphasizes lesser-known paintings by the artists.

State Fair  

10/1
2:30 PM

Cumberland County Playhouse
Crossville, TN

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical tells the tale of a country farm family preparing for its annual outing to the State Fair. From the men who brought you Oklahoma!, come share the story of Ma and Pa Frake, who are busy wondering if they will win the Pie and Pig contests, while their son and daughter dream of finding first love at the State Fair. Featuring such songs as Its a Grand Night for Singing and It Might As Well Be Spring, State Fair is a heart-warming romp through Americas heartland.