Introduction
Nashville has always been known for its music, culture, and southern hospitality—but over the years it’s also built up a solid reputation among car lovers. From historic raceways to street-shows, exotics to hot rods, Nashville’s car community is active and growing. The Nashville International Auto Show at the Music City Center draws automotive manufacturers, local clubs, and enthusiasts from across Tennessee. Whether someone loves roaring muscle cars, sleek imports, restored classics, or exotic supercars, Nashville has plenty of events to stir that passion.
Car Meets & Auto Shows List
Below are several of the best shows, meets, and driving-experiences in and around Nashville.
- Nashville International Auto Show
- When: Annually (typically in the fall).
- Where: Music City Center, 201 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203.
- What to Expect: Major automakers display latest models, concept vehicles, EVs, vendor booths. Great for seeing what’s new in the automotive world and comparing models side-by-side.
- Nashville Cars & Coffee
- When: First Saturday of every month (8:00 AM-11:00 AM).
- Where: Nashville Superspeedway, 4847-F McCrary Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090 (~30 miles from downtown Nashville).
- What to Expect: A relaxed gathering of all sorts of cars—imports, exotics, classics, daily drivers. Perfect for morning drives, meeting the community, enjoying cars without pressure.
- Manual Driving Academy Driving Experience
- What it is: Lessons in driving manual (stick-shift) vehicles with expert instructors. Develops greater control, understanding of car behavior, and confidence behind the wheel.
- Where: Manual Driving Academy has a location in Nashville, TN.
- Why attend: Gift certificates are available and never expire. Useful whether someone wants to cruise into meets with confidence, participate in shows or just improve personal driving enjoyment.
- Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars at Cheekwood
- When: Annually (often spring or early summer). Example schedule: 9 AM-4 PM; full-day event.
- Where: Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37205. (~10-15 minutes from downtown, depending where you’re located in Nashville).
- What to Expect: Beautifully maintained classic cars and motorcycles, art meets automotive design, food trucks, family friendly atmosphere. Great for people who appreciate aesthetics, craftsmanship, and automotive history.
- BASF Nashville Nationals
- When: May 16-18, 2025.
- Where: Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, TN. (~30 miles east of downtown).
- What to Expect: A large gathering of car shows, drag racing, vendor displays, and community events. If you love big events, variety, and motorsport energy, this one delivers.
- Specialty & Seasonal Events / Smaller Community Meets
- ** charity shows like “Cars For CASA”** — e.g., event in Hendersonville at Half Batch Brewing, benefiting CASA, open to all vehicles.
- Sumner County / Hendersonville Cruise-Ins & Shows — local Sunday or weekend events in suburbs.
- Track & Racing Events — Nashville Superspeedway hosts racing events, experiences, and sometimes Cars & Coffee or show-type gatherings.
Conclusion
From the large-scale auto shows to grassroots Cars & Coffee meetups, Nashville provides a thriving scene for car enthusiasts of all stripes. Whether someone loves sleek exotics, restored classics, roaring muscle, or imports, each event offers something unique. And if you want to move from admiration to action—driving with more control, mastering stick shift, or simply feeling more confident behind the wheel—a lesson with Manual Driving Academy can make all the difference.
Ready to take the next step? Check out Manual Driving Academy here: Nashville, TN (gift certificates available and never expire).
