Veterans Day Freebies and Memorial Day Activities in Nashville: A 2019 and 2025 Guide

Free offers and community events in Nashville, Tennessee, have historically provided significant value to consumers, particularly military personnel and their families. While Memorial Day focuses on honoring those who died in service, Veterans Day celebrates all who have served. The provided source material offers a detailed look at free activities planned for Memorial Day weekend in 2019, alongside specific meal deals and discounts available to veterans in the Nashville and Tennessee Valley areas during Veterans Day in 2019 and 2025.

This article analyzes these opportunities, distinguishing between free community events open to the general public and targeted freebies for military personnel. It highlights the types of offers available, eligibility requirements, and the specific businesses involved.

Memorial Day Weekend Activities in Nashville (2019)

Memorial Day weekend in Nashville in 2019 was marked by a variety of free events catering to music lovers, families, and those wishing to pay respects to fallen heroes. The source material details several specific happenings that took place over the holiday weekend.

Concerts and Live Music

Live music was a central component of the 2019 Memorial Day celebrations in Nashville, with multiple free concert series and patriotic performances scheduled.

Musicians Corner: This free lawn party and concert series took place in Centennial Park. The 2019 schedule included a show on Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. featuring artists such as Will Hoge, Shelly Colvin, Emily Earle, Karina Daza, and Avi Jacob. Saturday’s event ran from noon to 6:00 p.m. with a lineup including Aaron Lee Tasjan, Erin Rae, A.J. & the Jiggawatts, Sontalk, and EG Vines.
Nashville Community Band: In its 46th year, this 75-member band presented three free concerts over the weekend. Performances were scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Sunday at The State Veterans Cemetery on McCrory Lane, 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the Pavilion at Harpeth Hills Cemetery, and 1:00 p.m. Monday at the Nashville National Veterans Cemetery rotunda.
Nashville Community Choir: The choir performed a free patriotic concert titled "An American Celebration" at 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Hillsboro Pike. The program included "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Shenandoah," and "God Bless the USA."
Williamson County Community Band: Sponsored by the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department, this 60-member band held a free concert at 10:00 a.m. Monday at Williamson County Veteran's Park in Franklin.

Patriotic Tributes and Ceremonies

Beyond music, the weekend offered opportunities to honor military history.

Traveling Vietnam Veterans Wall: The wall made a stop in Nashville at the Nashville National Cemetery. A ceremonial program was held at 1:00 p.m., featuring music and a speech from Col. John Krenson, director of Operation Stand Down.
Granville Heritage Day: Located approximately 65 miles northeast of Nashville, the 21st annual Granville Heritage Day offered a free step-back-in-time experience. The event featured a 2:00 p.m. parade, an antique car and tractor show, a magician, a ventriloquist, and the Uncle Jimmy Thompson bluegrass festival and fiddle competition. Demonstrations of 1860 pioneer crafts were also part of the festivities.

Family and Community Events

SuperCoolFunFest: Described as a tribute to the 90s, this event took place at Cumberland Park on Saturday starting at 3:00 p.m. It featured live music from "My So Called Band," an MTV Spring Break Dance Party, beer tents, and food trucks. Ticket prices ranged from $8 to $69.95.
Glow Ride II: A community bike ride scheduled for Friday around 7:00 p.m. Participants were invited to decorate their bikes with glow sticks for a slow 5-to-6-mile ride through Midtown and Downtown Nashville, starting at the Parthenon.
Flea Market: The flea market at Fairgrounds Nashville was open, featuring more than 560 dealers and 1,700 booths.
Spraygrounds: The opening of spraygrounds was noted as a timely development for the hot weather expected over the weekend.

Veterans Day Meal Deals and Freebies (2019 and 2025)

While Memorial Day activities are generally open to the public, Veterans Day often brings specific freebies and discounts for military personnel. The source material details offers available in Tennessee and specifically in the Nashville and Tennessee Valley areas for Veterans Day in 2019 and 2025.

General Veterans Day Offers (2019)

Source material referencing Veterans Day deals provides a general overview of national restaurant offers that were likely available in Tennessee locations, including Nashville, in 2019. These offers generally require valid military identification and are typically for dine-in service on November 11.

Another Broken Egg Cafe: Offered a complimentary Patriot French Toast topped with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream, paired with Barista House Blend Coffee.
Applebee's: Provided a free meal from a select menu for veterans and active-duty military.
Chili's: Offered a free meal for veterans and active-duty military.
Chipotle: Provided a buy-one-get-one-free deal on entrees.
Denny's: Offered a free Original Grand Slam for veterans and active-duty personnel.
Starbucks and Circle K: Provided free hot or iced coffee.
Dave and Busters: Offered free entrees and a Power Card for gameplay.

Nashville and Tennessee Valley Specifics (2019 and 2025)

More specific details regarding Veterans Day offers in the Tennessee region highlight local businesses and 2025 deals.

2019 and General Tennessee Valley Offers: * Wimpies (Soddy-Daisy): Offered free meals to veterans. * Applebee's (Tennessee Valley): Active-duty military members and veterans received a free meal off an exclusive Veterans Day Menu.

2025 Nashville Area Offers: * Chef’s Market: While offering a 10% discount to active-duty service members and veterans year-round, they participate in Veterans Day recognition. * Cledis Burgers & Beer: This location offered a unique experience featuring a story-sharing session with 104-year-old WWII Air Force Captain Jerry Neal at their Bellevue location from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Veterans Day. Additionally, all active and retired military members could enjoy a free "American Hero" meal (Cledis burger, fries, and drink) at either location with a military ID. * Nashville Zoo: Active-duty and retired service members, plus up to three family members, received free admission on Veterans Day. A postcard-writing station was available from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. * Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint: Veterans received 20% off on Veterans Day. * Peg Leg Porker: Veterans enjoyed 20% off on Veterans Day. * Dave and Busters (Nashville): Veterans and active-duty military received free play on Tuesday, November 11.

Eligibility and Redemption

Across the various offers, certain eligibility standards were maintained. Most free meal deals required proof of military service, such as a valid military ID, uniform presence, or a DD214 form. The majority of dining offers were designated as dine-in only to ensure the business could verify eligibility and provide the intended service. For community events like the concerts and the Vietnam Veterans Wall ceremony, no eligibility requirements were mentioned, making them accessible to the general public.

Conclusion

The source material illustrates a robust landscape of free opportunities in Nashville, categorized distinctly by holiday and audience. Memorial Day 2019 in Nashville was characterized by community-centric, free entertainment, including extensive concert series, patriotic ceremonies, and family festivals. Conversely, Veterans Day, both in 2019 and looking ahead to 2025, serves as a period where local and national businesses extend specific gratitude to military personnel through free meals, percentage discounts, and complimentary admissions. Consumers seeking these benefits must typically provide valid military identification and adhere to dine-in or specific venue requirements.