Let’s talk about 3 Fabulous Nashville Antiques Shows!
Y’all know me. I try to never miss a good antique show or flea market! I look forward to February each year, so that I can attend three fantastic Nashville Antiques Shows. If you are a collector, or a treasure hunter, or simply interested in spending time in Music City, you should make plans to be there too!
And….to shop all my finds, click here to see my Living With Vintage Online Shop!
Nashville Antiques
When most people think of Nashville, I’m sure that music comes to mind first, not antiques. But, the Nashville Antiques scene is very vibrant with many lovely brick-and-mortar shops, as well as Antique Malls.
But, February is a unique month. Collectors and dealers from all over the country flock to the Nashville Antique Shows. All filled with fantastic treasures, antiques, folk art, and interesting collectibles. These shows are fun to do as couples, they are fun for collectors, and they are the perfect girls trip activity! Let’s take a closer look at each one, so you know what to expect, and which ones you might want to experience.
So many antique treasures to choose from!
The Fiddlers Antique Show
The Fiddlers Antique Show is unique. For many years it was held at the Fiddlers Inn Motel, just across the street from the famous Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. Dealers rented rooms on the ground floor, and set up each room like a small antique shop. Some dealers also set up additional items for sale in the parking spaces outside their room. The way you see The Fiddlers Antique Show is to room hop.
In the past, dealers set up in Motel Rooms. But, starting in 2020, the location and format will change.
However, in 2022 and again this 2023, the Fiddlers Antique Show will host treasure hunters at the Fairgrounds. And dealers will set up in more traditional booth spaces. Eager treasure hunters can pay a higher ticket price to get into the show as the sun is coming up, which is what my husband, Will, and I did. Regular admission gets visitors in at noon. The show goes on for three days, and each of the over 50 dealers showcase very different antiques. There’s industrial and folk art, paintings and furniture. Small treasures and large treasures….this is a fantastic show!
I recommend going back many times over the three days of the show. Many dealers continually bring out new merchandise for the entirety of the show. And, I always like to take several turns through the same antiques show. My eyes see new things every time.
My first time experiencing this Nashville Antiques Show, I found several very fun must-haves . A tin cake keeper from the 1940’s, and two yellow industrial tool carriers that will be GREAT on a kitchen counter to organize all my spices, vinegars and oils.
2023 Dates: February 15-18, 2023
Early Bird Shopping: February 15, 8 am-12 noon
General Admission:
- Wednesday, February 15 Noon-5pm
- Thursday, February 16 10 am-5pm
- Friday, February 17 9 am-5pm
- Saturday, February 18 9 am-3pm
This show is my favorite kind of treasure hunt!
The Nashville Show
The second mid-February Nashville Antiques Show I recommend attending is The Nashville Show, formerly known as The Tailgate-Music Valley Antique Show. This is a not-to-be-missed show! Over 140 dealers participate in this show at the Fair Grounds, same location as the Fiddlers Antique Show, which is convenient! Two personal friends of mine and my husband’s, Joshua Lowenfels, Francis Crespo will be dealers this year!
Again, there is an early ticket option, and be advised: when you arrive on the first day, there might a long line of shoppers and collectors ready to get in! Don’t let this discourage you! This is a large Nashville Antique Show with lots of dealers, and lots of treasures to admire. General admission begins at noon. This show is completely inside, and each dealer has their own booth.
If you are a serious collector….there’s almost an endless array of treasures. Lots of furniture. Vintage signs and architectural elements. Interesting decorative objects. There’s literally something for everyone. Some of my favorite finds: a great set of industrial feed buckets, gorgeous turquoise color! They will be perfect to hold plants, cooking utensils, or kindling to start a fire. And a fantastic set of industrial wire baskets, which will make their way to our booth at Benny Jack Antiques in Dallas!
2023 Dates: February 16-18, 2023
Early Bird Shopping: February 16, 8 am-12 noon
General Admission:
- Thursday, February 16 Noon-5pm
- Friday, February 17 9am-5pm
- Saturday, February 18 10am-4pm
A whole wall of Vintage Metal Signs!
There’s Folk Art galore!
These two antique shows are in Nashville, so if you are interested in seeing all the cool venues in downtown Nashville or trying out any of the downtown Nashville restaurants, or other attractions in the area, you are not too far away. The Nashville Show runs three days.
Heart of Tennessee Antique Show
The Heart of Tennessee Antique Show will be held in the Farm Bureau Exposition Center in Lebanon, which is about 30 minutes outside of Nashville itself.
Over 50 exhibitors set up in an exhibit hall. There is a ticked preview party that includes a huge spread of tasty bites as well as wine at the bar.
Prices at this show are higher than the others, but the quality of the folk art and antiques for sale is truly exceptional. In 2019, my husband, Will, picked up two turn-of-the-century miniature totem poles, made for the tourist trade by Northwest Coast Native Americans.
2023 Dates: February 16-18, 2023
Early Bird Shopping: February 16, 4 pm-8pm
General Admission:
- Friday, February 17 10am-5pm
- Saturday, February 18 10am-4pm
The Heart of Tennessee Antique Show
Will’s Antique Totem Poles
The shows overlap, so it’s easy to spend a weekend antiquing and treasure hunting ’till your heart’s content. And, Nashville is a wonderful city to visit, full of great History, as I detailed in this post, as well as dining shopping, and all kinds of fun, should you tire of shopping for antiques.
You might want to take a short drive to nearby Franklin, Tennessee, which is full of amazing Historic Sites, great restaurants, and opportunities to antique!
I hope to see y’all there!!!!
Tags: Americana | Antique Dealer | Antique Furniture | Antiques | Farm House Decor | Heart of Tennessee Antique Show | Music City | Nashville | Tennessee | The Fiddlers antique Show | The Nashville Show
You should go a little east on I24 in July and attend the 54th Annual Murfreesboro Show, high quality dealers from all over the Eastern US.
GREAT info! Thank you so much!!!
Hello Mary, Im happy to have come by your website. I will be in Nashville attending the Antiques & Garden show Feb. 2-13 I am primarily interested in European antiques and green accessories like statuary. Do any of the other 3 shows you mentioned carry these sorts of items or is it primarily country and primitives? Than you for your help. Sincerely, Taunya
Hi Taunya! Thank you for your comment! I have seen European Antiques and rugs, but I would say the shows are primarily Folk Art, Primitives, etc. But, I believe all three shows have websites listing the participating dealers, so you might want to check there, as I am sure the dealers change somewhat from year to year!
It’s 8 Country Reporter. Then Texas Country Reporter. Bob Phillips.
Hi Cher! I had to do a little research after your comment….so here’s what I found:
Originally called 4 Country Reporter, it debuted in 1972 on Dallas television station KDFW, Channel 4 and was first hosted by John Mclean, then Jeff Rosser, Joe Miser and finally Bob Philips.