Day 5- Friday
Today we are attending one of the CMA Closeup Lecture Series, Exhibit Hall, a songwriters night as well as a few other events. We are right in the middle of CMAfest Week and it's a never-ending supply of events with plenty of decisions to be made on what to do next.
- CMA Closeup Lecture
The CMA Closeup Lecture is normally held at the Ryman on both Friday and Saturday. These series are an up close discussion series that offer some big time artists to converse in an intimate setting.
- Exhibit Hall
Our next stop was the Exhibit hall. Over the years the Wrangler exhibit Hall has always been country music fans favorite activities during Fanfair week. Every year more than 500 artists can be seen at the Wrangler Exhibit hall. They come to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and pose for photos. The artists truly enjoy this part of the CMAfest, it gives them a chance to come into some real contact with those who support them and buy their music. When you enter the fan-favorite Exhibit Hall there are always thousands of people and fans everywhere! You can see country music stars, accompanied by their hosts, being rushed in and out of their booths all day long.
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- French Quarter Songwriter's Night
Tonight Tori Mason was holding a special songwriter's night at French Quarter Café with some of our friends and associates many of which had come in, from across the country, for the CMAfest week, so I decided I would take a few hours break to enjoy with friends.Tori had gathered an incredible list of talented songwriter's and performers. The line-up included Seth Turner, Heather Plottell, Dwight Duncan, Chris Young, Billy Hurst, and Tori herself. They played to a full house and all of the entertainers joked around with the audience. This songwriters round ended way to early for me.
- Honky Tonkin at Harley Holts
We also got a chance to go down to Lower Broad Honky-Tonks later on and see Lance Miller perform at Haley Holt's.
Review
Friday's CMAfest Annual Events:
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Annual Andy Griggs Archery Tournament
Andy Griggs Celebrity Archery Tournament never fails to pack the stands long before the first bow is ever removed from it's case. This event is held on the grounds of the coliseum and it's free.
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- Jason Aldean's Concert for the Cure
Jason Aldean normally hosts this annual Benefit Concert at the Wildhorse Saloon on Friday evening with the proceeds going to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
- Opry Plaza Party
While the Opry Plaza Parties, located at the Grand Ole Opry House (near Opryland) last throughout most of the summer, they offer plenty of great music on Friday & Saturday afternoons if you're in the area.They are free too!
Review
Daily CMAfest Sponsored Activities:
- Friday Daytime Riverfront Concerts
The Riverfront Concerts start on Thursday and go on thru Sunday afternoon and provide hours and hours of some of the best music around. The day-long concerts take place in Riverfront Park located on 1st Avenue and Broadway. As a reminder to those who do not have weeklong tickets (passes) to CMAfest, they do sell individual daily passes to this CMAfest event every day.
- Friday Night's Coliseum Show
The Nightly Concerts at the Coliseum which open up at around 5:30 with concerts starting at 7p.m. There are two stages set up every night and the artist performance would rotate from one stage to the other which shortened the wait time between artists tremendously. Everyone loves the Photo Line, which runs right in front of the stages. During the nightly show there are plenty of drink vendors walking around selling their goods, so no one would have to miss any part of the show. Every evening a grand display of fireworks closed the show and this indicated that it was time for the After Hours Parties to begin in the Downtown District.
- Sports Zone
The Sports Zone offers, of course, everything related to sports within its boundaries that includes: NASCAR, BASS, Baseball, Football and just about everything else. It's located right across from the Hall of Fame Park.
- Family Zone
The Crisco Family Zone, located in the Hall of Fame Park, is just one of the areas that CMA Festival has set up so anyone can take their children and have a fun day out.
- Fun Zone
The Fun Zone at the CMA Festival is located at 1st Avenue and Broadway, right by the Riverfront Park entrance and features some of the CMAfest Sponsors.Sponsors here will change from year to year but you always will have fun in the Fun Zone.
- Acoustic Corner
The Acoustic Corner, located in Exhibit Hall (Convention Center) is a definite must see when attending the CMAfest and a great place to visit, see, and hear new up and coming country artists in a relaxing setting.
- Exhibit Hall
Over the years the Exhibit Hall has always been country music fans favorite activities during Fanfair week with every year hundreds of artists are seen and signing autographs.
CMAfest Highlights By Day
- CMAfest Day 1: Global Artist & Party Lonestar Bowling Party
- CMAfest Day 2: Reading, Writing & Rhythm & IFCO Funfest
- CMAfest Day 3: Kick-Off Parade, Celebrity Softball Game, Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam
- CMAfest Day 4: Official CMAfest Activities Begin, Opry & Steve Azar Benefit
- CMAfest Day 5: CMA Close-up, Andy Griggs Archery & Jason Aldean Benefits
- CMAfest Day 6: CMA Close-up, Martina McBride Celebrity Auction & Leadership Music Yard Sale
- CMAfest Day 7: Sunday Mornin' Country Show & Peterson's Celebrity Tractor Race
