Autumn Along the Natchez Trace: A Guide to Nashville’s Big Back Yard

The season kicks off near Hohenwald on September 26 at the Oak Grove Lavender Farm, where an all-day festival pairs artisan markets with a dog costume contest. By early October, the pace shifts to Centerville for the National Banana Pudding Festival on October 3-4, featuring a competitive cook-off and the signature Puddin’ Path. Simultaneously, the village of Leiper’s Fork hosts the Patina Home & Garden’s Fall Market on October 3, followed by the Leiper’s Creek Gallery’s 25th-anniversary celebration featuring live music from Bob Irwin.

Further south, musical heritage takes center stage in Florence, Alabama, where Jason Isbell’s Shoals Fest occupies McFarland Park on October 3-4. Those seeking more traditional autumn atmosphere can head to Loretto for its week-long Oktoberfest starting October 4, or explore the Tennessee hills via the Buffalo River Horseback Trail Ride in Waynesboro. Visitors looking to extend their stay can find lodging at the GunRunner Hotel or Renaissance Shoals Resort in Florence, the Commodore Hotel in Linden, or the Fork and Field Cottages in Leiper’s Fork.