Nashville Traveler
TrendingSeptember 15, 2026

Uncle Dave Macon Days Keeps Old-Time Music Alive Just Outside Nashville

Photo: AI-generated image

The long-running festival at Hop Springs in Murfreesboro celebrates the string-band and buck-dancing traditions that helped shape the Grand Ole Opry a century ago.

Running since 1978, the festival draws pickers and dancers from across the region for a weekend of old-time and bluegrass music — a fitting companion trip for visitors marking the Opry's 100th year in Nashville proper.

Hop Springs is about a 40-minute drive southeast of downtown, making it an easy day trip for travelers looking to go deeper into the roots of country music.