Just Thinking About the CMA Music Festival Gets Me To Panting!

The CMA Music Festival is finally here, well almost...close enough I can smell it! I get so excited just thinking about it that I can hardly control my tongue.

So I've been sniffing around in the CountryHound CMA MusicFest Guide, and there's just so much going on in Nashville June 2-8 it makes me run around in circles. Let's just say if you come to the CMA Music Festival events, you're one lucky dog.

I'm gonna try to make it to as many events as possible, but here's some I tracked down I definitely want to catch (and I'm checking out my new WebbCam so you don't have to go hunting all over to find these places):

Here's where most the action takes place, Lower Broad:

Monday June 2

6 PM
One of the best events happens before the festivities officially begin. At The Stage on Broadway they're having the 5th Annual CMA Global Artist Party. Some of the artist playing include Australia's Troy Cassar-Daley, Shea Fisher, and Jasmine Rae; Canada's Jessie Farrell and Johnny Reid; Ireland's The Murphy Band, The Netherlands' Wim van de Vliert and others.

Tuesday June 3
3 PM
The Porter Wagoner Memorial Artists & Anglers Fishing Tournament cranks-up at Percy Priest Lake, but the real fun will be at Bass Pro Shops at 5 PM when they have weigh-ins. There'll be food and entertainment there.

5-8 PM
I'll be back at The Stage for 103 WKDF's Beach Party to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. $75 to get in, but it goes to a good cause, and acts scheduled include Josh Turner, Rodney Atkins, and Darryl Worley. Be a dog gone shame to miss it.

Wednesday June 4
12 PM
City of Hope Softball Tournament - I've been known to shag a few fly balls....well that's stretching it... but I can fetch a grounder. This is a great event for a great cause. The Opry Live and AfterMidNite with Blair Garner teams with numerous Country Music stars and celebrities on each will square off at Greer Stadium.

2 PM
CMA Music Festival Kick Off Parade - I like watching them Chevy trucks and Vettes cruising down Broad. Plus my boy Luke Bryan will be throttling along in a Carl Black Chevroley truck giving out CountryHound hand fans. Dog.

3 PM
Well the party doesn't end when the parade does, its time for the CMA Block Party...best part about this and the parade...its FREE. The CMA's willing to throw you a bone every once in a while. The events take place around Sommet Center at 5th & Broad.

10 PM
You know I like to stay up late and howl at the moon. That's why I like Marty Stuart's 7th Annual Late Night Jam. You got Marty himself playing, the Charlie Daniels Band, John Rich & Friends, Kathy Mattea ( give her a yelp out for working to save the environment), Old Crow Medicine Show, SteelDrivers, and more.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday June 5-8
This is when the full-event schedule kicks in, so you won't have to hunt far to find something fun to do.

There's daily concerts going on at the ChevyTM Plaza, excellent entertainment at the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages at Riverfront Park,
Fan Fair (where you can lap-up all the autographs and celeb photo opps you want) at the convention center, the Chevy TM Sports Zone is open, and the Fun Zone.

Then at night tails will be wagging and paws thumping at the VAULTTM Concert Stages at LP Field. This is where they bring out the big dogs. And if you're a creature of the night like me, check out the CMA Music Festival After Hours starting at 11 PM at several downtown clubs.

My personal favorites besides the above are the Music City Rising Star Youth Vocal Competition, K9s In Flight, and Dock Dogs.

Some other events that make me lick my lips are:

• Thursday afternoon at 1:30 there's the CMA Celebrity Close Up presented by GAC at The Ryman.

• Saturday from 11 AM - 5 PM is the CMA Music Festival BBQ Championship. Yum. 

• Sunday morning at 11:30 the second annual Ride For A Cure to benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation.

Whew, what a week! I'm sure I'll be dog-tired when its all over, but who can sit when all this fun's going on? Hope you make it to the CMA Music Festival too! But if you can't, then check CountryHound's daily updates for a peek at all the fun and excitement.

Some other sites in Nashville during CMA Music Festival Week: