Musical Instrument Petting Zoo

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is hosting its Musical Instrument Petting Zoo on Saturday, November 7, from 1 PM to 3 PM. It's a family program for budding musicians, and the name tells you exactly how it works: you get to actually touch and play the instruments rather than just looking at them behind glass. You'll bow a fiddle, pluck a banjo and strum a ukulele, with instructors on hand to offer guidance as you try your hand at every instrument on display. It's open to all ages, so it works as well for a toddler's first time holding a bow as it does for a kid who's already playing a bit and wants to branch out.

The session is presented by Amazon as part of the museum's Family Programs, and it's held in the Taylor Swift Education Center at 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, inside the museum. If you've spent any time at the Hall of Fame, you know the Education Center is where the museum's hands-on work happens, so it's a natural fit for a program that's all about getting instruments into people's hands.

One thing that's worth knowing is that the Petting Zoo doesn't just stay inside the museum. It also travels as a community pop-up, appearing at local events like the William Edmondson Arts & Culture Festival and the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival, where it's offered free to the public and museum admission isn't required. This November 7 session is the in-house version, though.

As for the logistics, it's included with museum admission, and it's free for museum members. The session runs from 1 PM to 3 PM on Saturday, November 7, at the Taylor Swift Education Center inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.