Live on the Green

Fall is easily my favorite time of the year in Tennessee. (Reminds us the most of San Diego!) We really go-all-out during this season as we know with winter closing in we'll have more at-home indoor days doing crafts and perfecting chili recipes while watching football. But as long as possible we are living it up outside.

This fall has been perfect weather-wise. 80-degree nights, clear days, cool breezes - made even more perfect by great outdoor live music. We've been fortunate as a family to attend four different Live on the Green concerts these past weeks ranging from Salsa to Blues, Americana to current Rock. Live on the Green is a 6-week-long free concert series from 6 PM to 10 PM each Thursday night. It's random and eclectic, just how we like it.

Like practicing for time trails, we've gotten more efficient as a family, capitalizing on free parking in my buidling, packing picnic dinners and snacks, keeping the car stocked with the blanket and stroller, and, ahem, perfecting our free drinks. ;)

This is Brian's first year, and he's understandably hooked. What's not to love? Great music, perfect temperature nights, hours lounging on a blanket with your family. And the kids love it. You might not believe it, but they're so calm and settled, and never seem overwhelmed by the crowds or late nights. They know exactly our route, the spot where we like to sit, the location of the kids tent, the fastest way to the front of the stage, and most importantly, the free photo booth tent. Once Roland got an understanding - which was almost instant - about dressing up goofy and taking a free photo - he was hooked. We've had some good laughs:

We even made it into one of the highlight reels, which was a funny surprise!

We're just 15 seconds into the 45 second video, but if you don't want to watch, here's a still shot. I don't remember there being a camera, but with two kids and one freddy claw you can understand why I wasn't paying attention.

Besides the fun kids tent, the glow-in-the-dark hoola-hoop girls and the free goofy photos, it's just really wonderful to expose the kids to such an intimate setting of live music and enjoy their reactions. Because they LOVE the music. Being there early the kids can watch the headliner warm up, and opening opening act perform litterally feet from the stage without anyone or anything between them. They can rest on our shoulders and watch a 16-person-band rock the house. They get lost watching the lights, dancing, laying on the blanket staring at the stars...and we're right there with them.

Recommendations: glow sticks - cheap and always a good time. Plus they make it easy to keep an eye on the kids. Simple snacks and cups to contain them. Lots of hand sanitizer because there are so many dogs to pet! Bright tops or jackets to make spotting them super easy. Most importantly, simple expectations of rolling with it and rocking the night away. Hope to see you out there next year!