Free things to do in Clarksville: Fort Defiance Civil War Park, the 9-mile Greenway, the riverwalk, Dunbar Cave trails, free concerts, splash pads and ArtWalk.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from Clarksville Parks and Recreation’s park pages, Greenway and aquatics pages, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, Tennessee State Parks, the public library, the Customs House Museum and the organizers linked below.
Much of the best of Clarksville costs nothing: a Civil War fort above two rivers, a 9-mile paved Greenway, a riverwalk downtown, a state park with a cave and a lake, free summer concerts and splash pads. City parks are open dawn to dusk. Clarksville Parks and Recreation: 931-645-7476. Downtown parking is free on weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays.
What this means for you
- History: Fort Defiance, free, six days a week.
- Outdoors: the Greenway, McGregor Park riverwalk, Dunbar Cave trails and Rotary Park.
- Summer: four free splash pads and free Friday concerts at Downtown Commons.
- Winter: Christmas on the Cumberland’s lights, free nightly.
History and museums
- Fort Defiance Civil War Park & Interpretive Center, 120 Duncan St.: a Civil War fort site on a bluff 200 feet above the meeting of the Red and Cumberland rivers, with a walking trail, exhibits and an interpretive center. Free. Fall and winter hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday. 931-472-3351 (park page).
- Patriots Park, 3176 Fort Campbell Blvd.: city park with a POW/MIA monument and a Purple Heart monument for combat-wounded veterans.
- Customs House Museum, 200 S. Second St.: Fifth Saturday Donation Day whenever a month has a fifth Saturday (the next is Oct. 31, 2026), and free events such as the History on the Rocks talks (calendar).
- Downtown historic districts: a self-guided walk past the National Register buildings on our history and landmarks page and downtown guide.
Parks, trails and the river
- Clarksville Greenway: 9 paved miles from Heritage Park, 1241 Peachers Mill Road, with the 600-foot Raymond C. Hand Pass bridge. See walking and biking trails.
- McGregor Park, 640 N. Riverside Drive: the 1-mile Cumberland Riverwalk, an ADA-accessible playground and the As the River Flows museum.
- Dunbar Cave State Park, 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road: the Lake Trail around Swan Lake, paved trails and a visitor center with a virtual cave tour, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (Tennessee State Parks).
- Rotary Park, 2308 Rotary Park Drive: 111 acres, eight trails, playgrounds, a creek and the Wade Bourne Nature Center; free parking (Montgomery County).
- Liberty Park, 1188 Cumberland Drive: a 10-acre fishing pond and walking trail.
- Heritage Park dog park: free off-leash play; see dog-friendly Clarksville.
Free events through the year
| When | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| First Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. | ArtWalk, galleries and businesses open late | Franklin Street and Strawberry Alley |
| Saturdays, May to October, 8 a.m. to noon | Clarksville Downtown Market (free to browse) | 1 Public Square |
| Summer Fridays | Downtown @ Sundown concerts | Downtown Commons, 215 Legion St. |
| Summer Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Mayor’s Summer Night Lights, with free meals for kids | City parks and schools |
| May to September | Splash pads, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Dixon, Edith Pettus, Heritage and Lettie Kendall parks |
| Oct. 24, 2026 | Fright on Franklin and the Rotary Park Fall Festival | Downtown; Rotary Park |
| Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 2, 2027 | Christmas on the Cumberland lights | McGregor Park |
| Dec. 5, 2026 | Spiritfest, tree lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade | Downtown |
| Dec. 31, 2026, from 9 p.m. | New Year’s Eve Party | Downtown Commons |
Details: Halloween events, holiday lights, Christmas parade, New Year’s Eve and summer camps and pools.
Indoors and free
- Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane: story times, programs and events; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (events).
- Wade Bourne Nature Center at Rotary Park: many programs are free; some need registration (county events).
More: kids’ activities, parks and trails and things to do this weekend.
Frequently asked questions
What is free to do in Clarksville, Tennessee?
Fort Defiance Civil War Park, the Clarksville Greenway, the McGregor Park riverwalk, Dunbar Cave State Park’s trails, Rotary Park, the public library, the four splash pads in summer, Downtown @ Sundown concerts and the First Thursday ArtWalk are all free.
Is Fort Defiance free?
Yes. Fort Defiance Civil War Park & Interpretive Center, 120 Duncan St., is free. Fall and winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; call 931-472-3351.
Is Christmas on the Cumberland free?
Yes. The riverwalk light display at McGregor Park is free and open nightly from Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 2, 2027, except in rain or high winds.
Is the Customs House Museum ever free?
The museum holds a Donation Day on the fifth Saturday of any month that has one, such as Oct. 31, 2026. Some programs, such as Family Art Saturdays, are free with membership.
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