Things to Do in Lebanon

Conveniently located only 25 miles from Nashville, Lebanon is a charming and beautiful destination that your whole family will enjoy.

Get Your History Fix

The meticulously re-created Fiddlers Grove Historical Village lets you journey back to 19th-century Lebanon. Open from April to October, the village has 50 buildings—the oldest was built in 1795 and the most recent in 1950. The public square is the site of Morgan's Defeat during the Civil War, and the Cedar Grove Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 150 Confederate soldiers. You can continue your journey into Lebanon's history at the Wilson County Museum, which is housed in the Federal-style Fite-Fessenden House; and at the City of Lebanon Museum and History Center, which is located inside City Hall.

Explore the Outdoors

Lebanon got its name from its cedar forests, which reminded the early settlers of the cedars of Lebanon described in the Bible. You can go hiking, biking or arrange a guided horseback tour through the 900-acre Cedars of Lebanon State Park, which is punctuated by glades of rare plants. Other local walking spots include the paved Cedar City Trail Greenway, which takes you alongside Sinking Creek toward Don Fox Park. On a warm day, you can take the kids to play in the park’s 60-foot wading pool and playgrounds. Enjoy the scenery around Old Hickory Lake on one of Cumberland River Cruises' pontoon boat tours allow you to enjoy the scenery around Old Hickory Lake—you can choose from evening sunset tours, nature tours and home tours, which take you by the mansions of country music stars.

Wilson County Fair

Lebanon is justifiably proud of hosting the annual Wilson County Fair, which is held over nine days in late August and is one of the biggest in North America! It's an all-American event representing all things country, with livestock shows, pig races and tractor pulls. The itinerary includes baking contests, an ice-cream freeze-off, beer brewing contests and art displays. You can try your hand at wood carving, spinning, weaving and basketry, and see the county's best competitors go head-to-head at the barrel race and arm-wrestling contest. The musical entertainment includes such big names as The Four Tops and Sawyer Brown.

Down-Home Cooking

Lebanon's many restaurants offer a variety of international cuisines, but for a taste of the local culinary scene, a handful of options stand out. The pulled pork, brisket, chicken and turkey at Tom's Blue Moon Bar-B-Que are all slow-cooked over hickory wood for up to 14 hours and prepared with a secret spice rub and an award-winning sauce. Depending on how hungry you are, you can enjoy the meats (as well as catfish) as either entrée plates or sandwiches. “Local” is the key word at family-run Sammy B's, which has its own smokehouse and gets its breads from local bakeries. The menu also features "Sammiches, Rapps, Burgs and Dogs"—a casual atmosphere, for sure!

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