Nashville summer 2027: Metro's free summer program for ages 6 to 14, Wave Country and city pools, free spraygrounds, and zoo and science camps. 2026 dates shown.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. Metro and camp operators had not posted 2027 dates; every date below is 2026’s unless it says otherwise, from Metro Parks’ summer program page, Wave Country, Metro pools, spraygrounds and each camp’s own page.
Summer 2027 starts after Metro Nashville Public Schools’ last day, Tuesday, May 25. The city’s biggest free option is Metro Parks’ Summer Enrichment Program for ages 6 to 14 at community centers; in 2026 sign-ups were in person on Saturday, April 11. Wave Country opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2026, and Metro’s spraygrounds are free from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Metro Parks: 615-862-8400.
Key dates to watch (2026 pattern)
- December: Nashville Zoo posts summer camps; registration in early 2027.
- April 1: Centennial Sportsplex tennis camp registration opened (2026).
- Saturday, April 11: Metro summer program sign-ups, in person, 8 a.m. (2026).
- Memorial Day weekend: Wave Country and spraygrounds open.
- Labor Day: last day for Wave Country and spraygrounds.
Camps
Metro Parks Summer Enrichment Program (free)
- 2026: June 1 to July 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at your local community center.
- Ages 6 to 14 only. Games, sports, arts and crafts, dancing and field trips.
- Sign-ups in person at the community center, first come, first served, starting 8 a.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026. Each center has a cap and a waiting list.
Centennial Sportsplex Summer Tennis Camp, 222 25th Ave. N.
- 2026: six one-week sessions from June 15 to July 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., ages 6 to 12. Tennis in the morning, swimming and recreation in the afternoon.
- Registration opened April 1, 2026, online; every week filled. Questions: 615-862-8490.
- Day camps for kindergarten to 12th grade, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with before care from 7:30 a.m. and after care to 5:30 p.m. for a fee.
- All 2026 sessions sold out. The zoo says 2027 programs post in December and registration opens in early 2027.
Adventure Science Center camps
- Summer STEM camps for rising first to rising eighth graders; in 2026 the center ran 10 weeks starting May 25.
- 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with before and after care for a fee. Bring lunch and a snack.
Wave Country
Wave Country, 2320 Two Rivers Parkway, is Metro’s wave pool, with two flumes, two speed slides and a kiddie slide (48-inch height minimum for the flumes and speed slides). Children 12 and under must be with an adult. Tubes are free while they last. Phone: 615-885-1052.
| 2026 schedule | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| May 23 to Aug. 2 | Tuesday to Sunday (closed June 18) | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends |
| Aug. 1 to Sept. 6 | Saturday and Sunday only | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day | Open | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
Lightning clears the pool until it passes; there are no refunds or rain checks.
City pools
Metro says its pools are free during open swim and lap swim, except Wave Country and the Centennial Sportsplex (Metro pools):
- Summer outdoor pools: Cleveland Community Center (North Sixth Street at Vernon Winfrey, 615-862-8444); Looby Community Center (2301 Metro Center Blvd., 615-862-8454); Rose Community Center (1000 Edgehill Ave., 615-862-8465).
- Summer indoor pool: Napier Community Center (73 Fairfield St., 615-256-4474).
- Year-round indoor pools: Centennial Sportsplex (615-862-8480), Coleman Regional Center (384 Thompson Lane, 615-862-8445), East Regional Center (600 Woodland St., 615-862-8448), Hadley Regional Center (1037 28th Ave. N., 615-862-8451) and Hartman Regional Center (2801 Tucker Road, 615-862-8479).
Swim diapers are required for children under 3 and anyone not toilet trained; cutoffs are not allowed.
Splash pads
Metro’s spraygrounds are free and open Memorial Day through Labor Day:
- Kirkpatrick Sprayground, 620 S. Ninth St., 615-862-8453.
- Watkins Sprayground, Jo Johnston Avenue at 17th Avenue North, 615-862-8468.
- Hours at both: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends.
What this means for you
- Working parents: Metro’s free program caps each center and keeps a waiting list, and the zoo sold out in 2026; mark December and April.
- Hot day, no budget: the spraygrounds and Metro’s community center pools are free.
Related guides: kids’ activities, Memorial Day, Fourth of July fireworks and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
When does Wave Country open in 2027?
Metro has not posted 2027 dates. In 2026 Wave Country opened Saturday, May 23, ran Tuesday to Sunday through Aug. 2, then weekends only, and closed for the season on Labor Day, Sept. 7.
Is there a free summer camp in Nashville?
Yes. Metro Parks’ Summer Enrichment Program is free for ages 6 to 14 at community centers, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. In 2026 it ran June 1 to July 24, with sign-ups in person from 8 a.m. Saturday, April 11.
Are Nashville’s splash pads free?
Yes. Metro’s spraygrounds at Kirkpatrick and Watkins parks are free and open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends.
Are Metro pools free in Nashville?
Most are. Metro says its pools are free during open swim and lap swim, except Wave Country and the Centennial Sportsplex, which charge admission. Classes and groups pay at every pool.
When does Nashville Zoo camp registration open?
The zoo says 2027 summer camp programs will be posted in December and registration opens in early 2027. Every 2026 session sold out.
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