Free in Germantown: 10-plus miles of Greenway, Fort Germantown, Oaklawn Garden, depot open houses, library story times, Cars and Coffee and summer concerts.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts come from the City of Germantown parks and amenities, Greenway and city calendar pages and the organizers linked below. Parks and Recreation: 901-757-7375.
Most of what makes Germantown pleasant costs nothing: 29 city parks and green spaces on more than 600 acres, open dawn to dusk, the Germantown Greenway along the Wolf River, a Civil War fort, a historic garden arboretum, and a calendar of free library programs, open houses and summer concerts. Here they are, grouped by kind.
Good to know
- Parks are open dawn to dusk unless posted otherwise.
- Fishing in city lakes is free, but anglers 13 and older need a Tennessee fishing license.
- Weather calls on city events: 901-751-KNOW (5669).
Outdoors
- Germantown Greenway: more than 10 miles of paved trail; trailheads, restrooms and the current western closure are on walking and biking trails.
- Wolf River Nature Area, 7014 Wolf River Blvd.: 150 acres on the river with educational stations, picnic areas and overlooks.
- Oaklawn Garden, 7831 Poplar Pike: historic garden and the city’s first level three arboretum, with more than 90 species of trees and spring azaleas.
- Bobby Lanier Farm Park, 2660 Cross Country Drive: a 10-acre working farm open to walkers sunrise to sunset; the petting farm opens Tuesdays April through September.
- Fishing lakes at Municipal, Cameron Brown, Johnson Road, Nashoba, Howard McVay and Germantown Station parks.
- Disc golf: an 18-hole course at Johnson Road Park, 2970 Johnson Road.
History
- Fort Germantown Park, 3085 Honey Tree Drive: a square earthwork about 110 feet on a side, built by Union troops in early 1863 to guard the railroad, with reproduction 12-pound howitzers and interpretive signs. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Germantown Train Depot, 2260 West St.: free open houses with railroad memorabilia, run by the city’s Historic Commission. Next: Santa at the Depot, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
- John Gray House, Municipal Park: one of the oldest surviving brick homes in Shelby County, the city says; Germantown History Day is there from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.
More in history and landmarks and our Old Germantown guide.
Free events through the year
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Cars and Coffee, with free coffee and doughnuts | Fourth Saturday monthly, 8 to 10 a.m. | GPAC parking lot, 1801 Exeter Road |
| Library story times | Weekly (Storytime and Sign, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays) | 1925 Exeter Road |
| Holiday Tree Lighting | Friday, Nov. 27, 5 to 8 p.m. | City Hall lot, 1930 S. Germantown Road |
| Germantown Holiday Parade | Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 p.m. | Farmington Boulevard to Exeter Road |
| Groovin’ and Grillin’ concerts (2026) | Tuesdays in June, 6 p.m. | Municipal Park |
| Happy Friday at The Grove (2026) | Summer Fridays, 5 to 8 p.m. | GPAC |
| Germantown Festival (2026) | Sept. 12-13 | C.O. Franklin Park, 7745 Poplar Pike |
Sources: city listings for Cars and Coffee, the tree lighting, Happy Friday and the Germantown Festival. Fourth of July fireworks are on their own page.
Pay what you can
GPAC’s Peanut Butter & Jam concerts for children 8 and under, on scheduled Saturday mornings at 10:30, are pay what you can (GPAC).
Free with a library card
The Germantown Community Library offers the Kanopy film streaming service and access to The New York Times for its patrons (library page). The library is open seven days a week.
Related: kids’ activities, dog-friendly Germantown and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do for free in Germantown, TN?
Walk or bike the Germantown Greenway, visit Fort Germantown and Oaklawn Garden, go to library story times, the depot open houses and Cars and Coffee, and catch the free summer concerts at The Grove and Municipal Park.
Is Fort Germantown free?
Fort Germantown Park, 3085 Honey Tree Drive, is a city park open dawn to dusk like other Germantown parks, with interpretive signs at the 1863 Union redoubt. There is no admission charge listed.
Is the Germantown Festival free?
Yes. The Germantown Festival advertises free admission and free bus shuttles. In 2026 it was Sept. 12-13 at C.O. Franklin Park.
Are Germantown library events free?
Many are. The library lists its Spring Fling and Howl-oween parties as free, and weekly story times such as Storytime and Sign need no registration.
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