Pilgrimage Festival -- Music. Food. Celebs.

Touring the art vendors at Pilgrimage Festival -- thanks for the photo, Kristin Luna @ Camels + Chocolates.

Last weekend was certainly a hot one, but it did not keep fans from across the country from making the pilgrimage to Franklin for the second annual Pilgrimage Festival. Two days of music, art, and food -- and attended by over 15,000 folks. It was my first year attending, and y'all -- I LOVED it. Despite the heat, the festival was incredibly well executed, from the art vendors, to staff, to the top-notch talent.

Speaking of talent, this year's lineup included Daryl Hall & John Oates (!!), Beck, Jason Isbell, Grace Potter, Kacey Musgraves, Violent Femmes, The Arcs, Cake, Anderson East, and more. Only in Nashville.

Ms. Kacey Musgraves killing it on stage, per usual. 

Speaking of Nashville... In typical Nashville fashion, celebs abounded. Lily Aldridge and Caleb Followill were there to catch Beck, Miranda Lambert danced side stage during boyfriend Anderson East’s set, and Haley Williams of Paramore hung backstage to support friend Kacey Musgraves. N’Sync’s Chris Kirkpatrick (!!) and GRAMMY-Award winning producer Dave Cobb were also spotted partaking in festival fun. Sadly, I heard of no (Pilgrimage Festival partner) Justin Timberlake sightings... There's always next year, I suppose?

Did you #MakeThePilgrimage this year? What was your favorite part?

High school/college me was freaking out about Better than Ezra.

The art vendors were incredible, and the locale of the festival was stunning.

The Park at Harlinsdale, where Pilgrimage Festival is held, is stunning.

Speaking of Ms. Musgraves, this happened. I love her. The perfect way to cap of a perfect weekend.

(Thanks to George Dickel for having us out, and for the VIP treatment. I do love your whisky.)



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Music City Food + Wine - Nashville's Ultimate Foodie Weekend

Held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Music City Food + Wine Festival is my favorite festival of the year.

Y'all. Last weekend was perhaps my favorite weekend of 2016.
...and 2015.
...and 2014.

Notice the trend?

Hanging with mah boos, Maneet Chauhan, Beth Sachan of Eat. Drink. Smile. and Kristin Luna of Camels & Chocolate. 

Music City Food + Wine Festival, one of Nashville's premier foodie events put on by Food and Wine magazine and the Kings of Leon. Mingle and meet with your favorite chefs at the Grand Tasting (unlimited bites and drinks), attend culinary demos, boozy tasting sessions, and listen to the best music in town. Food + Booze + Music = my absolute favorite kind of combination.

Let's get to it the best way I know how to recap: via a photo round-up of the weekend.

5 Best Fall Activities in Nashville

Fall is by far my favorite season -- and, as always, there is so much to do with so little time. I put together a checklist of my musts this season and wanted to share them with YOU! So, in no particular order, I present to you my 5 Favorite Fall Activities in Nashville.

1. Eat well.

Music City Food + Wine

Quite possibly the best event I've ever attended, this year's Music City Food + Wine will be held September 19 + 20. All weekend long, your ticket allows you to indulge in unlimited artisanal food, wine, beer, and spirits from the country's top chefs and purveyors. Plus, you can hang with me all weekend. Win Win.

2. Soak up the fall colors in our Botanical Gardens.

Cheekwood Harvest

Because, Cheekwood y'all. One of the most beautiful sites in all of Nashville, 2015 kicks off their 4th annual Harvest: a six-week fall festival featuring activities for folks of all ages. You can pick a pumpkin from Cheekwood's patch of over 3,000 pumpkins, check out the 5,000 stunning chrysanthemums planted across the grounds, and even experience an authentic Japanese Moon Viewing on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 27th. Check out the full calendar of events at the link above.

3. Get really, really scared.

Nashville Nightmare Haunted House

I love love love a good scare -- and do my best to attend a few haunted houses every Halloween season. Last year, I checked out Nashville Nightmare for the first time, and it was FABULOUS. One of the most intense haunted house experiences I've ever had - and definitely my new #1 in Nashville. This year they return with two new attractions, Night Terrors (25,000 square feet of awesome), and Horror High. I can't wait.

4. Go for a Scenic Drive 

A few of my favorite, most serene spots just outside the city are even more gorgeous as the leaves begin to turn in Nashville: 

Natchez Trace | Leiper's Fork | Gentry Farm

Make a day of it! Start out at the Nachez Trace Bridge, head to Liepers fork for some shopping, lunch, and homemade cobbler at the original Puckett's Grocery, and swing by Gentry Farms to pick up a pumpkin and explore the corn maze.

Burgess Falls

Just an hour and a half drive from Nashville brings you to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the state. A 1.5-mile round-trip trail offers a moderately strenuous hike, which will take you past four waterfalls and into the gorge.

5. Drink / Be Merry. 

Arrington Vineyards

40 min south of downtown through gorgeous countryside lies Arrington Vineyards, a perfect evening getaway from the city. Every weekend through November you can catch live music and sip a local vino under the stars. Pack a picnic for a perfect date night or outing with your friends.

The Best Haunted House in Nashville

Fall: It's one of my favorite times of year in Nashville. The changing leaves, the cooling temps, bonfires, cider, s'mores, Oktoberfest. Oh, and Haunted Houses. For some reason, something about immersing ones self in a terrifying experience is obnoxiously appealing to me - and I look forward to the season every. single. year.

I've visited my fair share of haunts in town, and I have to crown a new favorite for 2015 - one that quite simply stands out above and beyond any house I've ever experienced: Nashville Nightmare. The sets, the design, costumes, overall production, the fact that it consistently scared the hell out of me and my friends - all elements of a top notch haunted house, which made for an absolutely terrifying experience.

There are actually two houses on site - Night Terrors and Horror High. The first, contains over 25,000 square feet of scenes that will undoubtedly re-visit you in your nightmares. I can't begin to tell you how many times I screamed. Out loud. Like a child. Whatever. The latter, Haunted High, is located in the abandoned remains of an actual high school. Terrifying. By the time we made it through both, I was without voice. I mean, no big deal, right?

If you're looking for even more, thorough reviews of the other Haunted Houses in Nashville, I recommend turning to my friends at the Nashville Scene and checking their stellar recommendations. Scene contributor Justin Stokes ranks the various haunts based on scariness, acting, costumes, production design, time, price, ingenuity, lighting, sound and misc. novelty factors: a scale which of course seems ghoulish-ly appropriate. 

Topping The Scene's list with an A+ is the aforementioned Nashville Nightmare, which Stokes describes contains "makeup and monsters of a caliber you'd expect at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights." Also note, Nashville Nightmare was also named among the top 31 Haunts in the nation by Haunted Attraction Magazine, so enter if you dare.

Check out the rest of the Scene's Guide to the Best Haunted Houses in Nashville on their site. 

What is your favorite Haunt in town?

The BEST Haunted House in Nashville.. Part II

Don't miss my 'Best Haunted House in 2014' post.

Last year I shared withyou my favorite haunted house in Nashville. This year, I wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make Monster Mountain happen. If you are like me and love to be scared out of your mind (but in a fictional, fun way of course) - you HAVE got to check this place out. 

I've been a fan of Halloween and horror movies my entire life.. have spent years trying out different Halloween attractions in various cities throughout the US, and Monster Mountain has consistently remained on of my absolute favorites. Let's just sum it up by saying it is definitely not for the faint of heart.. and ya'll. It is one of the scariest, most intense haunted houses I've ever experienced.

SO. All that said, it was so interesting and fun for me to chat with Monster Mountain's Creative Director, Jason Kittrell, and get a look behind the scenes/hear what it takes to put on this massive production every year.

EN: Can you give me a little background on yourself? How did you end up getting into this role?

Jason: I grew up in a small town about 50 miles east of Nashville. I always remember Halloween being my favorite holiday because I got to dress up and play someone else. I would hide in the bushes around my parent’s house and try to scare people who came trick or treating. As I got older, I started dabbling with magic tricks and coming up with props to help wow and awe my friends. About 7 years ago, I moved to Hendersonville. I had always wanted to work for a haunt, and went to an open casting call for Monster Mountain. I came up and kinda stuck out due to my age. Most people are in their early 20’s and here I am right at 30. For a few years, I was an actor there. I would show up late and do my own makeup and apply my own prosthetics. I impressed the owners enough that they asked me to start helping out with the build team in coming up with ideas for the haunt.

This year, we got to a delayed start on the build due to some regulation that had to be addressed so the doors could open. Then we had a change in our build team, as the team that had been there for most of my career was moving on to their own ventures. So I was asked to take a bigger role and given the title of Manager of Creative Development. So this is my first 6 months in the role.

EN: Can you give us some info on this year’s theme at Monster Mountain? 

Jason: Last year, Monster Mountain brought you Splatterhaus Studios. This year, we have cut out the middle man. Monster Mountain Horror Studios asks our guests to be extras in our macabre movie sets. We present over 20 scenes of horror. Journey into the Wilhoite family cabin and see what happens when you open the gates to hell. Avoid becoming a human sacrifice in Voodoo Bayou. Find out what it means to be on the “naughty list” in Krampus: Home for the Holidays. And avoid the walking dead in Zombie City 2: World of the Dead. These are just a few of the scenes awaiting you this year, because here at Monster Mountain Horror Studios, We know fear.  

EN: How do you all come up with the theme?

Jason: We have a talented staff here. We draw from movies, comic books, tv shows, and pop culture to come up with the storylines each year. With the horror studio idea, we wanted to be able to present many separate scenes that normally would not go together. I mean, most haunts have one theme and it lasts from beginning to end. We do too, but the horror studio allows you to go from the land of Oz and then be in a nasty sewer scene, then find you way into a city full of zombies.  

EN: When does the work begin to get the house ready for your opening day, and what is involved?

Jason: Work for Monster Mountain begins actually in November right after the doors close for the previous season. We start with removing the set pieces and scenes that either are not going to be reused or need to be stored for the off season. We also start planning the route and order of the scenes we want to bring for the next year. This year, we spent much of the early months trying to improve the guest experience by adding new features such as a paved trail.

Work for a haunt like Monster Mountain requires a lot of work and we have one of the best build teams in the business. Even after the doors open for the season, we are constantly looking for ways to add to the experience and give the best show around.

EN: What’s the average number of folks who come through in a night?

Jason: While I cannot speak on the actual numbers, I can say that in a season most haunted attractions see about 6000-8000 patrons yearly. In September, we see smaller lines and wait times for guests. In mid-October we have had lines that were up to 3 hours to get in.

EN: How long have you guys been in business.. And how did it all begin?

Jason: Monster Mountain opened in the late 90’s . The owners, Mike and Jan McMurtry, have been working the haunt industry for years before and decided to try their hand at it. They had a large property of land and decided to start their haunt here. Ever since, Monster Mountain has evolved. In the early years, the haunt did a lot a basic makeup techniques that, while scary, were not up to the quality people have come to expect from attractions. The owners took it upon themselves to become top notch special fx makeup artists and started moving out movie quality makeup effects. As time has gone on, Monster Mountain has kept up with the times by providing fresh and new content every year.

EN: What’s your favorite scene in this year’s house?

Jason: All the scenes are great. But I have a tie for two favorites. My first favorite is Cabin of the Dead, which is the 3^rd scene in the haunt this year. Our build team completely changed our old barn set into an amazing looking cabin that looks very much like what you would see from a Hollywood set.

My second favorite is Zombie City. When I am not working on projects at Monster Mountain, I also run a fan site for the AMC show The Walking Dead called WalkingTheWalkingDead.Com. Zombies have a very special place in my heart so when we started planning this year, I thought it would be great to turn Zombie City into an actual city, rather than just one area. We now encompass 6 different scenes that tell the story of the post-apocalyptic town of New Hope. Last year, we even made a short film for the town, which you can find more info at our IMDB site http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2820032/

EN: What’s your favorite scary movie?

Jason: I have to say my favorite scary movie has to be The Exorcist. That movie still gives me chills when I watch it.

  

EN: Anything else you’d like to add?

Jason: I would like to extend a personal invitation to anyone to come see Monster Mountain Haunted Attraction this year. Also, head over to our Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/MonsterMountainHaunt?ref=hl and LIKE us. We will be giving away prizes all season long and will be posting photos and other updates. Keep up with us during the off season too, as you never know what we will be cooking up for our guests for the coming year. The horror fans are the reason we do this and we always want to hear what they want.

**

Thanks to Jason for taking the time to answer some of our questions—it was definitely interesting to get an insider perspective on what goes into planning and executing such a unique event! Monster Mountain is open every weekend from now until the weekend after Halloween. 

Have you made it out to Monster Mountain? Let me know what you think!

Monster Mountain

273 McMurtry Road

Hendersonville, TN 37075

Ideas for Fall Activities in Nashville

Middle Tennessee has some of the most beautiful fall seasons I have ever experienced in my life. With fall comes a ton of great outdoor activities to soak in the gorgeous surroundings.  Here are some of the places I've visited in the past during the fall that you should check out this year:

Gentry Farms.  Everyone loves a good pumpkin patch and Gentry Farm offers that and more.  A corn maze, nature trail, and tons of activities for the kids sum up why it is totally worth the $5 admission (and btw. last time I was out at Gentry, I saw Keith, Nicole, and Dierks. You never know who you might run into. Swoon).

While you're out at Gentry, drive a little further down Old 96 to the Natchez Trace Bridge (pictured above), one of my favorite architectural designs in Nashville, is especially stunning at this time of the year. Just down the street on Old 96, take a drive through the beautiful Westhaven neighborhood. The attention to detail in this community is simply stunning, and an absolute must-see.

While you're out that direction, don't forget about the Liepers Fork community. It always amazes me that the country is so close to the city here in Nashville. The original Puckett's is a must-see (stop in for some homemade cobbler... delish.), and there are some fabulous antique and art shops to check out as well.

A few other ideas:

• Radnor Lake. A fairly hidden park in Nashville, one that must be seen in the fall. Absolutely beautiful trails, trees, and of course, the lake itself. It's a wonderful to have such a serene place so accessible from the hustle and bustle of town.

• Check out a Haunted house. Check out my behind the scenes chat with my favorite haunted attraction in town, Nashville Nightmare. If you're looking at staying closer to town, Devils Dungeon in East Nashville is also terrifying.

• Burgess Falls. Head east to this absolutely stunning state park with a 1.5 mile round-trip hike which takes you past four waterfalls. Perhaps my favorite park and completely worth the trek.

• Fall Creek Falls. Another gorgeous park featuring miles of trails and an epic waterfall. An easy day trip from Nashville.

Finally, of course fall wouldn't be complete without a trip out East to the Smokies and Gatlinburg. About a three hour drive east of Nashville - simply rent a cabin and enjoy the views for one of the best and easiest weekend getaways. If you're up for a bit of adventure whilst out that direction, be sure to check out Dollywood, one of my favorite theme parks in the country (because seriously, who doesn't love some Dolly Parton.)

What are some of your favorite can't miss fall activities?

The BEST Haunted House in Nashville

Don't miss my 'Best Haunted House in 2014' post.

Some of my favorite things about the transition from summer to fall is 1) My birthday -- September 24th (email me for my address for presents), 2) The pretty leaves, 3) Campfires and everything that goes with them, and 4) HALLOWEEN.  Do you love having the you-know-what scared of you?  Yeah, me too-- and honestly, I'm not too sure why, but it's so much fun!  Now that Halloween time is nearly upon us, the plethora of haunted houses in the Nashville area are beginning to open for business.  I've been to several of the options around town, but one in particular has consistently stood out above the rest as being one of the most terrifying I have ever been to:  Monster Mountain.

Tennessee State Prison - Surely it's haunted.

Every year I have gone has been bigger and better, and I can't wait to check out their 2012 production "Splatterhaus".  They are now open every Friday and Saturday night 7-11PM until Halloween.  I recommend getting there early, as the line gets very long very quickly.  Also consider the VIP ticket which allows you to skip the main line and jump first in line, definitely worth the extra few bucks!

What is your favorite Haunted attraction in Nashville?

Monster Mountain
7-11PM Friday and Saturday Nights
$15 Standard Admission
Click here for directions

Gatlinburg - an easy weekend getaway from Nashville

One of my favorite weekend trips has to be a fall excursion to GATLINBURG!  If you have not taken the 3.5 journey East it is a must see, especially this time of year. Start with renting a cabin in the Smokey's (we've used a wonderful company called Auntie Belham's), but make sure you do it sooner than later-- they book up fast. For around $200 bucks a night, we were able to rent a beautiful cabin with a view, cook great food, and of course spend priceless time with amazing friends.

You can opt to stay in, relax by the fire, and sit in the hot tub all weekend, or if you're feeling adventurous take a journey out into town of Gatlinburg.  Expect great people watching, delish food/candies, and typical touristy-type attractions. There's everything from putt-putt golf to old time photo booths, all nestled in within the beautiful Smokey Mountains. One can't miss stop in the town is the Pancake Pantry, which is an annual tradition every time we visit—you should make it one of yours too. Similar to ours in Nashville but different enough to try. I've had the blueberry, sweet potato, and cinnamon/spice pancakes and they are all fabulous!

Another must is a trek into North Carolina to see the beautiful mountain views, and if you like ice skating, a trip up to Ober Gatlinburg.  Repeat visitors and theme park enthusiasts should definitely make a trip to Dollywood.

It's definitely worth driving up after work on Friday and staying through Sunday, but if you can squeeze a little extra time in there I'd suggest it!  Overall, it is a FABULOUS, relaxing, and easy getaway.