If you’ve spent most of this summer wiping sweat from your brow and praying for autumn, Nashville’s Labor Day weekend calendar provides an opportunity to pack in some authentic local events before the season’s unofficial end. As an added bonus, they happen to be date-friendly options as well:

Friday, August 31
Frist Friday
Ten bucks get you access to a live outdoor performance by The Dynamites, featuring soul legend Charles Parker up front, on the Frist’s expansive back patio downtown. Mix grooving drink-in-hand outside with walking the Frist Visual Arts Center’s galleries.919 Broadway, 6 p.m.

Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Bring a blanket for this informal gathering of Nashville’s bluegrass musicians in picking circles around the equestrian grounds at Warner Parks while headliners man a stage. Food and drinks are included with the ticket (price varies) and the dog can come.2500 Old Hickory Blvd., 7–11 p.m.

Saturday, September 1
Your day at Centennial Park begins with the annual Street Food Festival featuring most of Nashville’s best food trucks. Vendors start serving at 11 a.m., but hold off a bit so you don’t have to wait too long forMusicians Corner, 2–6 p.m., featuring seven bands on two stages headlined by The Blind Boys of Alabama. Afterward, walk over to the bandshell and grab your seats for a Shakespeare in the Parkmusical adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing” ($10 suggested donation).West End and 25th Ave. North

Sunday, September 2
Take a breath sleep before further recharging your batteries in the tranquil surroundings of Cheekwood’sbotanical gardens, currently displaying a man-friendly exhibit of elaborate treehouses. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., corresponding nicely with your next destination, the Franklin Jazz Festival, whose Blues Sunday schedule begins at 4 p.m. with a songwriters showcase and concluding with an 8:30 p.m. performance by Vasti Jackson.
Cheekwood: 1200 Forest Park Dr.
Franklin Jazz Festival: Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd.

Monday, September 3
Not ready to admit the weekend is over? The Keep on Movin’ Dance Party at The 5 Spot Live, is one of the most consistently fun, stylish local gatherings around — and a great value with 2-4-1 drinks.

If baking idly in a beach chair isn’t your idea of an invigorating shore excursion, head east this summer to find what is arguably the best surfing action this side of the Mississippi – board, wind and kite.

Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina is known for a consistent, superior swell on the beach side and premiere windsurfing and kiteboarding on its bayside (the Pamlico Sound). While fall and winter produce the largest waves, summer is an ideal time for beginners to learn, and intermediates to hone their skills.

To find out more about this sporting outpost and why its surf is unique, we caught up with Ross Byrd, owner of popular local youth camp, Surf Hatteras, and longtime local wave rider

“Great waves are generally a factor of swell, wind and bathymetry (the ocean floor) – the quicker the depth shallows, the better. For a lot of East Coast beaches, the broad continental shelf prevents a rapid depth shift, hence less consistent surf. Hatteras Island, however, is closer to deep water because of its far easterly location on the shelf. This, plus all the wind we get out here, makes this a standout surf spot on the eastern seaboard.”

Officially, the island is made up of seven small towns, though many condense that list to five: Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras. Of the group, Ross suggests scouting the surf in Rodanthe and Buxton first. “Both offer great east-facing beaches, which will capture swells from the north and south. The lighthouse in Buxton and S-Turns on the north side of Rodanthe are two of the best-known spots on the island for surf, and both are worth checking out.”

Part of the beauty of the jagged cape is the diversity. “If we go out one morning and it’s choppy because the wind’s wrong [in Buxton or Rodanthe], we might head down to the more south-facing beaches of Frisco, Hatteras or even across the inlet to Ocracoke, and it’ll be glassy. As a plus, these beaches typically have a bit greener, warmer water from the Gulf Stream, making them favorites of mine.”

As for securing equipment and booking a lesson, Ross recommends Rodanthe Surf Shop, Natural Art surf shop in Buxton, or the Outer Banks Boarding Company up the road in Nags Head. “If you’re in the area, make sure to go by and visit with Scott [at Natural Art]. He’s a true artist and well-known board maker; it’s fascinating to watch his process and the care he puts into sculpting each board. Plus, he’s just a great guy.” For kiteboarding, check out Real Watersports in Rodanthe.

Hatteras is still quite undeveloped, aside from a plethora of beach houses for rent, which is part of the charm for most. There’s a Food Lion in Avon for provisioning; Café 12 and the Atlantic Coast Café are two popular spots for fresh fish and suds. “It’s pretty simple out here, no shopping malls or high-rises, just consistent waves and plenty of time for surfing and family. That makes it special.”

Tim Inskeep was a peculiar site when he first moved to Nashville. Traversing Middle Tennessee’s waterways upright on a board with an oar, he appeared to confused inlanders looking like the far-flung survivor of a surfboard-canoe collision.

Fast-forward two years and stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP, is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and thanks to relocated enthusiasts like Inskeep, its surge has not been confined to coastal regions. A Long Beach native who moved to Hawaii at 20 and become a renowned surf instructor, Inskeep never considered shelving water sports when he land-locked himself in Tennessee. Neither should you.

SUP provides a rewarding way to beat the summer heat for anyone from a seasoned aquaphile itching for a fresh diversion to those looking for an introductory water sport. While ancient in origin, SUP’s popularity has surged in the past decade, beginning in Hawaii.

The versatile sport provides an effective full-body workout from a vantage point that allows you to more fully appreciate your surroundings. “It’s a much more comfortable perspective in every way,” Inskeep said. “You’re standing up, not lying down. Your neck isn’t constrained.” Anyone in reasonably good shape can cruise a large board on a flat lake with a few basic instructions, while advanced boards and river rapids provide challenges for those who desire them.

“My phone’s been blowing up with people wanting to do it now that the weather’s better,” said Inskeep, who works locally as an instructor and Jimmy Lewis dealer. “They come out of the water with a new outlook on life.” Those who want a session with Inskeep should contact him fast, as he’s moving to Texas soon. But while Nashville may owe its status as an inland SUP hub to Inskeep, the sport won’t be departing with him. Protégé Margaret Littman is just weeks away from launching Nashville Paddle Co., and Inskeep hopes to hand his company, SUP Guides, off to another skilled transplant soon who is moving here from Florida. Other options include Music City Water Sports, which is offering SUP rentals this season, and Hendersonville-based Craig Stand Up Paddle.

Inskeep’s top 5 Middle Tennessee SUP locations, in no particular order, are Old Hickory Lake, Percy Priest Lake, Caney Fork, Stones River and Center Hill Lake. His critical piece of buying advice is “try before you buy,” followed by his contention that your paddle is more important than your board, as it provides all your power, braking and balance. Look for something strong and lightweight from a reputable dealer like Kialoa or Quickblade.

As for the board, Inskeep said good beginner specs are 11+ feet long, 30+ inches wide and 4.5 inches thick. He also recommends finding a board with a versatile body style. A board too flat won’t cut it if you decide to try your hand at the ocean, while one too sophisticated will be too hard to cruise the lake.

As you prepare to watch the 138th Kentucky Derby this Saturday, here’s a quick guide to one of the most famous sporting events in the world.

Overview:
Held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, the sporting event is classified as a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The top five finishers of the race receive a share of the purse. A garland of more than 400 red roses is awarded to the winner.

History:
In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of William Clark of the Lewis-and-Clark-fame, visited the Epsom Derby in England. He returned to Kentucky and organized the Louisville Jockey Club to raise money to build quality, racing facilities. On May 17, 1875, about 10,000 people gathered to watch 15 horses compete in the first Derby.

Nicknames:
“America’s Race,” “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” “The Chance of a Lifetime” and “The Run for the Roses”

The Triple Crown:  
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is followed by the Preakness Stakes (held the third Saturday each May in Baltimore, Maryland), then the Belmont Stakes (held in June in Elmont, New York). A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown. Only eleven horses have ever achieved such a feat.

Churchill Downs:
Named after the original landowners John and Henry Churchill, the Louisville racetrack, with its recognizable twin spire grandstand, opened in 1875 and has hosted the 1¼ mile-long Derby each year.

Kentucky Oaks:
Held each year on the Friday before its sister race, the 1⅛ miles race, and the Kentucky Derby, are the oldest continuously contested sporting events in history. The winner gets a significant purse and a large garland of lilies.

The Kentucky Derby Festival:
First held in 1935, it’s now an annual festival held in Louisville during the two weeks leading up to the day of the Derby.

Thoroughbreds:
Participants are limited to three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The fastest time ever run in the Derby (at its present distance) was set in 1973 at 1 minute 59 2/5 seconds when Secretariat broke the previous record.

Derby Fashion:
Derby attire is known for its over-the-top use of pastel colors, seersucker, linen, madras plaid and hats – especially women’s hats. However, what you wear often depends on where you sit. Those in the reserved seating areas tend to go all out, while the infield crowd opts for more casual apparel.

The Mint Julep:
Officially associated with the Derby since 1938, the traditional cocktail consists of bourbon, mint, sugar and water. The historic drink should be served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup, but most race-goers enjoy theirs in a souvenir glass.