HIT THE ROAD FOR FAMILY FUN AT THE ALL-AMERICAN SUMMERFEST AT GAYLORD OPRYLAND HOTEL This summer, Gaylord Opryland Resort is celebrating America’s 250th birthday with a bang at their All-American SummerFest. The family-friendly celebrations are endless, with events like poolside parties, interactive scavenger hunts, outdoor movie nights, and dazzling firework shows happening all summer through September 7. So pack the minivan and hit the road because just a few short hours away, this classic seasonal getaway is filled with fantastic memory-making opportunities at one of the country’s most iconic destinations.
Photo by Gaylord Opryland Resort
Summer Festivities:
Enjoy patriotic fireworks and live entertainment at America’s 250th Birthday Party after being serenaded by Nashville’s best country artists on select Saturdays. Plus, pack your sense of adventure for The Great American Road Trip Scavenger Hunt! Indulge in festive food on Fridays and sweet sundaes on Sundays. Your favorite little artists will thrive in the Summer Craft Zone, and the whole fam will be mesmerized by the daily Sounds of America Light & Fountain Show and Hydro Beats Light & Fountain Show. There’s even a Silent Disco Delta Riverboat Ride!
Fun All Year Long:
Get ready for some splish-splashing fun at SoundWaves, the resort’s water park spanning four acres open all year-round. It features something for everyone: speed down water slides, lounge in the lazy river or private cabana, ride the waves in the wave pool, or play in the kids’ area. Cruise through the Delta’s 4.5-acre indoor garden on the Delta Riverboat, then head to the green and play the Scottish link-style, par-72 Gaylord Springs Golf Links. (Here’s a tip: Junior golfers ages 15 and under can play one free round for each paid adult after 3 p.m.) You won’t want to miss “dinner and a show” on the General Jackson Showboat, with live music and views of the Nashville skyline. And after you’ve worn yourself out having too much fun, recharge with a massage, facial, mani-pedi, and more at European-inspired Relâche Spa. Your littles will love searching for the hidden endangered animals in the Wildlife Rescue Augmented Reality (AR) Experience.
To book your Gaylord Opryland’s All-American SummerFest adventure, visit GaylordOpryland.com .
A SWEET TRANSITION: BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY BANDIT PÂTISSERIE’S NEXT CHAPTER BEGINS
If you’ve ever been to the Farmers Market at Pepper Place, chances are good that you’ve seen the long line of people waiting for a pastry from Bandit Pâtisserie. You may have even stopped by their brick-and-mortar location downtown at 2323 First Ave. N. for a scrumptious croissant or seasonal pastry. Now it’s changing hands as Founder and James Beard Nominated Chef Kristen Hall passes the torch to co-owner Lacy Triplett so she can focus on her French bistro La Fête. It all started in 2013 when Hall and her daughters started anonymously leaving baked goods on neighbors’ doorsteps under the name The Baking Bandits. Fast forward a decade, Bandit has become a beloved pastry shop known for combining classic French pastry technique with local, seasonal ingredients and some good old Southern flair. Triplett joined the pastry team in 2021, where she quickly rose in the ranks until she became co-owner and the daily productions and operations manager. “This has been an incredible journey, and I am so grateful for the past twelve years,” says Hall. “Lacy knows this business inside and out, cares deeply about the people and the product, and I couldn’t imagine better hands for Bandit’s future.”Triplett adds, “Our team is the heart of the bakery, and their dedication to quality, technique, and hospitality is what makes Bandit special. That commitment to craft and the community remains at the center of everything we do.”
Stop by Bandit Pâtisserie any day of the week, or visit banditbham.com to see their menu.
BIRMINGHAMPARENT.COM | JULY 2026 11
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