The month of May, 2013 is a busy time for Nashville and Mayor Karl Dean. Mayor Dean recently announced the Second Annual Mayor’s Field Day with the Tennessee Titans that will take place on Saturday, May 4 and the Music City Center grand opening on May 19-20.

The mayor was joined by Tennessee Titans mascot T-Rac, Titans cheerleaders and middle school students from Liberty Collegiate. Don MacLachlan, Titans executive vice president, and Mike Keith, the ‘Voice of the Titans.’

The Mayor’s Field Day is entirely free and open to the public with activities beginning at 9 am at LP Field. Youth age five and up, adults of all ages and individuals of all fitness levels are invited to come play where the Titans play.

“Being active doesn’t always have to feel like exercise, and that’s why we have fun activities like the football toss planned for Mayor’s Field Day,” Mayor Dean said. “Field Day is open to everyone, but I especially want Nashville’s youth to join me. Kids who get plenty of physical activity and eat healthy, well-balanced diets are more likely to stay focused in school and perform well.”

Tennessee Titans players will again join Mayor Dean at the Field Day. This year will new school challenge will be included. The challenge will see which Nashville elementary, middle and high school can get the largest percentage of their student population to pre-register for Mayor’s Field Day. First-place schools at each level will get a special tour of the Titans locker room. There will be prizes for schools winning second and third place, as well. More information about the School Challenge is online at <www. MayorsFieldDay.com>.

At last year’s inaugural Mayor’s Field Day more than 3,300 participated, including several Titans players and former Titans standout Eddie George. Mayor’s Field Day builds on the success of other citywide healthy-living initiatives, including Walk 100 Miles with the Mayor and the Mayor’s Challenge 5K Walk/Run.

Students joined Mayor Dean in previewing some of the on-field activities that will take place during Mayor’s Field Day.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority is again offering free transportation on all bus routes to individuals participating in Mayor’s Field Day. Passengers must inform the bus driver that they are Field Day participants to qualify for the free fare. Bus maps and schedules can be viewed online at <www.nashvillemta.org>.

The activities of the Music City Center’s opening will begin at 2 pm on Sunday with Public Preview Tours and an Open House until 6 pm. There will be live music throughout the building; children’s activities in the Exhibit Hall; and light refreshments. From 3-7 pm, there will be live music on the plaza.

The Music City Center’s grand opening concert on Monday will headline Grammy-winning artist Sheryl Crow and feature a star-studded Nashville lineup as well as a free open house. A multiple genres of music represented in Nashville, including pop, gospel, country and bluegrass will be heard. The concert will feature performances by ‘The Time Jumpers,’ the Grammy-nominated bluegrass act featuring Vince Gill; Grammy-nominated Fisk Jubilee Singers; and recent Grammy performer Mikky Ekko, a singer/songwriter who was most recently featured in Rihanna’s chart-topping duet ‘Stay.’

“I can’t think of a more fitting way to open the Music City Center than with a diverse lineup of great music representing the best of what Music City has to offer,” Dean said.

The concert will take place from 6-9 pm on Monday, May 20. The lineup will be followed by a fireworks display produced by Pyro Shows.

The opening of the Music City Center is an important milestone in the city’s history, and I am honored to have been asked to perform,” Crow said. “Nashville is home to some of the world’s best musicians and songwriters, and that creativity is one of the many reasons why I live here.”

Dean will present his State of Metro address at the Music City Center at 10 am on May 20 as part of the grand opening festivities. A free open house will take place both Sunday and Monday.

The second annual Mayor’s Field Day with the Tennessee Titans is made possible by the support of several community partners, including the Tennessee Titans, Coca-Cola, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, ActiveBuys, Adventureworks, Hands On Nashville, NashVitality, the Nashville Sports Council, Metro Parks and Metro Public Health Department.

The grand opening is being organized by the Mayor’s Office, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. and the Nashville Convention Center Authority.