Are you looking for some fun and excitement in Nashville this weekend? Look no further than the Tomato Art Festival, our annual celebration of all things tomato. The events on Friday August 8th and Saturday August 9th mark the festival’s 11th year and as always, the festival offers visitors the chance to enjoy music, delicious food, art and tomatoes of every size and shape. Let’s have a quick look at this year’s Tomato Art Festival and why this is a must-attend event.
What is the Tomato Art Fest?
Voted as one of Nashville’s best festivals numerous times over the past decade, the Tomato Art Festival was initially conceived in the early 2000s by Bret and Meg MacFadyen, owners of the Art and Invention Gallery in East Nashville. The first festival was intended to be a small series of events to promote an art show celebrating the tomato, but the residents of East Nashville quickly adopted the festival as their signature annual event, and the rest is history.
This year’s Tomato Art Festival is expected to welcome nearly 40,000 attendees over its two-day span. The art exhibits, concert stages and vendors can be found on 11th St. between Forrest Ave. and Russell St., and on Woodland St. between 10th St. and 12th St. The festival is free, but you’ll want to bring some cash in case you feel like eating or picking up some incredible tomato art.
Don’t Miss the Concert on Friday August 8th
The festival officially kicks off on Friday evening at 6:00 pm with a concert, live art exhibition and a small gathering of local food trucks for those who are looking to grab some dinner or snacks. The concert features acts Majestico, Buffalo Rodeo and Chancellor Warhol, who will be gracing the stage throughout the evening.
Saturday Kicks off with the Festival Parade
One of the most-loved parts of the Tomato Art Festival is the ‘Second Line’ Parade, in which hundreds of participants young and old dress up in tomato-themed costumes. Head on down to the festival early to catch the parade, and then stroll through the hundreds of vendors and art exhibitors that have their wares on display. Three concert stages are set up on Saturday, with a number of bands and acts including headliners El El, who cap off the festival with their 8:30 pm performance on the First Tennessee Main Stage.
Forget About Driving – Uber is Sponsoring Free Rides
There is street parking throughout the area but with 40,000 attendees around you can expect it to be crowded. Uber is sponsoring the festival and is offering free rides to attendees who haven’t used their service before. If you’re interested in trying it out, download their app to your iPhone or Android smartphone and use the coupon code ‘TOMATO’ to get a free ride up to $20 in value.
Without question, the Tomato Art Festival is one of Nashville’s most fun and unique events. Head on down to East Nashville this weekend and you’ll see why!
