By Justin Boldenow
In the passing time since we’ve moved here, there have been an incredible number of shows to see. We try our best to get out and discover the most inspirational and moving acts spanning Folk and Bluegrass to R&B and Rock. However this week we didn’t have to look far, because it came to us.
Each year Meg and Bret MacFadyen with their small business located in the 5-points of East Nashville, Art and Invention Gallery, host a large festival bringing together the community of the city. The festival has grown to become the largest in the city all year. It is called the Tomato Arts Festival.
Now we had not known any of this prior to the radio advertisements. We only knew it by name and not by its magnitude or size. Our curiosity had gotten the best of us and we investigated. What we found was 6 streets, including all 5 points, completely blocked off from traffic and open to pedestrians. We also found a dozen food trucks owned by local entrepreneurs, scores of tents featuring home-grown vegetables, local art, and musical instruments, and several stages featuring full bands separated by city blocks so they didn’t overlap. What we had found was the community equivalent to paradise.
In any direction there were local artists, garden-fresh vegetables, face-painting, balloons, and a wash of music. For an entire weekend there were contests such as best salsa recipe, red hair, art, haiku, and bobbing for tomatoes. There was a tomato themed parade and there were events for children in the morning. It was an impressive culmination of talent, drive, passion, skill, and community.
Never would I have imagined that a festival celebrating such a strange fruit would be that incredible. It was during our exploration that I realized that even in a large city where neighbors live above, below, and all around; in a city like others where everyone has a place to be, such a feeling of togetherness can permeate. This was more than summertime fun, it was an act of rejoicing and celebration. It was realizing what we can do as people and what we can do together. All it took was a tomato to show me that.
Get together folks. Celebrate the little things and never underestimate the potential of your neighbor.