TOMATO ART FEST - NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

If you’ve ever had the urge to decorate yourself up like a giant tomato and parade around town for hours, then consider attending the yearly Tomato Art Fest in East Nashville. Started ten years ago by local artist Meg McFadden, this festival grows larger every year. Last year, there were estimates of some 35,000 people in attendance. Vendors set up local art (a lot of it tomato themed) and people roam the blocked off streets of East Nashville’s Five Points area for hours. It’s a pretty big deal—even featured in Oxford American and Southern Living. With events like the Tomato 5K, Bloody Mary contest and the ice cream trough, there’s something for everyone—even the wet burrito contest where contestants race to finish a delicious burrito from Nuvo Burrito while being hosed down with water.

Whatever your fancy, prepare to get hot (it’s August in Nashville, after all) and probably a little messy.

Guide Note:
Mark your calendars for early August each year to see the sights and sounds and tastes of the Tomato Art Fest.