East Nashville Tomato Art Fest Draws Tens of Thousands for Weekend of Music, Art, Costumes

The 22nd Annual Tomato Art Fest in East Nashville's Five Points district has grown from a small neighborhood event into a major community festival drawing thousands of attendees. The festival, themed "The Tomato: A Uniter, Not a Divider," features tomato-inspired costumes, live music on two stages, over 225 local vendors, art installations, and contests like the Push, Pull & Wear Parade and the Beautiful Tomato Costume Contest. Despite summer heat, festival-goers enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, celebrating tomatoes through creativity and community unity. The event has become an annual tradition for many families and serves as a reunion for locals who reconnect while enjoying the festivities. In Kingsport, Tennessee, the 21st annual Homegrown Tomato Fest also celebrated tomatoes with food competitions, kids' activities, and live music, emphasizing the love for homegrown produce. Meanwhile, the Indiana State Fair introduced The Art of Music Experience, an exhibit celebrating iconic album cover art from legendary musicians, with a pop-up vinyl and CD store and murals by local artists, providing a nostalgic and artistic connection to music history.