by Alyssa Rabun

Whether you are team veggie or team fruit, don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate all things “mater” at the 9th Annual tomato Art Fest on August 11.

Sarah Ogburn, Miz Meg’s I’m a Keepin’ This

Founded by Meg and Bret MacFadyen, owners of East Nashville’s Art & Invention Gallery, this festive day unites a crowd of art lovers, tomato lovers, and summer lovers. In the heart of East Nashville’s Five Points region, the festival boasts the best in local tomato art, live music, food vendors, and activities ranging from bobbing for tomatoes to sipping Bloody Marys.

The MacFadyens promote the festival saying, “The tomato is a uniter, not a divider, bringing together all fruits and vegetables.” This year, visual artist Andee Rudloff showed just how uniting the tomato can be. Rudloff recruited Nashville community members to help paint her tomato-inspired mural. During this year’s festival, this masterpiece of community art is one of the many pieces that will have you considering the true implications of to-MA-to versus to-MAH-to.

Browse tasty and tasteful tomato-inspired pieces at the Bryant Gallery and Art & Invention Gallery. Enjoy rows of arts and crafts for sale, including handmade ceramics, blown-glass pieces, and unique jewelry. Satisfy your hunger with foodie favorites like 5 Points Pizza and Jeni’s Ice Cream. Embrace your inner frat guy at the Art Fest Cornhole Tournament. Or if you’re a ginger this is the one day out of the year when you can proudly show off your tomato-red locks at the festival’s Red Head Competition.

On August 10, the Eve of the Fest, the Art & Invention Gallery is hosting the Tomato Art Preview Party where you can be among the first to sample the sights and flavors of the upcoming festival. Reservations are required, and the event costs $25.

The Tomato Art Fest begins at 10 a.m. on August 11 in the Five Points Intersection of East Nashville. This event is free to the public.

tomatoartfest.com 

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