Good thing rain just makes tomatoes grow.
A powerful afternoon thunderstorm ended the 2026 Tomato Art Festival early, but the soggy event was still a hit. It welcomed large crowds to East Nashville for a kooky tribute to tomatoes, and to the creative enclave itself.
Marking its 23rd year, the family friendly festival took over Five Points in the historic East End for two days of art, music, wacky costumes and even a parade. Live bands, vendors and more filled the streets for a one of a kind event with a decidedly zesty, unique flavor.
Lengthy downpours and lightning ended the action for good around 4:30 p.m., hours before it was supposed to finish. But that didn’t dampen attendees’ spirit.
“The community is still gathered here despite the condition.
We’re all here still doing it!” local resident Caitlin Thomas told The Tennessean as the storm went on. “Maybe a little bit wet, but what do you do?"
What was the tomato fest parade like?
The Push, Pull & Wear Parade kicked off a steamy, stormy final day of the 2026 Tomato Art Festival. Hundreds of marchers walked a sunny parade route with a handful of floats built around tomato puns. A life-size shark puppet adorned with tomatoes “swam” down East Nashville’s Forrest Ave, led by a woman in a lifeguard outfit who used a bullhorn to warn crowds on both sides of the street, “Shark-Mato! Everyone out of the water!”
Marchers carried signs extolling the virtue of lasagna, or proclaiming tomato pride. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell was followed by the “ketchup crew,” plus middle school cheer teams and marching bands like Stratford Stem Magnet, who worked up a crowd-pleasing version of Sisqo’s 1999 hit “Thong Song."
Local resident Kelly Bacher and her neighbors took the chance to tribute local hero Todd Snider, the folk singer-songwriter who died in November 2025. Their float featured lyrics to his most famous song, “East Nashville Skyline,” and a cardboard skyline of the neighborhood’s most iconic establishments. She said Tomato Fest is a community builder East Nashville is lucky to have.
“We’ve had people come to our house every week for many months to paint, drink beer and be together,” she said of building the float. “It’s been amazing.”
What is the Tomato Art Festival?
The two day Tomato Art Festival is a kooky tribute to all things tomatoes, as well as East Nashville’s kooky identity. Home owners decorate their houses, people wear costumes, and vendors and musicians gather to celebrate.
Founded in 2003 by former art gallery owners Meg and Bret MacFadyen, the delightfully quirky fest prides itself on being like a tomato. It’s motto has become “A uniter not a divider.”
Organizers estimate 65,000 people attended in 2022. Even with storms and a heat index around 100, the streets were crowded with attendees this year, too. From a kickoff yoga session at Hola Yoga, to the Tomato 5K, Bloody Mary Brunch and beloved costume contest, residents love the annual gathering.
“The fact that we celebrate tomatoes with all of our neighbors, it’s a beautiful thing,” said roots musician and local resident Langhorne Slim, who The Tennessean spotted on the parade route. “Keeping the community strong and going is what we need here in Nashville, what we need in this world, what we need in this country. And so we’re big fans and we love East Nashville. We love living here.”
Main attractions included the costume contest, which found a woman wearing a giant tomato mirror ball win the overall prize. Runners up included a Little Tomato Mermaid and a Dolly Parton tribute. In the “heirloom tomato” kids costume contest, the winner was a K-Pop Demon Hunters-inspired young lady who was “keeping Nashville’s tomatoes safe from worms.”
Up the block the Bloody Mary Brunch featured food and Bloody Mary remixes from local restaurants like Bar Taco (ceviche), Party Fowl (hot chicken Bloody Mary), Fonda (a green Bloody Mary made with tomatillo and jalapeño), and Emmy Squared (Bloody Mary mule).
Music at the 2026 Tomato Art Festival
For a neighborhood often associated with its musical residents, live music remained a major draw at this year’s Tomato Art Festival. Two stages featured local independent artists, plus DJs and a silent disco.
On day one, female fronted rock band Tobacco Road got things going, followed by Jarren Blair, garage rock duo Girl Tones and local pop favorites The Foxies.
Day two kicked off with The FBR and grungy classic-rockers Threegon. Stages at both ends of 11th Ave featured the punk trio Massie 99, Eva Cassel, Wild Bill & The Bruisers and piano rockers Lonesome Joy before the storm rolled in. The festival’s musical acts were booked by The Basement East, and included a range of Nashville musical styles.
How the storm impacted Tomato Art Festival
Around 3 p.m. lightning and strong rain sent crowds looking for cover, and vendors scrambling to protect their goods.
Leif Erik Johansen saw it coming, and pulled down the sides of his vendor tent to shelter with an attendee. They watched the water rise among delicate pieces of his surrealist art, some of which is worth $6,500.
“I was stressing and then I'm peeking out through the window and I see everyone dancing in the rain and splashing in the puddles,” he said.
The stages were evacuated and never opened back up. Organizers said there was too much water on the stage and equipment, creating a safety risk for the bands. That meant Battle of the Vine winner Penny Lame never got to enjoy her prize, headlining the 11th Street stage.
Fronted by Nashville native Gracen Hill, the pop punk artist said earlier in the day she loved the quirky fest so much “I think I need to live here.” Even after getting stormed out, Hill was a fan.
“Bummed I couldn’t play, but so grateful to be included,” she said. “I would love to rain check for next year!”
Moga Family Band was supposed to close the festival on the 37206 stage, but they too missed their headline slot. It was all the more disappointing since rain also pushed back their set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival this year, making their set clash with the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
"Just the universe making us hungrier," said the band's Eric Fortaleza.
Was the Tomato Art Festival still a success?
Even while the rain poured down, and even after the music was canceled, Tomato Arts Festival attendees said the event was a success. Kids played in the rain and adults sipped cocktails under tents, or braved the rain themselves. Vendors like Thai and Hallie Acuna drove from Atlanta for the event, and said it was still worth the trip.
"Even with the weather and everything, it's been amazing nonetheless," Thai said.
Some said East Nashville's community spirit shined through even more.
“It’s very true to the neighborhood. Not going to let the weather get us down,” said Thomas. “If anything, it kind of adds to the fun a little bit.”
“It’s the best weekend of the year in the best neighborhood in the country,” local resident Anna Marie Carden said earlier in the day.
“I don't know if West Nashville should have a finger sandwich fest, but I always leave feeling so proud to live in East Nashville,” Sam Carden agreed.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tomato Art Festival stormed out, but thriving
