The Summer of Soul’d Festival in Nashville is set for Saturday, June 6, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kossie Gardner Sr. Park on Historic Jefferson Street. Hosted by the Soul’d Creative Collective, this free, family – friendly event will feature live performances, local food trucks, and a marketplace with over 30 vendors, along with interactive art activations. Kossie Gardner Sr. Park is located at 1606 Jefferson Street, Nashville. While this event is free, and there is no cost for admission, RSVPs are highly encouraged.
Live music & DJ Sets, with performances celebrating Black artists and musicians, are a big draw. The Vendor Village is a curated market featuring over 30 local Black – owned artisanal businesses and makers. The Art Zone features hands – on interactive art and craft making and the curated “Art Trunk” showcase. Food & Drink are available through local food trucks and there will be an on – site bar. Community Play with oversized lawn games and family – friendly activations will be there, too.
Soul’d Creative Collective was founded by Nashville transplants who have spent years weaving themselves into the city’s creative fabric. The festival represents a “full-circle” moment for its leaders. Founders Christian Sinclair and Jonathan Wynn admit they are having their own “Insecure, Issa Rae” moment — seeing their vision for a collective, grassroots cultural movement manifest into a large-scale community reality.
“This festival is for the community to celebrate arts, creativity, and the culture of the North Nashville community, and to celebrate Soul’d,” says Jonathan Wynn, Co-Founder and Director of Operations. “We are standing on preserving the culture of North Nashville. Events like this make it hard for that culture to be erased.”
The festival aims to move beyond the traditional “look-but-don’t-touch” gallery experience. Instead, Summer of Soul’d invites attendees to be part of the process through an interactive Art Zone, an artisanal Vendor Village featuring local makers, and live performances.
“The community is always seeking interactive ways to celebrate the arts, specifically Black arts,” says Founder Christian Sinclair. “This is our way of saying thank you to those who have given us space at the table and for letting us provide safe spaces for all.”
Event agenda / timeline goes as follows: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Vendor Village & Art Zone; 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM DJ Janiro; 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Summer Joy; 6:40 PM – 7:10 PM Tim Gent 7:20 PM – 7:50 PM Kyleigh; and 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM Vibeout.
Summer of Soul’d is free and open to the public, supported in part by a Metro Arts Thrive Project grant. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the day. You can grab more details, RSVP, and support the nonprofit organization directly through their Eventbrite link at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-of-sould-festival-tickets-1987699113556
