The Town of Nashville NC, has a unique way of celebrating Mother’s Day. Each year, Mother’s Day means a town-wide carnival for the entire weekend! This family-oriented “Nashville Blooming Festival” makes for a great family outing, where the kiddies can ride rides, parents can shop from the vendors, and everyone can enjoy live music on the main street.
Nashville’s Annual Blooming Festival is May 5-7, 2016. Planning is under way, with bands signed on and vendors and sponsors adding their support.
Thursday is the kick-off party at the Nash Arts Center, a small affair, followed by two big and exciting days of outdoor festivities on Friday and Saturday!
Friday night’s outdoor stage will hold entertainers including The Sleeping Booty Band.
Saturday the stage includes Slam Allen and a host of regional bands throughout the day. Saturday night’s headliner is the East Coast Rhythm & Blues Band.
Saturday also means the Blooming Festival parade! And lots of booths selling everything from local crafts by vendors to tasty foods throughout the festival area.
As it has each year, this year’s festival promises to draw thousands of people from Nashville and surrounding areas to enjoy the music, parade, carnival atmosphere, food, and more.
To continue this wonderful family event for Nashville, the festival committee is letting local business know that they want their participation. In order to hold such a large event, financial support is needed from the community before the rides or set up, or the first band takes the stage.
To help get the festival rolling for its eighteenth year, contact Amy Beasley at 252.459.2117, or Jo Anne Cooper at 252.459.7101. There are sponsorship and vendor opportunities to help small businesses, local farmers, local services, and nonprofits, to participate in the event.
There are also special opportunities to take part, including memorial flags, vendor details, mother of the year nomination instructions, and parade entry.
Blooming Festival Flags
The public is invited to honor, or remember, someone at the Blooming Festival by sponsoring a spring flag. Flags will be displayed during the festival, with names listed in the Blooming Festival Guide.
Flags are $5 each, and entries need to be received by the committee by April 13, 2016. Forms will be available from the Chamber’s festival page, and must be mailed, with payment, to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce in Nashville NC.
Vendor Registration
The Nashville Blooming Festival has two craft vendor sites available for 2016. A few spaces are set by the main stage, available on a first come, first served basis and at a premium price. The second vendor area starts at the Nash County Office Building and runs to a parking lot between Nash County Social Services and the Nash Arts Center.
Vendor rates range from $50 to $150 depending on size and location. The craft vendor areas will be open to the public starting at 9am on Saturday, and may be open as late as 5:30pm. There are no vendors on Friday.
The deadline to apply is April 15, 2016; however, spaces are expected to fill and early registration is recommended.
For more information on vendor restrictions — no weapons, no free water, etc. — or town guidelines during the event. contact the Nashville Blooming Festival Committee or review the application forms online. Applications are available from the Chamber website.
Mother of the Year
Nashville Blooming Festival is accepting nominations for the 2016 Mother of the Year! They encourage folks to nominate their mothers now for this title. Mother of the Year will be honored during the festival parade and from the festival stage.
Nominations are 50¢ each. According to the festival committee, 50¢ nominations may be solicited from family, church family, friends, co-workers, and civic organizations, and then the mom with the most nominations (aka, most funds raised) will win the 2016 crown.
All monies raised through nominations will go to the Nashville Blooming Festival to support funding of this annual Mother’s Day weekend event.
Nominations must be received by April 11, 2016. For instructions and more information, call Jo Anne (Cooper) at 252.459.7101.
Parade Participation
One of the highlights of this annual festival is the parade! The parade is Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
It is now time for the 2016 Parade registration and we want you to be apart of this fun filled
event!
All are invited to be a part of the 2016 parade! Sign up forms are available from the Nashville Chamber, and must be returned by the registration deadline of April 27, 2016.
Parade lineup starts early — around 9:30am — with the parade beginning at 11:30am.
