Soul’d Creative Collective is bringing back their Summer of Soul’d Festival in the heart of North Nashville. On Saturday, June 6, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Kossie Gardner Sr. Park off Historic Jefferson Street will be activated as an open-air celebration of Black art, storytelling, and community connection.
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. Founder 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 30+ 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 Highlights Include:
- The Art Zone: Hands-on interactive crafting and the curated “Art Trunk” showcase.
- Vendor Village: A marketplace of 30+ locally-owned artisanal businesses and makers.
- Plus: DJ sets, live music, and local food trucks.
- Community Play: Oversized lawn games and family-friendly activations in the heart of Jefferson Street.
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. RSVP Today!
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