Needs From: Belmont Office of Community-Engaged Learning and Service

Join us for a day in the William Edmonson Homesite Park and Gardens located in Edgehill, just blocks from Belmont's campus! We need help with general outdoor clean-up tasks as we prepare for fall and the upcoming WE Fest (William Edmondson Arts & Culture Festival) on October 24th!

We need volunteers to help with the following tasks:

Mulching garden beds and trees in the parkRemove vines and other invasive species along the fenceWeed garden bedsHarvest/remove remaining summer cropsAssist with plantingOther miscellaneous garden/outdoor cleaning tasks as needed

What better way to give back to your community than help beautify spaces right here in the neighborhood for you and your Edgehill neighbors to enjoy!

This volunteer activity will be physically active and you should expect to get a little dirty while working outside. After you've responded to the need on Get Connected, we will reach out with further information. While we'd ideally love for volunteers to be able to stay for the full shift time, we understand if you can only attend for part of the time. Please let us know beforehand if you'll be leaving early or arriving late so we can make proper arrangements. Questions? Email MariClare@thestore.org or text 629-235-4334.

We hope to see you there!

Come volunteer at WE Fest, our fifth annual family-friendly art fair and music festival that honors Nashville’s trailblazing limestone sculptor, William Edmondson, at the site where he lived and created his masterpieces. Join our mission-driven non-profit, to help us provide a day of free community fun for the city!

WHAT: William Edmondson Arts & Culture Fest (WE Fest) WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026WHERE: 1450 14th Ave. S., in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee’s historic Edgehill neighborhood, on the former Murrell Elementary School grounds (right down the street from Belmont!) WHO: Organized by Friends of the William Edmondson Homesite Park & Gardens, a grassroots community nonprofit

This outdoor event celebrates Nashville’s diverse community of visual and performing artists and shares the Edgehill neighborhood’s rich African American history & culture with the city and beyond.

WE Fest is the nation’s only event that celebrates Edmondson, the first Black artist to get a solo exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1937. Hailed as the foremost self-taught sculptor of the 20th Century, Edmondson is one of Tennessee’s most important historical artists.

Volunteers are needed for pre-event set up, various tasks during the event, and post-event clean up and breakdown. Please see below for more information.

EVENT FEATURES:

- Art fair, with dozens of artists displaying and selling their original artwork - Live music, dance and spoken word, including Metro Schools students - Kids area with hands-on art activities and demos, plus inflatables - Food and drink from local food trucks and caterers

SHIFTS AND NEEDS:

Friday, October 23rd 9am-1pm - pre-event set up to outline booth and stage areasSaturday, October 24th - event day!
6:30AM-9:45 AM - Help setup signs, banners, displays, chairs & tables, check in and assist artists and vendors 9:30AM-12:45PM - Help with kids activities, vendor hospitality, info booth, etc 12:30PM-3:45PM - Help with kids activity, vendor hospitality, info booth, etc 3:30PM-5:45PM - Help with event breakdown, trash pickup, etc.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Shifts overlap to aid with handoff of duties. Please be prompt! The festival site is labeled in Google and Apple Maps as the "William Edmondson Homesite Park & Gardens", just a few blocks away from Belmont's campus in Edgehill. This is not to be confused with "William Edmondson Park", which is a separate park on Charlotte Avenue in West Nashville. After responding to our need, our volunteer coordinator will contact you with further information for your volunteer shift. Please look for an email from Mari Clare Derrick (email address: mariclare@thestore.org).

If you'd like more information about WE Fest, please contact Mark Schlicher at edmondsonfest@gmail.com.