Artville After Dark Highlights Wasioto Park

When Artville returns this fall, the four-day festival will elevate innovative and inspiring visual artists who enliven the layered creative community of Music City. Likewise, the movable feast for the senses will showcase vibrant landmarks on the city’s evolving landscape.

Now in its fourth year, Artville will highlight family-friendly Wasioto Park on the eastern bank of the Cumberland River, between the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge and Shelby Street Bridge. Established as Cumberland Park in 2012, the riverside recreation area debuted a new title in 2024, along with extensive renovations completed in fall 2025. Wasioto (alternatively Warioto) honors the Shawnee name for the river before 18th century settlers applied Cumberland to the map.

The 6.5 acre park, accessible via elevator and stairs to Shelby Street Bridge, comprises an outdoor amphitheater with room for 1,200 people; crushed-stone trail winding through pollinator-friendly plants; and children’s play areas that incorporate water, climbing walls and nets, sand play, bouncing, maze and slides, among other attractions.

On opening night, Thursday, Sept. 24, Artville will entice guests of all ages to explore Wasioto in a new light, so to speak. Following last year’s dazzling takeover of Neuhoff District, Artville After Dark 2026 will bring a spectacle of light, sound and movement to the waterfront park, featuring kinetic and light-based works by strangehandle, John Holmes, G and Rachel Steward, and music by DJ Amy Darling.

After Thursday night’s Wasioto kickoff, Artville returns downtown to Walk of Fame Park, Friday, Sept. 25, for three days of public art, immersive experiences, and the American Artisan Festival, a 50-year tradition of contemporary craft and fine art.

Four artists have received Artville grants to create site-specific works at Walk of Fame Park. These headliners include Nashville-based experiential artist KEVPOP; architect Gerard Nadeau from Toledo, Ohio; muralist Stephany Zoo from Singapore; and Milagros Collective muralists Felici Asteinza from New Orleans and Joey Fillastre from Miami.

“Last year, what people really enjoyed was getting inside art installations, looking with a different lens that altered their perspective, and being part of the pieces themselves,” says Artville co-founder Samantha Saturn. “We wanted to extend that opportunity by providing grants to artists whose works are specifically based on community engagement.”

Artville events are free to attend.