Friends of Donelson is an inclusive coalition of Donelson organizations, businesses, and neighbors working together to coordinate and promote unified community events and support.
We believe Donelson is at its best when neighbors know one another - when local businesses, artists, musicians, schools, and nonprofits have a shared stage to celebrate what makes this corner of Nashville special.
Our mission is to create welcoming, inclusive gatherings that bring people together across every age and background, support the people and places that make Donelson thrive, and foster the kindness, creativity, and yes, a little silliness, that turn a neighborhood into a community.
Friends of Donelson officially became a nonprofit in 2024, but the heart of our work started earlier, with a beloved holiday tradition we’re proud to carry forward and grow each year. Everything we do is guided by the same goal; to give Donelson reasons to come together, celebrate one another, and take pride in the place we call home.
Merry Mingle is our annual holiday celebration and Christmas tree lighting - the tradition that launched Friends of Donelson and remains the warm heart of our calendar. Held at the Donelson Library each winter, it brings the community together for live music, local choirs and performers, cocoa and cookies from neighborhood favorites, food trucks, letters to Santa, and a toy drive. It’s our community’s holiday kickoff, and it grows a little more vibrant every year.
Knoblin Fest is our music and arts festival, inspired by a charming piece of local lore - the Knoblin, a shape-shifting creature said to roam Todd’s Knob, the hill behind Donelson Plaza, since the early 1800s. We discovered the nearly-lost story while researching Donelson’s history and saw the perfect spark for an annual celebration of creativity. The festival shines a light on the artistic side of our community with music, art, vendors, contests, and activities for everyone from ages 1-101. Our hope is simple; to encourage, inspire, and support creativity in Donelson - and to have a lot of fun doing it.
What’s Next
Merry Mingle and Knoblin Fest are just the beginning. As Friends of Donelson grows, we’re excited to explore new community-focused events and projects - from neighborhood gatherings and creative collaborations to initiatives that support local businesses, artists, and causes. Whenever there’s an opportunity to bring Donelson closer together, we want to play a part in that.