“First Day” Festival to be Held This Weekend

This weekend Nashville will celebrate the beginning of the school year with the 8th annual “First Day” festival.

The festival will include entertainment, information, and free school supplies. Mayor Purcell initiated the festival after taking office eight years ago. Since then, Nashville has received nationwide praise for the First Day program.

With over one third of the Metro City Budget going toward education spending, Mayor Purcell sees the event as a symbol of the city’s commitment to its children.

“If education is the most important thing we do, then the first day of school ought to be the most important day in our civic calendar.”

This will be Mayor Purcell’s last year in office during the celebration. The First Day festival will continue even without a new mayor, as the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce will take charge of the event beginning next year.

This year’s festival will take place at the Sommet Center on Sunday, August 13 from 2 to 5 PM. Afterward, Rocketown will host a party for teens from 5 to 8 PM. All events are free. Last year’s festival hosted over 21-thousand people.