On the feast of St. Dominic, The Dominican Campus in West Nashville will welcome families, alumni, and community members from across Middle Tennessee for Dominican Fest from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. The celebration will feature live music, food, fellowship, and fun for all ages.
The highlight of the festival will be a performance by The Hillbilly Thomists, the nationally acclaimed bluegrass band composed of Dominican friars. Known for blending traditional Appalachian music with joyful expressions of faith, the group has drawn audiences across the country and introduced countless listeners to the Dominican tradition through music.
The festival will be held on Nashville’s Dominican Campus, where the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation carry out their educational mission through Overbrook Catholic School, St. Cecilia Academy, and Aquinas College. Together, these ministries form a vibrant Dominican community that extends from early childhood through higher education and serves as the backdrop for this annual celebration of St. Dominic.
"Dominican Fest is an invitation to experience the joy at the heart of the Dominican mission," said Sister Dominic Quinn, O.P., president of Overbrook Catholic School and St. Cecilia Academy. "Whether you are a longtime member of our community or visiting for the first time, we hope families will join us as we celebrate the feast of St. Dominic with music, friendship, and gratitude."
The festival will feature food vendors, live entertainment, and a chance to connect with the Dominican Campus family. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of community on the campus grounds. Attendees who do not wish to purchase meals from the food trucks may bring their own picnics. Tickets are $20 plus fees per person with children 12 and under free. To purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/HTDominicanCampus.
Founded by Dominican friars of the Province of St. Joseph, The Hillbilly Thomists have become one of the most recognizable Catholic music groups in the country. Their recordings have appeared on Billboard’s Top 10 Bluegrass albums chart, and proceeds from their music support the formation of future Dominican priests.