Friends of Donelson started back in 2024 with a mission to organize free and inclusive events and support the people and places that make the community thrive. The organization has hosted a Christmas event called Merry Mingle for the last two years and now adding Knoblin Fest. The fest name comes from a local lore of a legendary goblin from Todd’s Knob, the large hill behind Donelson Plaza, when co-founders discovered tales of the Knoblin while researching local history and thought it was a perfect theme for the free early October festival.
 ”No matter where you are in the South, there’s going to be some myth or fable about a cryptid or a goblin, just when unexpected things happened, you blamed it on this creature,”  President of Friends of Donelson Michele Mazzu said. “We just decided to run with that and dug into it, found very few references, but we knew what we wanted to do, and it all just came together.”
The Knoblin Trail, happening now until October 3, is a way to explore the neighborhood with 27 local businesses along the trail making Knoblin-inspired specials, menu items, discounts, products, classes and more.
 ”It’s just been great to see the buy-in from the community,” Mazzu said. ” Everybody is excited about this, and it’s a great way to show your Donelson pride, and that’s the big thing of this, is we’ve really tried to really focus on that community, and but it’s for everyone.”
Americana Fest continues throughout the week across various venues in Nashville. Outside of Americana Fest starting tonight (Sep 16) Peaches takes the stage at the Blue Room. Also tonight DOMI & JD Beck perform at the Mil at Cannery Hall and on Thursday (Sep 17) Ben Howard is at Ryman. Also on Thursday Militarie Gun is at Eastside Bowl and on Friday (Sep 18) WNXP presents Tom Morello at Cannery Hall’s Mainstage. Sunday (Sep 20) Margaret Glaspy is at the Blue Room and on Monday (Sep 21) Brother Bird & Ok Cowgirl perform Row One Stage. Also on Monday Jungle is at the Pinnacle and we wrap up this week’s listings on Tuesday (Sep 22) back at the same venue with MUNA.
