For the first time, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation has helped fund Nashville’s annual free music festival, Live on the Green.
The festival, which began in 2009 by local radio station Lighting 100, is free to the public, but isn’t free to put on.
A full night of music is held every Thursday for 4 weeks in August and September, including three days straight on Labor Day.
Organizers said, on average, between 16,000 to 20,000 people fill the lawn of Public Square Park. The growth caught the attention of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation.
“The strength of Nashville is its brand, it's creative culture and its authenticity. Live on the Green strengthens all of that,” said Butch Spyridon.
Spyridon said they've put $50,000 into Live on the Green to help fund the 3-day portion of the festival on Labor Day weekend.
The money comes from the 5% hotel and motel tax visitors pay when they check-in.
“In order to grow that pie we have, to invest in ourselves and that is the best way to do it. It's worked so far on a 67- month-run of record performance,” said Spyridon.
A four-year investment, which Spyridon expected to make a return on as more come to Nashville to take in the sounds of Live on the Green.
Below is the Live on the Green lineup:
