NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — After 25 years, the Historic Buttercup Festival in Nolensville is no more, the town announced.
In a letter posted to social media, organizers of the festival stated businesses in the area “wanted more from the festival than they are willing to give in return.”
📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →
Festival organizers claim a few properties in the area have refused to rent their parking lots and that the Town of Nolensville has “failed to protect the integrity of the festival” by allowing others to set up their own vendors to sell merchandise outside of festival limits, which causes unfair direct competition to loyal vendors of the festival.
“Due to the past few years of the town’s lack of support and the recent development which has cemented the obvious lack of the town officials ever planning to help to protect the integrity and success of The Buttercup Festival. Along with a few of the Historic District Business owner’s lack of community support. We have made the VERY HARD decision to end The Buttercup Festival after 25 years. It has been a wonderful run and has provided lots of joy and support to the town of Nolensville,” said one festival organizer.
The town said while they are grateful for the many years organizers and business owners have provided for the community event, government cannot “mandate participation for all business owners in a community festival.”
According to Nolensville officials, unlike the Star-Spangled Celebration and Christmas parade, the town does not organize or operate the festival as a normal town event.
City leaders added the purpose of the Buttercup Festival was to support and grow Historic District Businesses.
To honor the rich traditions of previous festival organizers, the town is reportedly working with businesses in the historic district to continue with a new festival in April.
