Meet the Chairs of Once in a Blue Moon 2026
“One of my favorite aspects of the party is pulling up and walking through the horse barn to enter the event,” says George Clements. “It’s like entering through the wardrobe into Narnia.”
The party George is speaking of is Once in a Blue Moon, The Land Trust for Tennessee’s annual fundraiser supporting our mission to conserve Tennessee land. Each October, guests enter through a barn to find—not snow-covered Narnia—but vibrant autumn trees, bonfires, tents lit up with sparkling lights, and a seated dinner and live musical performance awaiting them.
This year, George is co-chairing the event with his wife Natalie, alongside Tess and Barton Davies. The four of them are gathered for an interview on The Land Trust’s Glen Leven Farm, the 64-acre, tree-filled plot of land where Once in a Blue Moon takes place. All four chairs agree that the farm is an important part of what makes the party unique.
“I remember the first year driving up here and seeing this property right in the middle of Nashville,” recalls Barton, whose folk-rock Americana band BREAKFIELD will be the live entertainment this year. “I was like ‘Wow, this is stunning.’ All of these beautiful trees, open fields, the huge bonfire—it’s such a hootenanny.”
“When you end the whole night sitting out with your friends under the stars…I mean, it feels like you drove out of town for this event!” Says Natalie.
“It’s like a secret, magical place right in the heart of Nashville,” Tess agrees.
A fantastical night
Many Nashvillians have made a yearly tradition of attending Once in a Blue Moon, and so I ask the chairs what those returning guests can expect this year that will feel new.
“I think it’s going to be fanciful, maybe whimsical—lots of imagination,” replies Natalie.
Much of that whimsy and imagination is thanks to the artistic talent of Tess, who designed the invitation and other artwork for the event.
Some of the storybook-inspired illustrations are of creatures protected by The Land Trust’s conservation work, while others are of Glen Leven Farm’s animals (the miniature donkeys).
“I wanted to really pay tribute to the species that have called this place home long before we have,” she explains.
A new audience
The chairs have also introduced a new late party, christened “The Hootenanny” by Natalie.
By making Hootenanny-only tickets available for just $50, they hope to bring more young people through the barn doors of Once in a Blue Moon. This is also the inspiration behind the New Moon ticket option, which offers regular Blue Moon tickets at a discounted rate to guests age 35 and under.
For the Clements and the Davies, it’s important to get younger generations of Tennesseans invested in what the fundraiser is all about: conservation.
“If you’re out to educate, the younger the better,” explains George. “So we want to get young professionals out here. It’s a great place for the cross-pollination of ideas, professionally.”
“I just think as a Nashville native, and a Tennessee native, there’s been a lot of awesome growth in this city and state, and I think that’s wonderful and important,” says Barton. “But I think it’s equally important to protect what makes this state beautiful and attractive to everyone, and that’s exactly what The Land Trust does—protect farmlands, and forests, and rivers, and all these beautiful places that we grew up going to and experiencing.”
A cause to bond over
The farm, the artwork, the music, the s’mores—all of these things are the gateway to the real magic of Once in a Blue Moon: the bonds formed with fellow guests, all brought together by a common love for Tennessee land.
“[Blue Moon] being outdoors, with a bonfire, a little more casual—it’s disarming. Everyone has their guard down, which makes it easy to make real connections with people,” George says. “I would say that’s true of land itself. There’s something about being outdoors with people that invites real connection.”
“Wild and natural places evoke a sense of wonder,” says Natalie, beaming. “If you want to come to an event where your creativity is ignited, and your sense of wonder is sparked, in a setting with a group of folks who have a similar mindset—this is the event.”
Get your tickets to Once in a Blue Moon here.
