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Behind every great food festival is someone juggling a hundred moving parts and making it all look effortless. Meet Olivia Britton, executive director of the Music City Food & Wine Festival (MCFW). A Georgia-born, Franklin-raised events pro with a background in marketing and media, Olivia spends her days coordinating chefs and sponsors and, yes, even booking the porta-potties. The result? A delicious celebration that captures the flavor, talent, and unmistakable spirit of Nashville’s culinary scene. Get ready for this year’s festival and events in April!
Olivia’s creative touch is on full display at the Music City Food & Wine Festival this year, from April 24 – 26 in Centennial Park. Image: Eric England
For those who haven’t yet experienced the Music City Food & Wine Festival, what can we look forward to this April?
Music City Food & Wine is truly a well-rounded celebration of Nashville’s food and culture. We have a different style of event for every walk of life and wallet size, whether you’re looking for a high-end sit down wine dinner, a country concert with a side of Southern fried fun, a Grand Tasting where you can try 50+ amazing restaurants all in one place, our Big Gay Brunch events at rooftop bars around the city, or our Food Faire, which is a family-friendly event.
We’re trying to create an experience that reflects all of the different ways locals and tourists can experience Nashville in one weekend.
Designed to reflect all the ways people experience Nashville, the festival brings together locals and visitors for a weekend of food, wine, music, and connection. Image: Robin Formusa/Nashville Scene
With food festivals popping up left and right, what makes MCFW feel so uniquely Nashville?
I would say what sets us apart is our emphasis on local talent. Many food and wine festivals across the country are flying in chefs and restaurateurs from around the country, which is a very fun experience, but doesn’t always give you a true feel of the city’s culture.
We have SO many amazing chefs here that have been nationally recognized, and we want to make sure they are always on a pedestal. We’re also produced by locals, for locals, so we have a pulse on the city, unlike many other nationally run festivals.
Nashville has grown at warp speed over the last decade. How have you seen the local culinary scene evolve alongside that growth, and how does the festival celebrate that?
I think an interesting part of our festival (and all of the Scene’s food-and-drink-related events) is that every year we have new faces, new restaurants, and, yes, some chains that join in on the festivities. But without fail, we have our “OG’s” that return to participate every year because they appreciate our support in their business year-round!
That feels reflective of Nashville’s growth to me; you’re going to have new spots come and go, but your tried-and-true local favorites will always share the spotlight.
The festival intentionally spotlights homegrown chefs and makers. Why was it important to keep the focus local rather than lean heavily on big-name imports?
Keeping local businesses and talent as the focus is just who we are as a company. Our publications are always shining a light on the good work they do to build up our community and city culture as a whole. So it only made sense for us to continue that with this festival.
We have also gotten a lot of positive feedback from those chefs and restaurants about this. To paraphrase the words of one of our chef participants, “It feels like doing a festival with all of your friends.” That feedback certainly keeps us moving in the right direction!
At Saturday’s Grand Tasting, guests can sip their way through 100+ local restaurants and beverage brands while enjoying chef demos, wine seminars, and the festival’s signature mixology competition. Image: Matt Masters/Nashville Scene
As Festival Director, what does your role actually look like?
I always joke that my role is doing everything from being on TV to booking the porta-potties, and it’s true! I’d say most of my day is spent communicating with our participants, whether that be organizing activations for our sponsors, answering emails from interested ticket purchasers, or working with our floral and rental vendors. It’s also a lot of spreadsheets and tracking budgets, participation lists, and the boring admin work that keeps the train moving!
When you’re not deep in festival planning, where are your favorite spots to eat in Nashville?
My family lives in South Nashville, so I visit a lot of Brentwood and Nolensville spots like Sam’s Place and Southside Grill. When I’m downtown for work, I love checking new spots off my list. Recent faves have been Iggy’s, Maiz de la Vida, and Golden Prawn.
What first sparked your love for food culture? Was there a moment when you realized this was the world you wanted to work in?
I’ve been in events most of my career, and I always love the adrenaline of all the months of hard work coming together and seeing your vision come to life. Specifically for MCFW, being involved in all the behind-the-scenes collaboration and feeling the depth of the love and support the food community here has for each other has been the best part.
From coordinating chefs and sponsors to handling the smallest details, Olivia Britton does a little bit of everything to bring the festival to life … and clearly enjoys it, too! Image: Robin Formusa/Nashville Scene
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
It doesn’t matter what your job title or accomplishments are; the only thing that matters is how you made people feel. I work with a huge team of people across all of our company departments, from sales and events to editorial and design. I also work with hundreds of businesses and vendors to put the festival on, and I always want them to trust me and feel I lead with kindness.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I got a tattoo referencing Harry Styles in college.
LIGHTNING ROUND
What’s the best book or podcast you recently discovered? Book: I’m currently reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Podcast: I have a long commute, so I love Good Hang by Amy Poehler to get distracted from Nashville traffic.
What’s your absolute favorite dish in Nashville right now? I haven’t stopped thinking about the truffle pasta at Iggy’s, and I could eat it every night!
What’s on your nightstand? Well, I’m expecting my second child, so right now it’s heartburn medication, my water bottle, a picture of my daughter and husband, my phone, and an Oura ring charger!
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what three things can’t you live without? Ice cream, snuggles from my dog, and a good binge-worthy reality TV show!
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