The Civil War in Posters: 150 Years Later. Exhibit opens at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film presents an exhibit investigating the sesquicentennial of the War Between the States. The show, at the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery on campus, is collaboration between Watkins Graphic Design students and Hatch Show Print. The exhibit’s opening reception, on Thursday, August 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., is free and open to the public. Exhibit runs through Aug. 23. Currey Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Admission is free. Information: watkins.edu.

SATURDAY, AUG. 13

2011 Tomato Art Fest

The Tomato Art Fest has steadily drawn larger crowds with each year that passes. Last year, an estimated 18,000 people came to celebrate this beloved fruit/vegetable and enjoy costumes, vendors, contests, music and more. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. at the intersection of 11th and Woodland in East Nashville. Information: tomatoartfest.com.

Middle TN Genealogical Society

Certified Genealogist J. Mark Lowe leads a workshop on beginning land platting. $40. Lunch and materials provided. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., FiftyForward Knowles Senior Center, 174 Rains Ave. Information: 743-3487, mtgs.org.

TUESDAY, AUG. 16

HUD Home Selling Process

Greater Nashville Association of Realtors program explains the HUD home buying process and how to bid on HUD homes in the area. Presenter: Marcia Toms, marketing director for PEMCO, Ltd. Attendees will review the HUD contract and learn who to call for information on HUD homes, where to place a bid, locate forms and send the accepted sales contract package. Noon-2 p.m., 4540 Trousdale Drive. Information: gnar.org, 254-7516.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17

Pick Your Place, Make Your Mark

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce hosts conversations centered on ways to engage in the Chamber by participating in one of the many councils, committees and the overall platform of the Chamber offered for the 2011-2012 program year. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 211 Commerce Street, Suite 100. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3063.

SATURDAY, AUG. 20

Unlocking Your Potential to Write Books

Seminar presented by author Carol S. Batey. First Church Unity, 5125 Franklin Rd. Noon-5 p.m. Bring a lunch and drink. Information: 485-4548, artlifestylecoach.com.

THURSDAY, AUG. 25

Watkins ‘Conversation’ Faculty Show

Watkins College of Art, Design & Film presents Conversation, a mixed media exhibit featuring works from faculty artists Shepherd Alligood, Dan Brawner and Ron Lambert, from Aug. 25-Sept. 9 in the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery on campus. The exhibit’s opening reception, from 5:30 to 8 p.m on Aug. 25, is free and open to the public. Currey Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Admission is free. Information: watkins.edu, 277-7403.

FRIDAY, AUG. 26

Moonlight Festival Metaphysical Fair

Symmetry will host an evening of free workshops, local vendors and metaphysical services at its upcoming Moonlight Festival Metaphysical Fair with a theme of “Intuition and Divination.” This free event is 7-11 p.m. at 212 Louise Avenue and open to the public. Symmetry is a holistic wellness and spiritual arts center. Information: 321-4040, centerofsymmetry.com.

SEPT. 3-4

22nd Annual Franklin Jazz Festival

The festival has the distinction of being not one of the longest-running and best jazz festivals in the Southeast. In addition to providing musical entertainment and food, the festival helps to raise awareness and money for the non-profit organization GEAR foundation. The 2010 festival drew an estimated 10,000 people for the two-day event. 6-10 p.m. both nights in downtown Franklin. Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the gate. Information: TNeventinfo.com.

SEPT. 8-9

Nashville Predators Brent Peterson Celebrity Golf Classic

Join the Nashville Predators and Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s (PFP) for the inaugural Nashville Predators Brent Peterson Celebrity Golf Classic and Petey’s Preds Party. This event gives attendees the opportunity to raise money for The Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s. Petey’s Preds Party takes place Sept. 8, 6-9 p.m., on the floor of Bridgestone Arena. This event features dinner, live entertainment, a world-class auction and the opportunity to mingle with Nashville Predators players, coaches and other celebrities. The all-day Celebrity Golf Classic will follow on Sept. 9 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club. Information: nashvillepredators.com/golf, 770-2321.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22

Realtors Convention & Trade Show

The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Middle Tennessee Realtors Convention & Trade Show is set for the Nashville Convention Center. Realtors from throughout the Greater Nashville/Middle Tennessee region will gather for the event, which includes professional development sessions, informative presentations, a full trade show and a variety of other valuable components. 2-8 p.m. Information: 254-7516, gnar.org.

SEPT. 30-OCT. 1

‘Handmade & Bound’ Festival of Book Arts

Artists’ books, zines and comics will be celebrated at the book arts festival. All events are free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Watkins Library, the festival will launch with a juried book arts and zine exhibition titled Encoded Structures: Interpreting the Story, on display beginning Sept. 30 on campus in the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery. The exhibition runs through Oct. 28. Also on Sept. 30 is a screening of the award-winning 2004 documentary “$100 and a T-shirt,” a cultural analysis of the zine community directed by Joe Biel. The film (51 min.) will be shown in the Watkins Theater, 8:00 p.m. Oct. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., creators of artists’ books, publishers and distributors of zines and comics, and book lovers will come together to sell, trade or buy handmade and affordable publications and creations. The day will feature activities for children and adults, such as printmaking, papermaking, book- and zine-making and screenprinting, as well as local bands and a wide variety of food trucks. Information: 277-7403, handmadeboundnashville.com.

SATURDAY, OCT. 1

Nashville Beer Festival

The Festival will feature more than 60 macro and micro breweries and home brew clubs and their beers, along with cuisine from some of Nashville’s most popular restaurants. The primary charity partner is Second Harvest Food Bank. Riverfront Park, 1-6 p.m. Tickets: $30. Information: nashvillebeerfestival.com.

ONGOING

Through Aug. 21

Shaker Collection at Frist

Gather Up the Fragments: The Andrews Shaker Collection, an exhibition featuring more than 200 objects, including furniture, drawings, household objects, textiles and baskets from one of the country’s most renowned Shaker collections, will be on view at the Frist Center’s for the Visual Arts. The exhibition is the largest, most comprehensive collection of Shaker material ever assembled. Information: 244-3340, fristcenter.org.