Church of Scientology Nashville to Host 12th Annual Friendship Day Celebration

Free Community Celebration Brings Together Nashville’s Diverse Faiths, Cultures, and Backgrounds on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Nashville, TN, 26th June 2026, ZEX PR WIRE— The Church of Scientology Nashville, in partnership with The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, will host the 12th Annual Friendship Day Celebration on Sunday, August 2, 2026, beginning at 4:00 PM, at the Church of Scientology Nashville, located at 1130 8th Avenue South, Nashville, TN. The event is free and open to all members of the community.

Now in its twelfth year, Nashville’s Friendship Day celebration has grown into one of the city’s most beloved interfaith traditions — a gathering where people of different races, religions, nationalities, and backgrounds come together not to debate their differences, but to discover what unites them. What began in 2014 as a conversation between neighbors has expanded into a citywide open house that continues to draw a genuinely diverse crowd year after year.

The International Day of Friendship was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 in the belief that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures, and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. The Nashville Friendship Day celebration has embodied that vision since its very first gathering, bringing together Baptist and Catholic, Scientologist and Muslim, Jewish and Hindu, Democrat and Republican, police officers and community members — all seated at the same table, talking and listening.

“Most of life’s problems come from our basic misunderstanding of each other — a misunderstanding of intentions. Getting along with one another starts with getting to know each other.”  — Rev. Brian Fesler, Pastor, Church of Scientology Nashville

The celebration is co-hosted by The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN), which provides a community betterment program rooted in the common-sense moral guide The Way to Happiness by author, humanitarian, and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The program is built on the belief that one’s own survival and happiness depends on the survival and well-being of others. Several of the book’s precepts speak directly to the spirit of Friendship Day, including “Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others,” “Be Worthy of Trust,” and “Try to Treat Others As You Would Want Them to Treat You.”

Attendees can expect an afternoon of meaningful dialogue, community connection, and the kind of honest, open conversations that don’t happen often enough. Past Friendship Day events have featured panel discussions, The Way to Happiness Public Service Announcements, and interactive dialogue sessions that give participants a chance to find out more about each other and walk away with perspectives they didn’t have when they walked in. True to tradition, this year’s event will welcome people of every faith tradition, cultural background, and walk of life.

The Church of Scientology Nashville has served the Tennessee community since 1983 and regularly opens its doors for interfaith programs, community outreach, and public events. The annual Friendship Day celebration stands as a flagship expression of the Church’s ongoing commitment to building bridges and fostering understanding across Nashville’s ever-growing and increasingly diverse population.

The event is free. All are welcome. Bring a neighbor, a coworker, or someone you’ve always wanted to get to know a little better.