Tickets were gone for this year's Radnor in the Round, the outdoor concert that returned to Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory on Sunday, October 18 for an afternoon of live music, storytelling and community. Gates opened at 2 p.m. and music began at 4 p.m., with the event hosted by Will Robinson alongside Phil Vassar & Friends.
The concert, now sold out, is an outdoor live-music event that brings together award-winning songwriters to share the stories behind their hits, according to Nashville Lifestyles. Organizers describe the setting as an intimate gathering overlooking a natural space in Middle Tennessee, and attendees are invited to bring a picnic and a blanket for the show. Every ticket purchased helps Friends of Radnor Lake protect, preserve and promote Radnor Lake State Natural Area, per the nonprofit's event page.
A Tradition Rooted at Dyer Observatory
Since 2018, Radnor in the Round has brought together music lovers, families and supporters of Radnor Lake, the nonprofit's site notes. This year's gathering again takes place at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, a site surrounded by scenic Radnor Lake State Park and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the same event page. The observatory's own site describes it as a venue for community events including concerts under the stars, and its event calendar frames similar gatherings as evenings where a Bluebird Café feel meets sunset views and starlit skies, combining performances, storytelling and community.
If weather or other unforeseen circumstances disrupt the event, there is no rain date — tickets instead are treated as donations to Friends of Radnor Lake, the organization states on its event page. That policy underscores how closely the fundraiser's fortunes are tied to the outdoor setting that has become its signature.
Last Year's Record Haul Sets the Bar
Last year, supporters came together to raise more than $92,700, which organizers called the most successful Radnor in the Round to date, according to the nonprofit's own account. With this year's show sold out well ahead of showtime, organizers may again be positioned to top that mark, though final fundraising totals from Sunday's event were not available.
Dyer Observatory itself has been closed through summer 2026 for a renovation, per its website, though the facility's grounds remain the backdrop for the concert. The focus was on the music: Phil Vassar & Friends took the stage on the afternoon of Sunday, October 18, for a crowd that filled every available seat on the lawn, all in support of the lake that gives the event its name.
