29th annual downtown event features 200 artisans, crafters, two stages, two carnivals, lots of food Downtown Franklin’s 29th annual Main Street Festival is April 28-29, featuring more than 200 artisans & crafters, two stages, two carnivals and a couple dozen food trucks to round out a full weekend of fun on one of America’s favorite Main Streets. Hours for the free street festival are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, with the Fourth Avenue Street Dance continuing until 10 p.m., and all activities re-opening noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The area of the festival is Main Street from First Avenue to Fifth Avenue, and including portions of Third and Fourth Avenues with a carnival on N. Margin Street.

New Shuttle Service Offered Presented by First Tennessee and produced by the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County and the Downtown Franklin Association, the weekend event is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors. To help manage traffic, a new feature of the event is a shuttle service offered by the Franklin Transit Authority, with free parking at Harlinsdale Park on Franklin Road and at The People’s Church on Murfreesboro Road. Shuttle rides to the event are $1 for adults and 50 cents for children and seniors. Both sites will operate on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.; only the Harlinsdale site will operate on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Major sponsors include Chrysler/Dodge, Williamson Medical Center, Erie Insurance, Publix Super Markets, The Grove, and The City of Franklin, with supporting sponsors Fox 17, Clear Channel Radio, The Tennessean/Williamson A.M., BlueSky Journeys, Yelp, Schroder Chiropractic, Hammerstahl, Summerwinds Resorts, and FranklinIs.

Entertainment Schedule: Saturday, April 28 First Tennessee Stage 9:30 a.m. – B. W. & Company, Dixieland Strollers 9:50 a.m. – Ribbon Cutting 10 a.m. - Ann Carroll School of Dance 11:30 – Columbia State Community College showcase Noon - Centennial High School Chorus 1p.m. - In Motion Dance Company 2 p.m. – Franklin School of Performing Arts 3 p.m. - Williamson County Community Band 4:45 p.m.  Hinckley Brothers  4th Ave Stage 10 a.m. – Kristin Butke School of Irish Dance 11 a.m. – Freedom Elementary “Hot Shots” Jump Rope Team 11:30 a.m. - Moore Elementary “Eagle Jump Force” Jump Rope Team Noon – Oak View Jump Rope Team 1 p.m. – Bluegrass 2 p.m. – Kelsey Muse 3 p.m. – Williamson County Fair Showcase 3:30 p.m. – Tommy Jackson’s Rocky Top Revue 5 p.m. – Peter Pandemic  6:30 p.m. – 10 Most Wanted 8:30 – 10 p.m.- Make Me Smile Beer/Wine Tent 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. D.J. Entertainment

Sunday, April 29 First Tennessee Stage Noon - Calling Glory 2:00 – Anthony Burnhouser 4:00 – Sugar Lime Blues 4th Avenue North Stage 12:30 - Vizcaya 2:30 – Roux du Bayou 4:30 – Reggae Infinity Beer/Wine Tent Noon – 6 p.m. D.J. Entertainment Also--Saturday entertainment on the Red House stage including The Chill Band at 2:45.

For the festival map, click here The Main Street Festival is produced by The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County and it division, the Downtown Franklin Association. Proceeds from the event are used to fulfill the mission of the organization, which is to protect and preserve the architectural, geographic and cultural heritage of Franklin and Williamson County and to promote the ongoing economic revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. The Main Street Festival is located in Historic Downtown Franklin, Tenn., exit No. 65 from I-65, three miles west to the Public Square. For more information, see www.historicfranklin.com or www.downtownfranklintn.com call 615-591-8500.

Franklin Art Scene's monthly art crawl is tonight from 6-9 p.m. with a wide variety of art galleries, shops and restaurants participating in the monthly event held every first Friday.

Franklin brings you an Art Crawl through the historic streets of our town. Featuring art galleries and artists throughout the Downtown area, the Franklin Art Scene provides both the novice and professional art goer the opportunity to see many genres of art in a historic setting.

The $5 Trolley rides, wonderful charm of our shop and gallery owners, live music, and refreshment make this an event you will want on your calendar the first Friday of every month! Come be "Seen at the Scene"!

Dickens of a Christmas in Downtown Franklin Saturday and Sunday offers an incredible array of holiday attractions, including a great atmosphere with decorations and costumed characters from the literacy master's works, food, crafts and lot of entertainment.

Here's the entertainment schedule for the annual holiday street festival:

Historic Presbyterian Church/Five Points area

Saturday:

• 10 a.m. – noon - Williamson County Youth Orchestra Small String Ensembles
• Noon – Harpeth Double Reed Society
• 1 to 3 p.m. – Clearview Handbell Choir
• 3 p.m. - Franklin High School Tri M Honor Music Society
• 4-5 p.m. - Brass Quintet

Sunday performances are on Main Street at Five Points, not in the sanctuary

Sunday:

• 1 to 3 p.m. – Clearview Baptist Church Handbell Choir
• 3 to 4:30 p.m. - Brass Quintet
• 2 p.m. on Main Street 400 Block -  Suzuki StringsPublic Square Stage (GreenBank area)

Saturday:

• 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.  – Boiler Room Theatre production of Oliver
• 11 a.m.  – noon – West Meade Baptist Church, Decatur, AL, caroling
• Noon – 1 p.m.  – O’Brien Irish Dance Academy
• 1 – 2 p.m.  – Kristin Butke School  of Irish Dance
• 2  - 3 p.m. – The Classical Academy, Franklin - Caroling Readings & Recitations
• 3 – 4 p.m. – Music Staff Studio
• 4 – 5 p.m. - Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance

Sunday:

• Noon – Boiler Room Theater cast of Oliver
• 1 p.m.  – Dickens Classic Carolers
• 2 p.m.  – Poinsettia Instrumental Trio
• 3 p.m. –  Christmas Crooners Vocal Quartet
• 4:30pm – Town Sing

Old Courthouse on the Public Square (and other locations nearby)

Saturday:

 

• Noon  to 2:30 p.m.  -  Pull-Tight Youth Guild Consider Yourself Part of the FamilyFourth & Main Intersection Saturday
• 1 p.m. - Flat Creek Community Contra Dancers (80 performers)
• 3 p.m. - Flat Creek Community Contra Dancers

Main Street Musicians (various locations, Saturday and Sunday)

Abigail Bobo,  Kili Walsh, Donal Himely, Tom Shinness, Deanna Loveland, and many more

 

Activities include:

• Horse-drawn carriage rides around the Public Square for $2 per person.
• A holiday bazaar arts & crafts area encircles Franklin’s charming Public Square and extends to East Main Street to Second Avenue and Third Avenue South to Church Street.
• Dancers and street musicians on Main Street throughout the event. Violinists, hand bell choirs, harpists, carolers and even a water harmonica player all add to the entertaining street scene.
• Costumed characters from Dickens’ stories interacting with visitors on the street. Scrooge bellows his “Bah! Humbug” while the Cratchit Family parades the streets with Tiny Tim. Ghosts of Christmas Past and Future make regular appearances. Urchins under the direction of the nefarious Fagin from Dickens’s Oliver pester English Bobbies (who are actually Franklin Police Officers on duty in costume).  Father and Mother Christmas delight children.
• Victorian treats abound, from authentic fish ‘n’ chips to turkey legs, roasted chestnuts, kettle corn, roasted nuts, sausages and sugar plums.
• Everyone is invited to join the Town Sing on the Public Square 4:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, with candles and song sheets. ($1 donation requested for candles).

 

 

It's a 26-year holiday tradition in Historic Downtown Franklin on the second weekend in December to travel back in time some 150 years to a Main Street from the time of Charles Dickens, and the tradition continues this year Dec. 10-11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Dickens of a Christmas is a free street festival, is open to the public, and is expected to attract some 50,000 visitors over the weekend.

More than 250 volunteers participate in the event as characters from Dickens' stories, vendors or street performers. Show up any time over the course of the weekend, and you're sure to meet Ebenezer Scrooge, his unfortunate partner Marley (the ghost in chains), little Tiny Tim Cratchit and his family, and many more, including Father Christmas.

Anyone is invited to join the fun by showing up in costume and engaging with the characters on the street, or just come as you are and enjoy a beautifully preserved Main Street with more than 70 unique shopping and dining destinations in the 15 block National Register Historic District.

Entertainment is continuous on the street throughout the festival!

Activities include:
Horse-drawn carriage rides around the Public Square (fee per ride).
A holiday bazaar arts & crafts area encircles Franklin's charming Public Square.
Dancers and street musicians on Main Street throughout the event. Violinists, hand bell choirs, harpists, carolers and even a water harmonica player all add to the entertaining street scene.
Costumed characters from Dickens' stories interacting with visitors on the street. Scrooge bellows his "Bah! Humbug" while the Cratchit Family parades the streets with Tiny Tim. Ghosts of Christmas Past and Future make regular appearances. Urchins under the direction of the nefarious Fagin from Dicken's Oliver pester English Bobbies (who are actually Franklin Police Officers on duty in costume). Father and Mother Christmas delight children.
Victorian treats abound, from authentic fish ‘n' chips to turkey legs, roasted nuts, kettle corn, roasted corn, roasted pork, sausages and sugar plums.
Everyone is invited to join the Town Sing starting at the Public Square Christmas tree at 4:30 pm Sunday.
Dickens of a Christmas is free and open to the public, presented by The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County and its division, the Downtown Franklin Association, which seeks to protect and preserve the architectural, geographic and cultural heritage of Franklin and Williamson County and to promote the ongoing economic revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation.

The Kiwanis Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3,in downtown Franklin. Theme for the parade is "A Christmas Wish."

This is a yearly tradition given to the community by Kiwanis of Cool Springs/Williamson County.

The Parade begins at 2:00pm and travels from Jim Warner Park to Downtown Franklin.

The 2011 Williamson County Veterans Day Parade will be the highlight of local Veterans Day observances.

The parade will consist of marching bands and ROTC units from local schools, entries from local veterans organizations, marching community leaders, entries from local organizations, twelve Grand Marshals, and thousands of marching schoolchildren learning about patriotism.

The parade's route will begin at Five Points at The Williamson County Archives, proceed north up Main Street, travel around the Town Square, turn left onto Second Avenue North, and ending at the Senior Citizens Park at the end of Second Avenue North.

Streets in downtown Franklin on the parade route will close to all but parade traffic at about 10:00am.  Parade entries will assemble from Five Points south down West Main Street for approximately one mile.

The Veterans Day Parade will be preceded by a reception honoring all local veterans and the parade's twelve Grand Marshals.  The reception will be held 9:00am to 11:00am at The Williamson County Archives with a brunch and live entertainment planned.
The parking lot at the Archives will be closed to all but Grand Marshals' vehicles.

The bells of Historic Downtown Franklin will toll from 10:50am to approximately 11:11am when the parade will start with a lowlevel flyover of a C-130 Hercules from the Tennessee Air National Guard.  The giant plane will fly over Main Street from north to south at 1000 feet.

The Grand Marshals of the 2011 Veterans Day Parade include:

Floyd Anderson of Pinewood, Veteran of the U.S. Army
Tom Bain of Brentwood, Veteran of the U.S. Army
Clyde Barnhill of Franklin, Veteran of the U.S. Army
Phil Bennett of Spring Hill, Veteran of the U.S. Air Force
Bobby Connell of Flat Creek, Veteran of the U.S. Army
Craig Holland of Franklin, Veteran of the U.S. Army
Edward Hoover of Franklin, WWII Veteran of the U.S. Army
Clyde Lynch of College Grove, Veteran of the U.S. Navy
E.E. Scholes of Franklin, Major General, Retired ,U.S. Army
Jim Swindle, Spring Hill Fire Chief, Veteran of the U.S Army, author of Surviving Vietnam
Ennis Wallace, Sr. of Flat Creek, Veteran of the U.S. Navy
Ricky Watson, Brentwood Police Chief, Veteran of the U.S. Army


The Veterans Day Parade Committee consists of:

Tom Lawrence, WAKM Radio, Chairman
Monique McCullough, Public Outreach Specialist, City of Franklin, Vice-Chairman
Dr. David Snowden, Director, Franklin Special School District
Louise Lynch, Director, The Williamson County Archives & Museum
Ken Marshall, Director, Williamson County Veteran Affairs

Pumpkinfest is Franklin’s most popular fall festival where Main Street is filled with "all things pumpkin!" Enjoy trick-or-treating, arts and crafts vendors, chili cook-off,  All Things Pumpkin, People's Church Kids Zone, costume contests for ALL ages, live music, hayrides and great food. The main event is Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Main Street and the Public Square in historic downtown Franklin, and the event is free. Look for the "Great Pumpkin", arriving from Carleton Place in Ontario, Canada - Franklin's Sister City. Guess the weight of the Great Pumpkin or have your picture taken with the colossal creation! It's a free festival packed with fun for the whole family. Historic Downtown Franklin's Pumpkinfest has a three-day carnival that runs Thursday through Saturday at Margin Street and Second Avenue North at the City's Bicentennial Park location. Pumpkinfest is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Franklin's Main Street from Second to Fifth Avenues. After 6 p.m., activities continue with the Avenue Bank Street Dance on Fourth Avenue North - for ages 21-and-up. Activities of Pumpkinfest include:
• The People's Church children's area on Third Avenue South filled with free and fun activities for young children from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• The Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-off on Fourth Avenue South from 10:30 to 3:30. Tickets to taste chili from 10 local organizations and restaurants will be available for $5 at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Main during the event.
• A beer/wine garden on Fourth Avenue South from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., capping off Pumpkinfest with the Avenue Bank Street Dance from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There is a $5 per person cover charge from 6 to 10 p.m.
• Fall and holiday arts and crafts around the Public Square from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 60 vendors will be displaying hand-crafted items perfect for fall and the holidays.
• Franklin's Sister City, Carleton Place, Canada, brings down the great pumpkin which will be on display with a chance to guess the weight.
• The Leiper's Fork Carving Club will be carving pumpkins and displaying their work throughout the day.
•"Grave Matters" Cemetery Tour, 7 to 9 p.m. Participants will walk from tombstone to tombstone at the Historic Rest Haven and Old City cemeteries on North Margin Street, hearing about the people who are buried in the graves from costumed reenactors. Tickets are $15 per person for adults, $10 for children, but the activity is not recommended for children under 6. Tickets are available from www.franklinonfoot.com and at the Heritage Foundation. Participants should bring a flashlight and wear close-toe shoes.

 

One of Downtown Franklin’s favorite annual traditions, Pumpkinfest, has several new features for the Oct. 29, 2011 event on Main Street and the surrounding streets.

The 28th Annual Pumpkinfest presented by Bank of America is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, with more than 75 arts and crafts vendors, a children’s activity area on 3rd Ave. S., Five Points stage, Sister Cities’ Great Pumpkin, Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-off and more.

Held in conjunction with Pumpkinfest is the second annual Franklin Battle of the BBQ presented by Heineken. For more information, please see www.franklinsbattleofthebbq.com

And there’s a night-time cemetery tour in Downtown Franklin with the “Grave Matters: The Stories Behind the Stones” tours Saturday night, Oct. 29, at the Old City Cemetery and Rest Haven Cemetery from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, see www.franklinonfoot.com

• The Battle of the BBQ Peoples’ Choice tent on 4th Ave. S. invites the public is invited to taste pulled pork (at $5) or ribs ($1 per bone) with Heineken beers in the Heineys and Butts tent. Be sure to vote for your favorites!
• The Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-off on 4th Ave. N.  from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on  Oct. 29. Tickets to taste chili from local organizations and restaurants will be available for $5 at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Main during the event.
• Fall and holiday arts and crafts around the Public Square from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 60 vendors will be displaying hand-crafted items perfect for fall and the holidays.
• Cemetery Tours 7 to 9 p.m. Participants will walk from tombstone to tombstone at the Historic Resthaven cemetery on North Margin Street, hearing from costumed re-enactors about the people who are buried in certain graves. Tickets are $15 per person for adults, $5 for children, but the activity is not recommended for children under 6. Tickets are available from www.franklinonfoot.com and at the Heritage Foundation. Participants should bring a flashlight and wear close-toe shoes.
• Costume Contest starts at 3 p.m. at the Five Points stage. It’s $1 for each entry and categories are pets, children ages 0-5, ages 6-13 and 14+. Enter at the headquarters tent on the Public Square between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The 22nd Annual Franklin Jazz Festival rocks the historic downtown Franklin Square this weekend. Sept. 3-4.

The 2011 Franklin Jazz Festival produced by Zia Music Production is celebrating its twenty second year. The festival has the distinction of being not only one of the longest running, but also one of the top jazz festivals in the Southeast. In addition to providing great musical entertainment and food, the jazz festival helps to raise awareness and money for the non-profit organization, the GEAR foundation. Located in downtown Franklin, the mission of the GEAR Foundation is to provide individuals with disabilities work experiences, which will enable them to discover and develop their unique capabilities and potential, and to help them achieve the highest degree of independence and self-respect. The GEAR Foundation is an effective and recognized asset of the Franklin community. The 2010 festival drew an estimated 10,000 people for the two-day event. Additions to this year’s event include 1) A larger “Jazz Café” (beer and wine tent) within view of the Main Stage.
2) A different location for the Main Stage (now in front of Green Bank on the square)
3) A Kids Zone that opens at noon that includes inflatable’s, a petting zoo and junior’s area.
4) More Vendor’s, specifically artist, in an “All Things Art” Section

Saturday night’s headliner is “C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band.” Sunday night’s headliner is The Nashville Jazz Orchestra featuring Blue Lou Marini, (of the Blues Brother’s) and Charles “Wig” Walker (of the Dynamite’s).
Food favorites include Begley’s dogs, Ace’s Kettle Korn, Pig-N-Pie, European Tastes (Greek food), Mountain Jim’s ice cream and Secret Blends juice drinks. Live music in the “Jazz Café” is in between acts on the Main Stage so that there is continuous live music during the event. The gates open at 4pm with music beginning in the “Jazz Café” at 5pm and on the Main Stage at 6pm. The Headliner on both days performs at 8:30pm. The event ends at 10pm. 8 groups total will partake in the two days.
Metal collector pins will be used this year for admission and are available in advance on the web site or at “Shuff’s Music”, a festival sponsor, on 3rd Avenue North, just off of the square. Admission for the festival is eight dollars in advance, ten dollars at the gate. Twelve and under and all active military (with ID) are free.


The purpose of The GEAR Foundation is to equip hardworking people with disabilities to be successful participants in their communities. GEAR strives to provide individuals with disabilities, work experiences which will enable them to discover and develop their unique capabilities and potential, and to help them achieve the highest degree of independence and self respect.
Visit www.thegearfoundation.org for more information

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This event is produced by Zia Music Production, LLC Zia Music Production has been in existence since 1988 providing music and entertainment for private events, conventions, and trade shows. In 1999, Zia moved on to coordinating all entertainment for numerous festivals as well as providing sound, staging and production. Zia strives to provide quality entertainment for the community while providing a positive work environment for the artists.