There’s a reason folks flock to Franklin during the Christmas season. Between the twinkling lights, massive Christmas tree on the Square, charming storefront windows, and festive holiday events, our historic Main Street looks and feels like the set of a Hallmark movie. The holiday season is the perfect time to plan a visit and create lasting memories, whether you travel from near or far!
Beyond Franklin, the communities of Williamson County offer plenty of unique holiday fun, from unforgettably quirky holiday parades to Christmas marketplaces featuring dozens of local artisans and vendors. Here are some of our favorite holiday events in Franklin and its nearby communities.
Dickens of a Christmas
If you’re looking for holiday festival fun, you can’t do better than the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s Dickens of a Christmas. Saturday, December 14th and Sunday, December 15th, head to downtown Franklin and travel back in time to the days of Charles Dickens, with the help of Victorian-era musicians and dancers, beloved characters from Charles Dickens’ most famous novels, and Father and Mother Christmas, who’ll come bearing treats for the children. You’ll also find plenty of food, drink (including a beer garden and whiskey lounge!), and gift ideas from local artisans.
Holiday Movies & Shows at Franklin Theatre
We consider a holiday movie or show at the Franklin Theatre to be a must-do each year. Throughout the month of December, the theater has packed the calendar with Christmas movies like Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Miracle on 34th Street, as well as holiday music events from artists including Suzy Boggus and The Gatlins. Follow up the show of your choice with dinner and a walk around downtown and plan for an evening you’ll never forget.
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Thompson’s Station Holiday Market
Make the scenic drive to Thompson’s Station for their annual Holiday Market. With more than 80 vendors, you’re sure to check plenty of names off your Christmas shopping list! In addition to vendors, there will be food trucks and activities for the kids. The market takes place Saturday, December 7th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
A Christmas Carol
Rabbit Room Theatre and Matt Logan Productions are the masterminds behind this new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The fresh take is both a faithful telling and an innovative new look at the classic tale, reminding us that our past doesn’t have to define us, our future is unwritten, and the present is a gift. It runs December 7th – 22nd at the FSSD Performing Arts Center in Franklin.
Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting
Friday, December 6th is the date for a Franklin holiday favorite: the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Public Square! The festivities start at 6 p.m., with free photos with Santa and free refreshments. This year’s headlining performer is singer-songwriter Matthew West. The Freedom Intermediate School choir will also be performing holiday favorites.
Adding to the fun, the Franklin Art Scene will also have its Art Crawl that night, happening in many downtown stores from 6 – 9 p.m.
This is one of the most popular tree lighting events in Tennessee, so catch it if you can!
Holiday Spirits: Cocktail Festival
Looking for adults-only holiday fun? Head to The Factory at Franklin for Holiday Spirits, a cocktail festival for ages 21 and up! Stroll through The Factory and enjoy 12 sample-sized cocktails, photos with Santa, and plenty of holiday music. Regular-sized cocktails will be available for purchase as well. It all happens Friday, December 13th from 6 – 9 p.m.
Downtown Franklin Christmas Parade
It’s not really Christmas without a parade through the streets of downtown, and you’d better believe Franklin’s got a great one. This year’s annual Christmas Parade is themed “Miracle on Main Street” and has a new start time of 1 p.m., which is one hour earlier than last year. It will include floats, marching bands, and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus himself.
Leiper’s Fork Christmas Parade
For a very different kind of Christmas parade, make your way to the impossibly charming village of Leiper’s Fork, December 14th for what’s billed as the wackiest parade in Middle Tennessee! Expect to see tractors, old cars and trucks, inventive floats, crazy costumes, horse-drawn wagons, farm animals, and more, as well as a visit from Santa.
The parade starts at 2 p.m., but you’ll want to arrive nice early because the road through Leiper’s Fork will close at 2 p.m. and won’t reopen until the parade ends.
FrankTown Festival of Lights
Did you know Franklin has its very own spectacular drive-through holiday light display? The FrankTown Festival of Lights is an annual extravaganza from November 22 through December 31 at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center.
In addition to a mile-and-a-half-long driving route with 200 light displays synchronized to Christmas classics you can play on your car radio, holiday sweet treats will be on sale, and you can take family photos beside a 30-foot Christmas tree illuminated with more than 3,000 lights. I’m especially excited by Walkin’ Wednesdays, when the route is open to pedestrians only from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per car; Admission is from 5 – 9 p.m. each night.
Spring Hill Holiday in the Park
Head to Spring Hill for the annual Christmas In The Park holiday festival. Featuring live performances, art exhibitions, a holiday market, and festive decorations, the festival has fun for everyone in your family! It takes place Saturday, December 9th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Leiper’s Fork Holiday Market
Come to the heart of Leiper’s Fork to shop for Christmas presents at the Dasher Holiday Market. Featuring nearly 30 carefully curated vendors including Ranger Station, Oak Nashville, Nic & Maude and more, as well as food and drink vendors, the market will run Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. through January 5th.
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
At The Factory at Franklin’s Turner Theater December 5th – 29th, Studio Tenn presents Million Dollar Quartet Christmas. Set on the evening of December 4, 1956, the story captures actors portraying Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Sam Phillips as they sing holiday hits like “Run Rudolph Run,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and many more.
