Just 17 miles south of downtown Nashville, Franklin, Tennessee allows you to discover endless meeting possibilities from a traditional full-service conference center to unique escapes throughout the distinct communities of Williamson County. Vibrant meeting locations, such as the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs & Conference Center or Embassy Suites Cool Springs offer accessibility and affordability with a variety of flexible meeting space along with excellent accommodations centrally located for travelers.
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The destination’s appeal is that meetings and events can be transformed from ordinary gatherings to unique experiences by incorporating what makes Franklin so special: its culture.
That culture, and supporting community behind it, have embraced events like the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival which turns the beautiful Park at Harlinsdale Farm in the heart of Franklin into what Rolling Stone Magazine called the Best Curated Festival in America showcasing world class acts like Justin Timberlake, Steven Tyler, Wilco, Hall & Oats, among others.
With many venues experienced in hosting concerts, planners need not worry about providing the best in audiovisual experiences. The abundance of local talent also offers a vast pool of entertainment options.
Here are just a few examples of the unique venues where planners can create unforgettable experiences for their next meeting or event in Franklin, Tennessee.
The Factory at Franklin
On the edge of downtown Franklin stands an entertainment complex on the National Register of Historic Places. Once a plant producing kitchen stoves, The Factory at Franklin is now a unique, industrially-styled venue home to four featured halls and theaters that house everything from nationally broadcast music productions like Music City Roots which features Grammy-nominated artists and is hosted by Jim Lauderdale, to corporate meetings, intimate gatherings, and social hours.
Liberty Hall, which accommodates 1,400 attendees standing or 950 seated theater-style is the largest space. The Heritage Room can easily be paired with Liberty Hall but is also available as a stand-alone event space for 120 or fewer attendees. Jamison Theater accommodates 350-400 attendees and has high ceilings perfect for creating a dramatic event scene. The Little Brick Theatre features a live theater stage, with 125 fixed theater seats.
The Factory is also home to seven restaurants and cafes, providing a variety of options for onsite dining or catering, along with a multitude of antique shops and one-of-a-kind retail stores, working artisans, a farmers market and much more.
The Franklin Theatre
Franklin’s namesake theater has been the heart of its historic downtown since 1937. While a vintage neon marquee adorns Main Street, the rest of the venue is primed for any current needs. The iconic venue reopened in 2011 after receiving an $8 million renovation and hosts over 600 events annually.
Built acoustically perfect, their boasting state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment – including a 23-foot, high-definition screen – makes Franklin Theatre famous for movies and concerts sure to wow meeting attendees. There’s seating for more than 300 attendees for education sessions, receptions, and fundraisers. Full bar service is also available.
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm sits on 200-acres of rolling farmland. In addition to breathtaking views, Harlinsdale offers catch-and-release fishing, soft track, and an equestrian arena. Home to the only public arena polo facility in the state of Tennessee, Harlinsdale is equipped to host a variety of events ranging from polo matches to BBQ festivals anworld-classss music festivals.
Ag Expo Park
Ag Expo Park is located minutes from the heart of Franklin and sits conveniently off the interstate on 110 acres in Williamson County. The arena has been thoughtfully designed to host a variety of activities including sporting events, trade shows and everything in between.
Ag Expo Park and its barn with 194 stalls plus adjacent warm up arena make it the perfect venue for annual events like the Franklin Rodeo. Not just for agricultural events, the 175,000 sq.-ft. climate-controlled space also hosts basketball, volleyball, wrestling and other indoor sports inside its 150 x 300 arena floor, which is surrounded by 4,100 permanent seats. Expandable to a capacity of 8,500, the versatility of configurations and options for creating the perfect event are limitless.
So, if you’re looking to add some culture and southern hospitality to your next meeting, you’re in the right spot.