We love our traditions in Williamson County, and summertime in and around Franklin is full of them. From festivals to family nights in the park, fresh-picked treats and patriotic fun, there’s always something to look forward to.
By the time summer rolls around, we’re swimming in fruits and vegetables grown by our neighbors. The Franklin Farmers Market on Saturday mornings is a true experience, with dozens of growers and purveyors in attendance at the Franklin United Methodist Church. There’s another Saturday market held down the street at The Factory at Franklin, and farmstands and smaller pop-ups can be found all over the county.
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By mid-June, Morning Glory Orchard in Nolensville is picking its first peaches, and the apples won’t be too far behind. You can walk the orchard, purchase fresh fruit, and shop at their well-stocked farm store, and they also hold several special events during the growing season.
If it’s culture you’re looking for, the First Friday Art Crawl in downtown Franklin is a summer staple. Shops, galleries, and historic sites play host to exhibiting artists, and you’re likely to find live music, refreshments, and friendly locals up and down Main Street and at The Factory at Franklin. A free trolley makes the circuit for hop-on-and-off convenience throughout the evening.
Families know that when the fireflies come out, it’s time for Movies in the Park. Throughout the summer, the City of Franklin Parks hosts free movies on large outdoor screens at different parks across the community. Bring your blanket and snacks, or get dinner from the on-site food trucks. The show starts around sunset.
Down in Spring Hill, the annual Hill Fest in early June brings a ton of free family fun to town. Think bounce houses, obstacle courses, life-sized games and live music, plus a truly unique daytime fireworks show at Fischer Park. Up in Brentwood, late June brings BrentFest at Crockett Park, part of the city’s summer concert series. Along with live music, you’ll enjoy food trucks, a beer garden, and a dedicated kids’ zone.
July really brings the heat, and 250 years of history to recognize. On Independence Day, Franklin on the Fourth shuts down the Public Square for an old-fashioned celebration—food, music, crafts, and a kids parade—of freedom and the American way. Then, as the sun starts to set, folks head to the Park at Harlinsdale Farm for another round of revelry, capped off by a fireworks show worthy of Old Glory.
In mid-July it’s bulls and broncs in the Tractor Supply Co. Arena as part of the Round Up at Harlinsdale. This is old-school, up-close rodeo under the lights, with heart-pounding action, incredible athleticism, and American heritage on full display.
Speaking of heritage, late July brings a weekend of traditional Appalachian music to downtown Franklin, as it has for 35 years. The Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Fiddlers Jamboree is a weekend of picking and grinning, clogging and square dancing in Franklin’s Square. This event is guaranteed to make you smile and tap your toes, and you might even find yourself in the middle of a do-si-do.
Then to cap it all off, the Williamson County Fair is nine days of fun celebrating our agricultural legacy at the AgExpo Park. This is no parking-lot carnival… it’s one of the Southeast’s most celebrated fairs, with a huge midway, dozens of food vendors, a curated selection of nationally recognized acts and entertainers, barnyard activities, and all the good old American fun you can handle. Weekend nights often include fireworks displays.
And just like that, summer’s gone in the blink of an eye, and it’s time to get back to school. Still, the tan may fade, but the memories will last forever.
