FRANKLIN, Tennessee – This holiday season, locals and visitors alike can find a plethora of festive experiences and events across Williamson County, and Visit Franklin is launching a Holiday Trot Adventure Pass to help people enjoy it all. Beginning November 20, the downloadable Holiday Trot Adventure Pass will highlight holiday events across the county, along with family-friendly events and discounts at participating retailers.
Holiday fans can sign up for the pass now on VisitFranklin.com and will be automatically alerted when it is available for download, November 20. Once downloaded, if users check in at five or more locations or events highlighted on the pass, they will be entered into a drawing for a free Franklin tapestry blanket from the Visitor Center.
Highlighted events and participating retailers include:
FrankTown Festival of Lights: November 17 – December 31 from 5 – 9 p.m.
Williamson County’s annual drive-through holiday light display is open nightly, rain or shine. There are over 200 synchronized displays that you can listen to on the radio!
Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square: December 1 from 6 – 8:30 p.m.
The City of Franklin will light up the spectacular Christmas tree on Public Square, accompanied by special performances from Franklin resident and contemporary Christian music star Matthew West and an appearance from Santa Claus! The tree lighting is expected at 7:15 p.m.
December Art Crawl: December 1 from 6 – 9 p.m.
Franklin Art Scene is a free event on the first Friday of every month that invites participants into downtown Franklin’s historic buildings and celebrates the region’s unique artistic talent. Celebrate local artists showcasing work in various mediums, and enjoy complimentary refreshments and live music along the way.
Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt – December 8 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Eastern Flank Battlefield Park’s grounds will be sprinkled with candy canes ready to be eaten. Take your flashlight and hunt for the holiday treats! Kids can decorate their treat bags before the hunt, and hot chocolate and cookies will be provided. Registration is $5 per person; call (615) 794-2103 in advance of the event.
Dickens of a Christmas – December 9 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. & December 10 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s Dickens of a Christmas is an annual holiday favorite! Guests will be transported back to the time of Charles Dickens with historic downtown Franklin’s charming architecture as the backdrop. A variety of musicians, dancers, and Dickens characters will fill the streets for two days of festivities.
Pinewood Christmas Tree Farm – Select dates November – December
Make memories with your family and friends on a hayride around the farm, sipping hot chocolate and savoring s’mores around the fire. Guests can choose and cut their own Christmas trees or select a perfect pre-cut fir.
Visitor Center Coffee Gift Bundle – ongoing throughout December
Stay warm and cozy this holiday season with Visit Franklin’s custom coffee beans and cup bundle, sure to take the edge off any wintry weather.
Hello Trolley Holiday Lights Tour – Select dates December 7 – 22
Get ready to sit back, relax, and listen to your favorite holiday music while enjoying the beautiful lights throughout Williamson County. Complimentary water and candy canes will be available on board as the trolley takes guests on an hour-and-a-half tour of Franklin’s most festive holiday light displays!
Third Coast Clay – ongoing throughout November & December
Be an artist for a day and paint a unique piece of Christmas pottery! Pick up your ceramic masterpiece in seven days after it’s glazed and fired, or have it shipped home! Walk-ins are welcome; open daily. For groups of six or more, call ahead to reserve your space.
The Green Room – ongoing throughout November & December
Start the season right with The Green Room’s Christmas Tree candle, a happy classic that takes you back to strapping your fresh-cut Christmas tree to the roof of your car and driving it home to decorate! The candles are 100% soy wax, cotton wick, non-toxic, and hand-poured on Main Street. Available while quantities last!
Christmas at The Factory at Franklin – ongoing throughout December
Stop by to take a family photo in front of The Factory’s larger-than-life, 26-foot Christmas tree! Rumor is that each Saturday in December, Santa will be roaming around The Factory for a few hours!
Studio Tenn – December 7 – 17
See a performance of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. This cherished holiday tale whisks audiences away to Bedford Falls through a distinctive theatrical journey from Franklin’s professional regional theatre company.
The Franklin Theatre – Select dates: November – December
Throughout November and December, The Franklin Theatre will host screenings of family-friendly holiday classics such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, Scrooged, The Polar Express, and more inside their 1930s-era movie hall!
Leiper’s Fork Christmas Parade – December 9 at 2 p.m.
This “almost world-famous” Christmas parade is quirkier than any other and one that the whole family will enjoy! Go for Santa, but stay for the dancing grannies, performing chickens, and wild Christmas floats. Please arrive early, as there is only one road through the village that will be closed to traffic at 1:50 p.m.
World’s Best Cup of Coffee: A Christmas Pop-Up Bar – November 22 – December 31
Head to McGavock’s Coffee Bar & Provisions inside The Harpeth Hotel for a unique Christmas-themed pop-up bar, back by popular demand! Open Tuesdays – Saturdays until New Year’s Eve; step inside some of your favorite holiday movies with themed cocktails to match!
Children’s Storytime Hour at the Visitor Center – December 16 at 2 p.m.
Families, get in the holiday spirit as Professor Thadamouse reads The First Franklin Christmas Tree aloud in the Visitor Center! Free to attend, but RSVP on Eventbrite! The first 15 guests will receive a free activity booklet with crayons. After the reading, kids will have an opportunity to ask the author questions. The Visitor Center will also offer a special combo price when you purchase The First Franklin Christmas Tree and a coloring book at the event.
Hard Candy Christmas Pop-Up Bar at Americana Taphouse – November 15 – December 31:
Celebrate the holidays! The bar and heated outdoor patio will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Enjoy tableside s’mores, live music, photo opportunities, festive cocktails, and specialty bar bites to share. As an ode to Dolly Parton, the pop-up bar will be decked out in bold colors and bright candy canes for a whimsical experience the whole family can enjoy.
Stable Reserve – ongoing throughout November & December
Stable Reserve is making spirits bright this holiday season with a seasonal Mayan Mocha Latte and Cocoa Tree Chocolate Martini. Coffee, cocktails, and gifts are available for everyone on your list seven days a week!
ABOUT VISIT FRANKLIN Visit Franklin is the public brand name of the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit Franklin is the official destination marketing organization for Franklin and the unique communities of Williamson County, Tennessee. Visit Franklin stimulates economic growth by promoting travel and tourism assets such as history, music, attractions, entertainment, the arts, and events to visitors worldwide. For information on Franklin and Williamson County, visit us on the web at VisitFranklin.com.
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Matt is the guy who is always ready to share a story with you.
With a passion for new experiences, taking the back roads, and seeing everything possible, Matt serves as Visit Franklin's Senior Director of Public Relations connecting the many unique stories in the Franklin community with great journalists and storytellers worldwide. When not pitching a story idea to travel writers, you’ll likely find him working as a photographer on the sidelines of college and professional sports events across the Southeast.