Franklin’s annual Main Street Festival is one of my favorite childhood memories—walking the street lined with eclectic vendors, snacking on funnel cakes, playing carnival games for hours, and the nostalgic list goes on. Returning for its 39th year this April, the festival has only grown in popularity since its inception, now attracting more than 120,000 visitors annually. If you’ve stumbled upon this page, chances are, you’re one of them. And if you have questions, we have answers.
Read on for your ultimate guide to the 2023 Main Street Festival, and stay up-to-date on the latest here.
What and when is the Main Street Festival?
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The 39th annual Main Street Festival, produced by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, will take place April 22 & 23, 2023, kicking off both days at 10 a.m. and wrapping at 6 p.m. The festival is the epitome of family fun, bringing together more than 150 arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment across multiple stages, and dozens of food and beverage vendors.
This year’s event will also include elements like collaborative public art exhibits and cultural performances of dance, spoken word, and music. After a fun-filled weekend, you’ll understand why it consistently ranks among the top events in the region.
What can I expect during the festival?
Arrive at the festival ready to shop! Not only will downtown Franklin’s adorable storefronts be open to browse both days, but the streets will be packed with a collection of artisans selling everything from crafts to food and gifts sourced locally, nationally, and even internationally. As a new addition, the event will include a Fine Arts Gallery showcasing pottery, photography, jewelry, and more.
After you’ve shopped ‘til you dropped, settle in for live performances across three stages: a main stage, acoustic stage and a buskers corner. Or, take your kids (and your inner kid) to the lively KidsZone, packed with activities like face painting, games, and arts and crafts. Franklin is a pet-friendly community, so the fur-babies are welcome throughout the festival and can get in on the action at the PetZone.
And don’t forget to stop by the Franklin Visitor Center‘s booth at the corner of 4th Avenue and Main. You can enter to win two tickets to Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival happening September 23 & 24, 2023!
Will there be food?
Absolutely! This year’s event will welcome more than 30 food and beverage vendors, including plenty of food trucks, a German beer garden presented by Bavarian Bierhaus, and a whiskey lounge hosted by Leiper’s Fork Distillery (a local favorite).
How do I get there?
While downtown Franklin does have free parking throughout the city, there is no street parking inside the festival footprint. Franklin Transit is offering shuttle services for $1 per person each way beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday, departing from The Park at Harlinsdale Farm and Franklin High School. The shuttles end 15 minutes before the festival closes each day. To note, certified service animals are the only pets permitted to ride. While all transit vehicles are ADA accessible, there is also accessible parking in the 2nd and 4th Avenue garages.
We hope you’ll join us to celebrate spring in Franklin!
