Franklin Kids Arts Festival of Tennessee

3:29 pm | Thursday, May 19th
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Franklin Kids Art Festival of Tennessee logo

Elementary, middle and high school age children are invited to participate in the first annual Franklin Kids Arts Festival of Tennessee.  The festival is looking for artists, dancers, musicians, vocalists, actors, poets, photographers and artisans to participate in the event put on by the City of Franklin Parks Department and the Williamson County Cultural Arts Commission.  Students should call 615-794-2103 ext. 5310 to submit something to the festival.

The Festival will offer many opportunities for school-aged artists of Franklin, and surrounding communities, including: A juried art exhibit, hand-crafted art for sale, stage performances, master classes, art stops to experience and create unique art, and more!  Youth artists participating in the hand-crafted art sale will be mentored by participating professional art vendors. Student art will be displayed throughout the event, judged, and winners presented cash awards, as well as the opportunity to exhibit in Franklin City Hall throughout the summer months. Participants will have the opportunity to develop new artistic skills and talents from professional artists through master classes.

The first annual Franklin Kids Arts Festival of Tennessee is free festival and open to the public.  It will take place on Saturday, June 4, from 10am to 5pm in Pinkerton Park across the footbridge from Historic Downtown Franklin, TN.

For additional information, applications, and deadlines visit the website at www.franklintn.gov/fkaft.

Road to Open on Carothers Parkway South

1:53 pm | Monday, Sep 21st
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Wednesday, September 23, at 11:00 a.m. Franklin officials will gather for the official opening of Carothers Parkway South Extension from Old South Carothers to Long Lane.  The ceremony will take place on the Carothers Parkway Bridge over the Harpeth River.  The media and general public are welcome and encouraged to attend the ceremony.

 

Carothers Parkway is an important north-south connector on the East side of I-65 and will now provide connectivity from the Goose Creek Interchange to Moores Lane.  This roadway will provide access to numerous neighborhoods in the southeast portion of Franklin.  Over the past few years the Board of Mayor and Aldermen have approved the construction of approximately 2,183 new single family units and 757 multi-family units along the frontage of this project.  The roadway is approximately 2.8 miles in length, with a bridge crossing the Harpeth River.  The project was graded to accommodate a four-lane divided highway, however, only two of the four lanes were built initially.  A sidewalk has also been installed from the bridge going north.

 

 

The cost for the design, right-of-way, easements, engineering and construction of this project was approximately 17 million dollars.

37th Annual Franklin Classic

7:00 am | Monday, Sep 7th
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10K Run • 5K Walk/Run • 1K Kids Run 

LABOR DAY – September 7, 2015
Historic Downtown Franklin

The 37th Annual Franklin Classic is hosted by and to benefit Mercy Community Healthcare. The event includes live music and a free Kids Zone.

Schedule
5:45am Registration Opens
7:00am 10K Run
8:30am 5K Walk/Run
9:30am 1K Kids Fun Run 10:00am Award Ceremony

To register and for more information please visit 37th Annual Franklin Classic.

Extended Tour

6:46 pm | Monday, Jun 29th
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The Battle of Franklin Trust will offer an extended tour of the historic Carnton Plantation, to begin July 7, 2015. This special and comprehensive walking tour will include visiting
five locations on the property and will focus on some elements of the Battle of Franklin as well as the history of Carnton before, during, and after the Civil War.

In making the announcement Battle of Franklin Trust CEO and Historian Eric A. Jacobson, said, “The Battle of Franklin is a monumental moment of the Civil War. To be able to teach about what unfolded during this time, as well as what the McGavock family sacrificed, is a great honor. Even more, with this extended tour we can talk about the history of slavery at Carnton, in Tennessee, and across the nation as well as the Confederate Cemetery. We are fortunate to be able to share the story of so many people who are a part of our great history.”

During the extended tour, visitors will begin with a brief history of the site’s early years and then proceed inside the house. From there, visitors will continue through the slave quarters, walk through the historic family garden and complete the tour by walking through the family and
Confederate cemeteries.

Carnton has been open to the public since the late 1970s and offers visitors the chance to explore and understand the history of the McGavock family, who was directly impacted by the Battle of Franklin and used their home as a field hospital for the Confederate wounded.  Tours are Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended for tours on Tuesday through Friday and are required for Saturday. Tickets are $25 for all ages. Please contact Angell Wallace by calling 615-794-0903 or emailing angell@boft.org for questions or to make reservations.

About The Battle of Franklin Trust
The Battle of Franklin Trust is a 501(c)3 management corporation acting on behalf of Franklin’s battlefield sites to contribute to visitors’ understanding of the November 30, 1864 Battle of Franklin. The Trust is organized for the charitable and educational purposes of preserving, restoring, maintaining and interpreting the properties, artifacts and documents related to the battle to preserve this important part of the nation’s history.

Franklin Battlefield Update

7:25 pm | Tuesday, Apr 21st
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Reclamation on East Side of Columbia Will Become Part of 20-Acre Downtown Park

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – A decade-long effort that began with the demolition of a Pizza Hut on the east side of Columbia Avenue in downtown Franklin, Tennessee is culminating in the removal of a former Domino’s Pizza building next week. Now the public is being invited to celebrate the reclamation with one last slice of pizza.

Parcel by parcel, preservationists in partnership with the City of Franklin have purchased and cleared seven tracts that comprise core battlefield, where the Carter Cotton Gin stood during the Battle of Franklin. On the other side of Columbia Avenue, final fundraising efforts are underway to secure approximately three acres adjacent to the Carter House. All told, Carter Hill Battlefield Park will comprise 20 acres, within walking distance of downtown Franklin.

Wednesday at 11 a.m., supporters will gather to witness the start of demolition on the old Domino’s building, and reflect on the unprecedented success in battlefield reclamation that has occurred in Franklin.

  • WHO:  John Schroer, Commissioner, Tennessee Dept. of Transportation, Dr. Ken Moore, Mayor, City of Franklin, Dr. Caroll Van West, Tennessee State Historian, Patrick McIntyre, Director, Tennessee Historical Commission, Mike Grainger, Chairman, Civil War Trust and Other special guests
  • WHAT: A ceremony recognizing the reclamation of seven parcels of core battlefield property on the east side of Columbia Avenue that will become part of the 20-acre Carter Hill Battlefield Park. A backhoe will  begin the demolition of the old Domino’s Pizza building, and the public is invited to enjoy one last slice of pizza on the site.
  • WHEN: Wednesday, April 22, 11 a.m.  
  • WHERE: 1225 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, TN 37064
  • WHY: The effort to reclaim the Franklin battlefield started in 2005, and has since gained national recognition for its unprecedented success.                                                          

To learn more, visit www.franklinscharge.com.

O’More College of Design awards 12 summer studio scholarships Day Camp Sessions Immerse Kids of All Ages in Art and Design

3:44 pm | Thursday, Jun 7th
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O’More College of Design has awarded 12 scholarships to elementary, middle and high-school students who applied for an opportunity to attend its Summer Studio program, a day camp offering a diverse schedule during three sessions in June and July.

Among the winners were Alyssa Larocca, a rising senior at Independence High School in Thompson’s Station and Jennifer Marshall, a rising senior at Obion County Central High School in Troy, Tenn., who were chosen by a panel of judges to receive two full scholarships to the College’s annual art camp.

“The O’More Summer Studio program engages students in a way that extends beyond the average summer art program,” said Program Director Sorrel Dugan. “For the older set, that’s because of real-world application from industry professionals. For the younger crowd, the camp introduces them to a heightened appreciation of the arts.”

Each student winner submitted two copies of original artwork with a recommendation from his or her art instructor. Entries were evaluated on the applicants’ questionnaire responses, teachers’ comments and the quality of submitted work. The College gifted more than $2,300 in scholarship money for the camps.

Larocca, who hopes to attend O’More after graduation, said she’s looking forward to interacting with other Summer Studio participants and instructors.

“The opportunity to attend this program means so much to me,” Larocca said. “I love design and the freedom that comes with it. I’m excited to receive direction from the teachers and other students, and to share what I know as well.”

Sessions for grades 6 through 12 will be held June 18-22 and July 23-27, while the remaining session for grades 1 through 5 will be July 9-13. Registration is ongoing.

Sessions are geared to help inspire creativity and an appreciation of the arts, incorporating an eclectic set of classes that enables each student to craft a summer schedule tailored to their personal needs and interests. Courses range from fashion design and animation to architectural drawing and painting, and several new classes were added to the 2012 slate, including fashion courses for grades 1 through 12.

A culminating Summer Studio Gallery event in the Abbey Leix Mansion on the College campus will allow students to experience the privilege of having work shown to others.

For more information on Summer Studio, the scholarships and the other winners, visit www.omorecollege.edu/summerstudio.

Founded in 1970, O’More College of Design is a four-year, post-secondary institution offering bachelor of fine arts degrees in interior design, fashion design and visual communications. The College is located in the historic district of Franklin, Tenn.

Photo: Independence High School senior and scholarship winner Alyssa LaRocca with one of her submitted renderings.