35th Annual Dickens of a Christmas, Presented by First Citizens National BankThe Heritage Foundation of Williamson County TN’s 35th Annual Dickens of a Christmas, Presented by First Citizens National Bank is Middle Tennessee’s largest outdoor Christmas festival returning this year on December 14 & 15, 2019!
Williamson County Parks and Recreation invites you to celebrate Memorial Day at Timberland Park with free family activities. Bring the family, and visit Timberland Park on the historic Natchez Trace Pkwy. for four FREE programs: 9:30 a.m.-guided hike (1.5 miles over some strenuous terrain); 1:00 p.m.-edible plants walk and presentation; 3:00 p.m.-animal pelts; 4:15 p.m.-owl pellet dissection and discussion. Park admission and Memorial Day events are free and weather permitting.
Timberland Park is located at mile marker 437.2 on the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, south of the Highway 96 entrance. The rustic wooded preserve has a staffed, 2000-square-foot interpretive center and trails for hiking, bird watching and wildlife observation. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. For more information about the Earth Day events call (615) 232-4154.
Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone may register for and participate in the department’s programs, teams, classes and events. For program registration, pass purchasing or additional information, visit www.wcparksandrec.com. You may also receive department information by “liking” Williamson County Parks and Recreation on Facebook; following us on Twitter at @wc_parksandrec or Instagram at @willcoparksandrec or on Pinterest or YouTube.
Brown Bag series at Academy Park
Enjoy free live entertainment during lunch at the new Brown Bag concert series at Academy Park – June 30th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater at the Williamson County Enrichment Center at Academy Park, 110 Everbright Ave.
Live entertainment will be provided by Nashville-based duo Dust and Daisies with their soulful, gritty, honest songs about hope and healing. Singer-songwriter Rich Fyhr will also be performing.
There will be food trucks on hand with delicious lunch items for sale, or you can bring your own. The concert is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket for seating.
Come out to Owl’s Hill for a free hike! Join one of our staff members or volunteers on a guided hike through Owl’s Hill. This is a great opportunity for families, individuals, and small groups to come enjoy the trails of Owl’s Hill and get some exercise. The hike will be approximately two to three miles with some moderate hill climbs included. Hikes will start at 1:00.
FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
Brown Bag series at Academy Park
Enjoy free live entertainment during lunch at the new Brown Bag concert series at Academy Park. The kick-off concert is Friday, June 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater at the Williamson County Enrichment Center at Academy Park, 110 Everbright Ave.
Live entertainment will be provided by Nashville-based singer-songwriter Rachel Taylor who blends alternative folk, 50s country and unplugged pop. Heart Hunters will also be performing, blending their rich Southern harmonies on songs about love, loss and yearning. Rounding out the performers is 2016 CCMA-nominated New Artist of the Year, April Nicole, with traditional Country ballads. April will be accompanied by her multi-talented seven-year-old daughter Sophia.
There will be food trucks on hand with delicious lunch items for sale, or you can bring your own. The concert is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket for seating. A Brown Bag concert is also planned for June 30.
Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone may register for and participate in the department’s programs, teams, classes and events. For program registration, pass purchasing or additional information, visit www.wcparksandrec.com. You may also receive department information by “liking” Williamson County Parks and Recreation on Facebook; following us on Twitter at @wc_parksandrec or Instagram at @willcoparksandrec or on Pinterest or YouTube.
Historic Franklin Masonic Hall to Host Lecture Series – Race, Realism and Reconciliation: A Conversation for Consideration
Franklin, TN – The Historic Franklin Masonic Hall in Franklin, Tennessee, will host the second lecture in the series Race, Realism and Reconciliation: A Conversation for Consideration, on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at 7 o’clock. Two historians will come together to candidly discuss the issues surrounding slavery during Polk’s America, the road to the Civil War and Civil Rights.
The Historic Franklin Masonic Hall cordially invites the community to attend. Moderated by Rachael Finch, Preservation Consultant and Historian for the Historic Franklin Masonic Hall, the featured speaker will be Mr. Thomas Price, Curator of the President James K. Polk Home and Museum. Price will present “A Matter of Utmost Caution: James K. Polk and Slavery,” a discussion on the dichotomy of Polk, his views on slavery, and the fractious debate that would culminate in the Civil War. Price will also discuss President Polk’s former slave, Elias, who went on to become a major political activist having learned much about political organization from observing the late President through three decades in politics. Commentary will be provided by Finch.
Doors will open at 6:45. Prior to the lecture, coffee and light refreshments will be served and the discussion will begin promptly at 7pm. The speakers will welcome questions from the audience attendees and encourage open discussion. The Race, Realism and Reconciliation lecture series is free and open to the public.
For information contact the Historic Franklin Masonic Hall at 615.790.1688 or 615.584.4523.
On October 8th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. the Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County will present the eighth annual “Celebration of Nations” festival in downtown Franklin, TN. The mission of the Celebration of Nations is to create global and cultural passion, beginning with a personal knowledge and understanding of the interconnectedness of people universally. They believe one way to accomplish this goal is through genuine artistic and sensory representations of various nations. This unique affair will consist of booths featuring different products and techniques used around the world. Booths will be displaying representation of one or more cultures. Food and beverages from a variety of nations will also be available.
The event will take place on 4th Avenue South (in front of the parking garage) and the connecting alley from 4th Avenue to the Historic Williamson County Courthouse. Two stages featuring music and dance from around the globe will be seen and heard throughout the day. At 7:30 p.m. this year’s headliner, “San Rafael Band” featuring Rafael Vasquez will take the stage.
Vasquez is a talented songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist who is comfortable with a variety of instruments and styles ranging from conjunto’s bajo sexton, jazz, classical, blues and rock, and has been in high demand for years. In the last few years Vasquez has begun to work with students at Belmont University and in the Metro Nashville Public Schools to share his knowledge of music and Hispanic culture. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Rafael is a tremendous asset to the “Música de la gente” – “Music of the People program”. This is a great entertainer with an amazing band that you don’t want to miss!
Starting at 4 p.m. a variety of international beers and wines from 15 different countries will be available individually for six dollars. The rest of the festival’s activities are free and open to the public.
Movie music will be featured!
The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce a free outdoor band concert by the Williamson County Community Band on Sunday, September 11 at 5:00 p.m. on the lawn behind the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. (weather permitting). The program will feature famous movie music, so you are sure to recognize your favorites! There is no charge for this family event.
Bring along lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Picnics and coolers are welcome, but no pets or alcoholic beverages are permitted.
Please see website for more information.
The Williamson County Public Library will be hosting its fourth annual Make-A-Thon: A Festival of Creativity from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. We are partnering with businesses and artisans local to Williamson County to show you what is available in your own backyard. Exhibitors include the Tennessee Ghostbusters, 501st MidSouth Garrison (Star Wars characters), Williamson County Master Gardeners, and many more. There’s something for everyone!
The festival will consist of live demonstrations, and hands on activities that will range from using robots to beekeeping. There will be crafts, including Lego construction and take home art projects for patrons of all ages. You can even adopt an adorable pet from the Williamson County Animal Center’s mobile unit.
This event is free, open to the public, and fun for the whole family. For more information about the event or becoming an exhibitor at the event, contact Randi Peters with the Main Library at 615-595-1250.
The Williamson County Public Library is located in downtown Franklin at 1314 Columbia Avenue. For further information about other library programs or services, call the library at 615-595-1243 or visit the library’s web site at http://wcpltn.org. Sign up to receive email notifications about library events and announcements by sending an email to ref@williamson-tn.org with the subject line: Subscribe_Library_Bytes.
A Day of Exploration and Discovery! Bring your family and friends for a day filled with creativity, art-making, live music, and exciting performances. Family Festival Day will celebrate the cultural and historical aspects of our exhibition Treasures from the House of Alba: 500 Years of Art and Collecting. Family Festival Day programs are free, appropriate for all ages, and offered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Please visit Free Family Festival Day for moe information.