Williamson County Animal Center

8:32 pm | Thursday, Jun 1st

The Williamson County Animal Center uses donated dog and cat food or donated funds to provide Williamson County’s elderly recipients of the Meals on Wheels program food for their pets.

Food such as bird seed and dog and cat treats are packaged by volunteers at Williamson County Animal Center and delivered to 4 Meals on Wheels sites, who then deliver to the residents on their routes. Orders go out the 1st of each month.

To learn more about this program please visit Friends of Williamson County Animal Center www.friendsofwcac.com/home.html

Williamson County Fair Recap

8:43 pm | Wednesday, Sep 14th

| No Comments

Crowds young and old flocked to the AgExpo Park from August 5-13 for the 2016 Williamson County Fair, with the “Barnyard Mardi Gras” themed event offering something for everyone. And while a rainy August provided some logistical challenges, the 12th annual Fair set a number of records while making a significant impact on the community.

The Fair proved to be successful in many ways again this year, including a considerable increase in the number of competitive entries. With over 6,600 total entries across multiple categories, 43 winners placed in the top three and earned a cash premium. Categories including the quilt, sheep and cattle shows saw a record number of entries, with over 300 head of each shown as part of the livestock exhibits.

Despite battling rain and the forecast of bad weather, attendance remained relatively steady.

“Our traffic counts were down a bit due to the rain and forecast of rain throughout the Fair, but we’re very pleased with the event overall,” Fair Board Chairman Rogers Anderson said. “Every year, we try to introduce new features, and adding the online sales and accepting credit cards at the gates made the experience that much more convenient for our visitors. New and expanded partnerships with Page, Ravenwood and Centennial high schools helped the ticket booths, ride entries and parking system run smoothly.

“We especially want to thank our volunteers, vendors, the business community and an army of volunteers for their generous support of the Fair. Another way we highlight giving back to the community is our annual ‘Pay It Forward Night, Benefitting GraceWorks Ministries,’” Anderson said. “Williamson County residents and visitors brought in over 6,000 pounds of donations, including various canned foods and household items, such as diapers and laundry detergent. These donations helped to fill a huge need for GraceWorks and the people they serve. Once again, the willingness of our Fair visitors to step up and support their neighbors reminds us of what a special place we live in.”

GraceWorks Food Pantry Coordinator Phil Rutledge said the donations are much needed, particularly at this time of year.

“This will fill in many of the empty shelves we have and allow us to provide nutritious baskets of food to our neighbors in need,” Rutledge said.

The Williamson County Fair will return August 4-12, 2017 and Anderson said the Fair Board is looking for community-minded individuals who might have a desire to serve in a leadership capacity.

“Many of our committee chairs have been fulfilling their roles for the past 12 years, and we welcome folks who want to become more involved as an event chairman in a number of different areas,” Anderson said.
For more information, visit www.williamsoncountyfair.org.

Shopping in Downtown Franklin, TN | The Full Guide

1:00 am | Sunday, Jun 19th

Shopping

| No Comments

Downtown Franklin TN is all about shopping, gifts, galleries, antiques and more.

Fourteen miles and 100 years from Nashville, Downtown Franklin, Tennessee is an oasis of Southern hospitality housed in a 16-block National Register district of antique shops, gift and book stores, art galleries, boutiques, lovingly restored homes and more. It boasts an award-winning Main Street, brick sidewalks, a stunning collection of Victorian buildings and a host of “Best of“ accolades.

The Downtown Franklin Association promotes and protects more than 150 unique places to explore in the National Register District. Come on out to America’s Favorite Main Street™, and SHOP-EAT-PLAY-WORK with us!

Below is a list of most local stores. With this list (and the contact info we provide), it should help you on your way…

Antiques, Furniture, Home Décor & Interior Design

Arbor Antique Mall
202 South Margin St. / 615-599-1200
Virtual Tour

Avec Moi
418 Main St. / 615-791-9121
Virtual Tour

The Bagbey House
134 4^th Avenue North / 615-595-8645
Virtual Tour

Bittersweet Primitives
320 Fourth Avenue North / 615-614-3389
Virtual Tour

The Barn Door
109 S. Margin St./615-794-0089

City Farmhouse
111 Bridge St. / 615-790-8101

Foyers and Beyond Custom Flooring
502 West Main St. / 615-790-4003
Virtual Tour

Franklin Antique Mall, LLC
251 Second Ave. S, Suite 100 / 615-790-8593
Virtual Tour

Franklin Custom Interiors
1265 Columbia Avenue / 615-595-7156
Virtual Tour

Inspirations on Main
334 Main Street, Suite 100/ 615-236.9013

Iron Gate
338 Main St. / 615-791-7511

J.J. Ashley’s
125 South Margin St. / 615-791-0011

Rebecca’s Furniture & Design
117 3rd Avenue North / 615-599-1652

ReDo
300 Public Square / 615-790-3989

Riverside Antiques & Home Décor
144 Bridge Street / 615-591-4089

Scarlett Scales Antiques
246 Second Ave. S / 615-791-4097

Serenite Maison
4149 Old Hillsboro Rd. / 615-599-2071

The Shop Around The Corner
117 3rd Ave. N / 615-599-1652
Virtual Tour

Tin Cottage
123 S. Margin St. / 615-472-1183

Trisha Nesbitt & Co.
145 2nd Ave. N / 615-347-6128
Virtual Tour

Urban Design + Renovation
813 Columbia Ave. / 615-790-6408

West Main Antiques
1182 W. Main St. / 615-614-3392

William Powell Home & Garden
506 West Main / 615-791-5495

Winchester Antique Mall
113 Bridge St. / 615-791-5846
Virtual Tour

Art Galleries & Studios

Carpe Diem
212 S. Margin St. /615-429-0157

Damico Frame & Art Gallery
112 A East Fowlkes St. / 615-815-6015
Virtual Tour

Franklin Glassblowing Studio
1143 Columbia Ave. Ste. A10 / 615-638-3778

Gallery 202-Art at Historic Clouston Hall
202 Second Ave. S / 615-472-1134
Virtual Tour

The Hip Hop Shop
735 Columbia Ave. / 615-591-2212

Leiper’s Creek Gallery
4144 Old Hillsboro Rd. / 615-599-5102

Rare Prints Gallery
420 Main St. / 615-472-1980
Virtual Tour

Westlight Studios
1106 Harpeth Industrial Court / 615-499-6269

Wm. Darrell Moseley Tribal Arts, Inc.
427 Main St. / 615-790-3095
Open by appointment

Clothing & Jewelry

Anthropologie
335 Main St. / 615-591-1216

Bink’s Outfitters
421 Main St. / 615-599-8777

BoutiqueMMM
238 Public Square / 615-628-8523

The Cellar on Main Street
324 Main St. / 615-790-9803
Virtual Tour

Chico’s
348 Main St. / 615-599-8471

For Every Child, Inc.
111 Fifth Ave. N / 615-790-6426

Ecco Bella Salon & Boutique LLC
341 Main St. / 615-599-3030

Gin-O Boutique
118 4th Avenue S. / 615-591-8450

Finnleys Good Findings
435 Main St./615-628-8495

Haven
343 Main St. / 615-790-7954

It’s Vintage, Baby
234 Public Square / 615-465-2166
Virtual Tour

Jack Yacoubian Jewelers
114 Third Avenue S. / 615-224-3698

Johnnie Q
317 Main St. Suite 105 / 615-794-2763

JONDIE Boutique
407 Main St. / 615-807-2386

Our Thrift Store
1018 Columbia Ave. / 615-591-9612

Philanthropy
432 & 434 Main St. / 615-794-0074

Walton’s Antique Jewelry
410 Main St. / 615-790-0244

Shopping Centers/Areas

CoolSprings Galleria
1800 Galleria Blvd. / 615-771-2128

Historic Downtown Franklin 15-block National Register District Surrounding Main St
615-591-8500
VIRTUAL TOUR

The Factory at Franklin
230 Franklin Rd. / 615-791-1777

Franklin Farmers Market
230 Franklin Rd. at The Factory/615-916-1274

Specialty Shops, Gifts & Florists

Bathos
416 Main St. / 615-790-0151

Carpe Diem
212 S. Margin St. /615-429-0157

CharacterEYES Eyecare & Optical
407 Church St. / 615-599-1800
Virtual Tour

Early’s Honey Stand
209 E. Main St. / 615-302-2240

Franklin Flower & Gift Gallery
1152 Columbia Ave. / 615-794-4501
Virtual Tour

Harpeth True Value Home Center
203 Down Boulevard / 615-794-3641
Virtual Tour

Heart & Hands
342 Main St. / 615-794-2537
Virtual Tour

The Heirloom Shop
404 Main St. / 615-791-0110
Virtual Tour

HeyDay
334 Main St. / 615-472-1816

Inspirations on Main
334 Main Street, Suite 100/ 615-236-9013

The Iron Gate
338 Main St. / 615-791-7511

The Kandle Kitchen
1914 Columbia Ave. / 615-261-7550

Landmark Booksellers
114 E. Main St. / 615-791-6400

LuLu
345 Main St. / 615-794-3345

Main Street Toy Company
412 Main St. / 615-790-4869
Virtual Tour

Olivia Olive Oil
443 Cool Springs Blvd. 103 / 615-771-9595

The Quilting Squares Quilt Shop
107 Confederate Dr. Suite 1 / 1-877-794-4769

The Registry
347 Main St. at the corner of 5th & Main / 615-595-2323

Tin Cottage
123 S. Margin St. / 615-472-1183

Town’s End General Store
502 West Main St. / 615-791-8086

Savory Spice Shop
324 Main Street / click here to contact
Virtual Tour

SEC Fun Foods
98-b Beasley Dr. / 615-538-6073

The Shoppes On Main
413 Main St. / 615-591-8433
Virtual Tour

Shuff’s Music
118 3rd Ave. N / 615-790-6139

Shuff’s Piano Showroom
127 2nd Ave. N / 615-261-8888

Yarrow Acres
424A Main St. / 615-591-7090

Transportation

Franklin Transit
708 Columbia Ave. / 615-790-0604

Closing the Learning Gap for Complex Children

8:00 pm | Thursday, Mar 31st

| No Comments

High Hopes Development Center is hosting Professional and Family/Caregiver workshops by Rett University: “Closing the Learning Gap for Complex Children – All Engaged, All Communicate, All Learn!” at Brentwood Baptist Church on April 16 & 18.

Children with complex disabilities who are severely motor challenged or non-verbal can often be overlooked regarding communication and academic progress, due to the challenges faced by teachers, therapists, administrators, parents and caregivers. These informative workshops, given by experienced course director Susan Norwell, M.A. Special Education, are designed to help “Close the Learning Gap” by teaching specific methodologies for using AAC soft and high tech tools. Susan has worked with a wide array of students, including those with Rett Syndrome, Autism and multiple disabilities for the last 40 years. High Hopes is proud to present these offerings by Norwell, who has presented workshops worldwide and consults with various school districts on successful education of children with Rett Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and other complex needs, including those on the autism spectrum.

The April 16 Professional and April 18 Family/Caregiver workshops will equip attendees with strategies and methodologies for supporting even the most complex learners. The workshops will include robust videos and hands-on demonstrations of academic supports and strategies that aid the processes of learning to read and write, especially for students that often get left behind in these areas. Participants will learn methods to build better communication, support academic growth, and be empowered with a renewed confidence and belief in their child’s or student’s underlying abilities, regardless of their diagnosis! Speech-Language Pathologists, Physical and Occupational Therapists and assistants, teachers, special educators and administrators are strongly encouraged to attend the Professional workshop on April 16.

Workshops are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch provided, and sponsored by Tobii Dynavox, Continuum Planning Partners and Therapy-in-a-Bin. Brentwood Baptist Church is located at 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN. Space is limited to offer an optimal learning experience for attendees. For more information or reservations, please visit http://www.highhopesforkids.org/closing-the-learning-gap-for-complex-children/ or call 615.661.5437.

High Hopes Development Center is a non-profit inclusive preschool and pediatric therapy clinic that loves, nurtures, and educates children from infancy through Pre-K with and without special needs in inclusive classrooms. A team of experienced teachers and pediatric therapists support the individual needs of each child in the classroom, and the outpatient therapy clinic meets the therapeutic challenges of infants to adolescents in the community. High Hopes is the only non-profit inclusive preschool in Williamson County with a preschool and therapy clinic under one roof. High Hopes is truly unique in the way that children with and without special needs such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other developmental delays play, learn, and grow together every day. The outpatient pediatric therapy clinic provides multiple therapies in one location: occupational, speech, physical, and feeding therapies. High Hopes gives children of all intellectual, physical and mental abilities the opportunity to learn and grow together in an environment that provides a strong foundation for future academic and social success.

For more information, visit www.highhopesforkids.org.

Wedding Dresses Through the Decades

9:12 pm | Monday, Dec 14th

| No Comments

Step back to yesterday and see the common threads that weave together the lives of women through the decades in middle Tennessee and across the country. Enjoy traveling through time as you walk among over fifty gowns that are being placed on loan and exhibited, most for the first time. The “Wedding Dresses Through the Decades” exhibit at Oaklands Mansion is presented in partnership with the Human Sciences Department of Middle Tennessee State University and sponsored in part by Encore Bridal & Formal Wear.

This includes wedding dresses from every decade: 1847 through today. Also on display is the 2008 handmade gown of Demetria Kalodimos which is an original design by Rosie Woodruff of Textile Fabrics in Nashville. Wedding gowns will be on display in Maney Hall and open to the public at Oaklands Mansion from January 10 through March 6, 2016. During this exhibit, guests will have the rare opportunity to view items from, not only the museum’s collection, but also elegant and fashionable wedding dresses worn by ladies from Murfreesboro and around the country. Many of which have been stored for decades under beds and in the back of closets.

“These treasured garments reveal stories and secrets of the past,” said Mary Beth Nevills, Education Director of Oaklands. “We look forward to sharing with you this year’s exhibit, full of new dresses from our community’s past.”

Witness the changes in fashion from different areas, eras and cultures as we transcend time to the modern day bride. The exhibit will be open during regular hours, Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Groups of 20 or more may also schedule private after hour’s viewings of the gowns by appointment, by calling Mary Beth Nevills at 615-893-0022. Admission to the exhibit is $8.00 per person and is open to the public. Group tour rates are available upon request. Museum tours are available at regular rates during regular museum hours.

Special evening openings of the elegant and fashionable wedding dresses will take place on the following Friday evenings: January 22, February 5 & 19, and again March 4^th from 4:00pm until 8:00pm. For more information contact Mary Beth Nevills at Oaklands (615) 893-0022 or email mb@oaklandsmuseum.org.

Homes for the Holidays

2:04 pm | Sunday, Dec 6th

| No Comments

Tour to showcase homes and churches for two nights of festive décor, holiday fare and music

First Tennessee Bank presents Homes for the Holidays Candlelight Tour benefiting Bridges Domestic Violence Center and historic preservation will be held Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. each night. Visitors will get an inside look into several Franklin homes and churches and enjoy the various styles of holiday decorations that exhibit the balance between historic charm and modern allure. The tour falls on the same weekend as the Heritage Foundation’s Dickens of a Christmas event, and guests are encouraged to come for the celebration and stay for the home tours.

In making the announcement, founding Bridges board member and historical preservationist Pam Lewis said, “We’re so pleased to open a festive collection of lovely historic and new homes along with several churches for a holiday candlelight tour in downtown Franklin. This tour demonstrates the rich heritage we enjoy in Franklin and highlights creative ways to celebrate, decorate and enjoy the blessings of the season.”

Homes and churches on the tour include:

Phillip Catholic Church – Old Sanctuary, 113 2nd Ave. South
Cumberland Presbyterian, 615 W. Main Street
Lotz House, 1111 Columbia Avenue
Ty’s House – Hard Bargain Association, 608 Mt. Hope Street
O’More College of Design, 423 S. Margin Street
Landmark Books, 114 E. Main Street
The home of Lisa and Brian Beathard, 704 Fair Street
The home of Kelly and Chad Dannenfelser, 315 Fourth Ave. South
The home of Ann Johnson, 1211 Carnton Lane
The home of Lydia and Tom Miller, 1328 Carnton Lane
The home of Erika and Marcus Frazier, 1508 Holmes Circle
The home of Rebecca and John Burns, 1136 Carnton Lane

“We’re pleased to celebrate the holidays while acknowledging the history of the Lotz House,” said Lotz House Executive Director J.T. Thompson. “The festive decorations will make the visitors feel as if they have stepped back in time with the Lotz family.”

The variety of historic and new sites on the tour will be filled with special collections and personalized décor that celebrate their own unique traditions. The Lotz House will serve holiday fare such as hot cider and Christmas cookies. Decorations in the house will be representative of the time period of the 1864 Battle of Franklin, with fresh décor of pulled cotton, harvested nuts, fresh apples, magnolia leaves and holly. The home of Ann Johnson will offer festive foods and feature her collection of antiques, salvaged barn wood floors and refurbished cedar beams. Cumberland Presbyterian will provide holiday music, period décor and a 25-foot Christmas tree. The campus of O’More College of Design will be decorated by its talented design students. The home of Rebecca and John Burns will feature handmade crocheted Christmas ornaments and a Crystal angel collection. Period costumed and festive interpreters and holiday music will be at many of the sites throughout the tour.

Advance tickets are $30 per person or two for $55 and include a tour of all homes and churches. Tickets at the door on Dec. 12 and 13 are $32 per person or two for $60. Groups of 10 or more are $25 each. Please note that tickets are non-refundable. Tour patrons are welcomed to split up the tour over both days if desired.

Tickets are available at these locations:

Lotz House, 1111 Columbia Avenue, 615-790-7190, lotzhouse.com
The Heritage Foundation, 134 2nd Ave North, 615-591-8500, historicfranklin.com
Bridges Domestic Violence Center, 615-599-8064, bridgesdvc.org
Westhaven Resident’s Club, 401 Cheltenham Ave, 615-791-9250, westhaventn.com
Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 150 4th Avenue North G-250, 615-791-7554, visitfranklin.com
The Shop Around The Corner, 117 3rd Avenue North, 615-599-1652
FirstBank, 510 Columbia Avenue, Suite 106 at 5 Points, 615-435-2460, firstbankonline.com

About First Tennessee Bank

First Tennessee Bank was founded during the Civil War in 1864 and has the 14th oldest national bank charter in the country, as well as one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country. First Tennessee and FTN Financial are part of First Horizon National Corporation (NYSE:FHN), which has 4,300 employees. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation’s best employers by Forbes, Working Mother and American Banker magazines. More information is available at www.FirstTennessee.com.

About Bridges

Bridges Domestic Violence Center serves women, men and their children affected by domestic violence, ensuring a safe transition to successful independent living through education, intervention and case management. More information is available at www.bridgesdvc.org.

2016 Featured Artist

3:46 pm | Tuesday, Dec 1st

Living

| No Comments

May 2016 will mark the 75th year of Nashville’s rite of spring, the Iroquois Steeplechase, as Music City’s annual celebration of the time-honored traditions surrounding horse racing in Tennessee. Among those traditions is the selection of a Featured Artist by the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation, the non-profit organization behind the Steeplechase.

The Iroquois Steeplechase has chosen Chattanooga-based artist Hollie Berry to create its official painting for the 75th anniversary, a work that will reflect the iconic race and be available for purchase in the non-profit’s annual online auction.

Berry, a full-time artist who often celebrates horses in her work, is a Steeplechase race-day veteran and has long admired the organization’s work.

“I’ve been fascinated with horses ever since I can remember, and I look forward to the races each year,” Berry said. “For me, it’s all about the action of the horse, the excitement of the race and the thundering sound of hooves as the horses run past you on the green. I’ve also fallen in love with the vibrant colors of the silks and the fantastic hats and finery of the spectators—I can’t wait to convey all of that in my painting.”

Dwight Hall, chairman of the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation, says the committee selected Berry for her particular passion for equine painting and for her attention to detail in bringing the sport to life on canvas.

“Hollie has a very obvious gift for taking what makes steeplechasing so fascinating, and translating that in her work,” Hall said. “We believe she will be able to capture the magic of the day, and that the viewer will be able to feel the race-day excitement through Hollie’s art.”

Berry says she first heard about the Featured Artist designation through a friend, and has since been working toward the honor. She went so far as to meet with 2014 Featured Artist Christopher Huffman to gain a better understanding of the role, and paid special attention during last year’s races through her camera lens.

“Last year, I brought my camera and began taking photos and making notes of my surroundings in preparation for my submission. I’ve been practicing from those images, until I felt that my portfolio application would be up to the Steeplechase standards,” Berry said. “I’ve been working towards this for two years, and couldn’t be more honored or thrilled to have been selected.”

Berry is currently working with the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation on the composition and direction of the painting, which will be revealed in Winter 2016. To learn more about the artist and her work, visit www.art-instincts.com.

For more information about pre-purchasing a limited-edition print, call the Iroquois Steeplechase offices at 615-591-2991.

Tickets to the Iroquois Steeplechase’s 75th anniversary race on May 14, 2016 are now available. For more information, visit www.iroquoissteeplechase.org.

MORE ABOUT THE IROQUOIS STEEPLECHASE

This iconic sporting event has been Nashville’s rite of spring since 1941, attracting more than 25,000 spectators to watch the best horses and riders in the world race over hurdles on a three-mile turf track. Held the second Saturday of each May at Percy Warner Park, the Iroquois Steeplechase is Music City’s annual celebration of time-honored traditions, Tennessee hospitality and Southern fashions.

Those who attend enjoy areas for families, well-appointed tents and individually organized tailgates where the emphasis is on race day pickings, larger-than-life hats, Honey Jack Juleps and crowd-pleasing recipes. More importantly, guests support a cause at the heart of the event: Since being designated as the official charity in 1981, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has received more than $10 million from Iroquois Steeplechase proceeds. For more information, go to www.iroquoissteeplechase.org.

Music: Playlist

1:48 am | Friday, Nov 27th

| No Comments

November 28 – Saturday

Amish County Market at the Feed Mill: Don & Karen McNatt 12PM

Ansbach Artisans: Saturday Night Live Art 6-9PM

Arrington Vineyards: Music in the Vines: 2:30 Trio 5-9PM

Battleground Smokes & Spirits: Boom! Boom! Pow! 9PM

Bunganut Pig: Jared Roberts 7PM, J4 Wandass & the Band 9PM

Carnton Plantation: Battle of Franklin 5k Run/Walk & Kids’ Fun Run

Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre: Yule Ya’ll at 8PM, Dinner preceding at 6PM

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens: Trains!, Cheekwood POP, Norman Rockwell’s Home for the Holidays 9AM-4PM, Holiday Lights 5-10PM

Cool Springs Brewery: Live Music 7PM

Corner Pub: Live Music

Factory at Franklin: Franklin Farmers Market 8AM-1PM

Franklin on Foot: Franklin Food Tour & Ghost Tour (615-400-3808 for reservations)

Franklin Theatre: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 10AM, Radney Foster 8PM

GRAYS: Dallas Starke 9PM

Kimbro’s Cafe: Live Music 8PM

Lyrics Restaurant: Live Music 5-8PM

McCreary’s Pub: Live Music

Puckett’s Boat House: Phoenix Drive 7:30PM

Puckett’s (Franklin): Gary Harrison, Michael White & Rick Huckaby 8:30PM

Puckett’s (Leiper’s Fork): Ronnie Fruge 12PM, Casey Wasner & Jamie Mclaughlin 8PM

Tin Roof 2: DJ Aydamn 9PM

November 29 – Sunday

Arrington Vineyards: Music in the Vines: Reed Pittman Trio – Holiday Open House 2-6PM

Bunganut Pig: Browns Backers vs Ravens 12PM, John Sutton 5PM

Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre: Yule Ya’ll at 8PM, Dinner preceding at 6PM

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens: CLOSED

Franklin Theatre: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 1PM, 4PM, Scrooged 7PM

GRAYS: Jazzy Brunch 12-2PM

Puckett’s (Leiper’s Fork): Mike Wootan & Montana Swing 12PM

Spring Hill Battlefield: Spring Hill Battlefield Tour 3PM

Dickens of a Christmas

1:59 pm | Monday, Nov 16th

| No Comments

Step back in time with the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County when Dickens of a Christmas returns to Franklin’s Main Street December 12-13, 2015.

Sponsored this year by Nissan, the 31^st annual free street festival will recreate the time of Charles Dickens using historic downtown Franklin’s Victorian architecture as the backdrop. Some 200 musicians, dancers and characters will fill the streets, including several from Charles Dickens’s stories. Expect to see and interact with the nefarious Fagin from Oliver Twist; Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim Cratchit with his parents from A Christmas Carol; and of course, a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas with treats for children.

“Dickens of a Christmas is the perfect event for our historic Main Street,” said Mary Pearce, executive director of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. “Downtown Franklin always exudes its own special magic, and yet this event adds an extra bit of sparkle. It dovetails perfectly with our preserved Victorian architecture and our commitment to saving and showcasing our historical treasures. As more attention is turned toward downtown Franklin in both the local and national press, we encourage festival goers to dress in Victorian costume and to add to the ambiance as they stroll the streets. Adding even a hat and scarf to modern attire helps set the scene and get everyone in the holiday mood.”

This year’s event will reprise a crowd favorite from last year: it WILL snow at Dickens of a Christmas! Come decked out in holiday style to capture that perfect family picture.

New this year will be the Lucky Scruff Wintery Whisker Revue, a competition among hirsute gentlemen for the finest facial hair. Those taking advantage of No Shave November will want to hang on to their whiskers until the Sunday afternoon competition on the stage at the Public Square. Winners will take home fabulous prizes courtesy of Lucky Scruff, a new store at The Factory specializing in accessories for the bearded gentleman, and all entrants will receive gift cards. The judging will take place at 3pm. To enter this contest, visit the Dickens event page at HistoricFranklin.com.

Favorite Victorian-era activities will return, including sugar plums and roasted chestnuts being sold on the street. Other food vendors will offer heartier old English fare. A variety of musical and dance performances will take place both on the street and on the stage at City Hall. Horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo for children, live artisan demonstrations, and more than 70 vendors offering holiday arts and crafts will line Main Street from Second to Fifth Avenues. Each day will conclude with a town sing of classic Christmas carols. Saturday’s town sing will take place in front of the stage on the Public Square; Sunday’s town sing will be conducted inside the Historic Presbyterian Church at Five Points.

Dickens of a Christmas will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 12, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 13. The event is free and open to the public; some attractions will involve a small fee. More information and a schedule of events will be available at www.historicfranklin.com.

Producing Dickens of a Christmas is just one of the many activities of The Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County. Since 1967 the non-profit group has been dedicated to protecting and preserving Williamson County’s historic, architectural and geographic resources; in short, saving the places that matter.

Breakfast with Santa and the Minions

1:55 pm | Monday, Nov 16th

| No Comments

Santa will be making a special trip from the North Pole to visit the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. for “Breakfast with Santa” on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Those mischievous minions will be on hand, and Williamson County Parks and Recreation invites parents and kids ages 10 and younger to join the fun. A continental breakfast will be served, including pastries, muffins, milk and fruit juice. During the event, each child will have time to sit on Santa’s lap and share Christmas toy wishes. The cost is $10 per child (parents are free). Bring your cameras and take your own photos with Santa!

On-line reservations are required, and space is limited for this event. To make a reservation, go to www.wcparksandrec.com (event code #5511). This event is sponsored by: Unity Chiropractic; McDonald’s; Krispy Kreme Doughnuts; Chick-fil-A; Publix; Mapco Mart; and True Value.