Wedding Dresses through the Decades

3:39 pm | Wednesday, Feb 24th

Join Oaklands Mansion for a reception celebrating the 5th Anniversary of “Wedding Dresses Through the Decades” presented in partnership with the MTSU Human Sciences Department. This event will feature an afternoon send-off of the bride and groom with champagne, light refreshments, door prizes and a presentation on the color white to be held on March 5, 2016 from 3:00-5:00pm at Oaklands Mansion.

“This is the final weekend to view these precious dresses and read the bride’s stories before they are returned to their owners to be stored under beds and in the back of attics,” said Mary Beth Nevills, Education Director of Oaklands. “Over the five years of the exhibition we have been honored to display over 200 gowns on loan from our community.”

Register now! The first thirty reservations will receive a $20 gift card to the Nurture Nook Day Spa. All guests will be entered for door prizes including pampering facial packages by Goco Aesthetics, dinner at the Alley on Main, an evening stay at the Residence Inn by Marriott, color fandecks provided by Benjamin Moore, and a spa experience at the Nurture Nook Day Spa.

A special presentation, “How White Came to be the Choice of Brides,” will be held in the mansion at 3:30. Music will be provided by Les, Chuck & i. Thank you to our event sponsors: Benjamin Moore, Southeast Supply, and Stones River Total Beverages.

Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by calling Oaklands at 615-893-0022 or email mb@oaklandsmansion.org. Reservations are requested.

Witness the changes in fashion from different areas, eras and cultures as we transcend time to the modern day bride in the “Wedding Dresses Through the Decades” exhibition running now through March 6th. The exhibit is open during regular hours, Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Regular exhibit admission is $8.00 per person and is open to the public now through March 6th. Museum tours are available at regular rates during regular museum hours.

Williamson County Fair Wins Big!

3:36 pm | Wednesday, Feb 24th

| No Comments

The Williamson County Fair has been recognized as among the best anywhere in several categories, according to its peers at the state and international levels. The non-profit organization that operates the Fair each August recently won 10 separate awards from the Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF) and the International Association of Fairs & Expos (IAFE), respectively. This year’s Williamson County Fair is set for August 5 -13 at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park.

In the IAFE Competitive Exhibits category, Williamson County’s Fair won the first-place “Best of Division” award for a Quilt Block Challenge that took place over two consecutive years – where dozens of participants created a community quilt by sewing quilt blocks using coordinating fabric swatches distributed at the 2014 County Fair. Quilts Chair Connie Little and Creative Arts Chair Beth DiMaggio led an effort to convert the more than 40 blocks into a one-of-a-kind quilt that was raffled off at the 2015 Fair. Those proceeds were used to purchase display cases for the Creative Arts Room at the Ag Expo.

“This quilt project was two years in the making, and really encompassed everything our Fair is about – history, local culture, artistic talent, community education and fun,” said Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson, chair of the Fair Board. “It was another example of the way fairgoers are introduced to the people and processes that are part of daily life in rural Williamson County, whether it’s agriculture or arts and crafts.”

On the state level, first-place awards in the AAA Division included promotional merchandise for a branded mason jar and the top prize for a scrapbook that documented all aspects of the Fair. Organizers earned second-place honors for the official Fair program and a pieced quilt designed and created by Kathy Kurlya, and third place for the website www.WilliamsonCountyFair.org.

At the International Association of Fairs & Exhibits Convention in Las Vegas, representatives of the Fair Board accepted the first-place trophy, as well as second-place awards for a unique and competitive participatory contest (sandwich cookie stacking) and a magazine ad. Third-place awards were for the Fair’s mobile website and newspaper ad.

“As a non-profit organization, the Fair is entirely a volunteer effort produced by people who care about our county, and want to preserve its history and culture and share it with others,” Anderson said. “The midway and the food and music and other great elements make it something we look forward to all year long.”

This is the 12^th anniversary for the Williamson County Fair, which began its modern iteration in 2005. Directed by a Board of 25 area leaders and supported by 1,800 volunteers, numerous sponsors, its home county and surrounding communities, the Fair has grown each summer and now hosts approximately 200,000 attendees over the nine-day run. For more information, visit www.WilliamsonCountyFair.org.

Visit us, today!

6:45 pm | Thursday, Dec 31st

| No Comments

There are about 69,000 people living in Franklin, TN. There are almost 200,000 people living in Williamson County. Williamson County is filled with cute places to stay. As a local, I was pleasantly suprised to find 65 rental options just in Franklin, TN. If you have the chance to visit us, check out our local hotels, b&b’s and VRBO rentals. There is something for everyone.

If you only have an hour or two to visit us, stop by the Visitor’s Center in historic downtown Franklin (just off Fourth Avenue North). They will tell you about our historic sites like Carnton and Lotz or a guided walking tour (or the self-guided tour ) of the historic downtown district. For all of your shopping needs downtown offers a quaint shopping experience while others might enjoy the mall experience at CoolSprings Galleria, middle TNs largest shopping mall.

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.

Dickens of a Christmas

11:00 am | Sunday, Dec 13th

| No Comments

Downtown Franklin, Dickens of a Christmas

Each year, Main Street recalls the spirit of Christmases past when the Heritage Foundation throws its annual Dickens of a Christmas celebration! This year the event marks its 31st anniversary, and will feature both time-honored activities that have become perennial favorites, as well as a few new traditions in the making.

Franklin’s Main Street–and its beautiful Victorian architecture–will be decked out for the holiday season. Some 200 characters, dancers and entertainers in the street, including several from Charles Dickens’s stories interacting with the public. Expect to see 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.

What to Expect

Sugar plums and roasted chestnuts being sold on the street, much like they were during the Victorian era.
Street vendors selling old English fare, including bangers and mash (grilled sausages & mashed potatoes); Somerset Sausage Rolls (sausage-filled pastries); shepherd’s pies; fish ‘n chips; and Yorkshire “toasties” (spicy sausage, hamburger and cheese mixture on rye bread).
A variety of musical performances
Horse-drawn carriage rides on the Public Square.
A holiday arts and crafts bazaar.
A town sing of classic Christmas carols on the Public Square.
A costume contest, and so much more!

Visit website to learn more!

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.

Dickens of a Christmas

10:00 am | Saturday, Dec 12th

| No Comments

Downtown Franklin, Dickens of a Christmas

What to Expect

Sugar plums and roasted chestnuts being sold on the street, much like they were during the Victorian era.
Street vendors selling old English fare, including bangers and mash (grilled sausages & mashed potatoes); Somerset Sausage Rolls (sausage-filled pastries); shepherd’s pies; fish ‘n chips; and Yorkshire “toasties” (spicy sausage, hamburger and cheese mixture on rye bread).
A variety of musical performances
Horse-drawn carriage rides on the Public Square.
A holiday arts and crafts bazaar.
A town sing of classic Christmas carols on the Public Square.
A costume contest, and so much more!

Visit website to learn more!

Mens Basketball Leagues

8:44 pm | Monday, Dec 7th

| No Comments

The Athletics Division of Williamson County Parks and Recreation announces open registration for 2016 adult winter D1/D2 basketball leagues at Academy Park Gym, 114 Everbright Ave. in Franklin. The D1 and D2 leagues begin on Sundays in January.

The league fee is $475 per team and registration is online at www.wcparksandrec.com (code # 5791). Leagues will play a round robin format followed by a single elimination tournament. League registration ends January 4. For more information, contact Chris Gravlee at (615) 370-3471, ext. 2114.

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 more information about the facilities and programs of the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.wcparksandrec.com, or call (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010. You may also receive department information by “liking” Williamson County Parks and Recreation on Facebook.

Art Crawl

12:39 am | Thursday, Dec 3rd

| No Comments

The Franklin Art Scene will open its doors this Friday with fabulous art to view for all. The first-Friday art crawl, which has consistently grown in attendance since its 2011 conception, will feature 30-plus participating locations in Historic Franklin’s core.

Art Scene locations are dispersed throughout downtown, including the antique district and spots up and down Columbia Avenue. There is no set starting point for art crawl participants; guests are encouraged to begin at any map location. Trolleys circulate among all the stops throughout the night, and $5 buys an unlimited wristband to jump on and off at will from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

To download maps and applications, visit www.franklinartscene.com. To stay updated with featured artists showing at individual locations, check out www.facebook.com/FranklinArtScene.

About the Franklin Art Scene

In 2011, a group of Downtown Franklin Association (DFA) members launched the monthly Franklin Art Scene to promote local talent and community relationships in Historic Downtown Franklin, Tenn. Since its inception, the first-Friday event has been a unique experience for both the art novice and the connoisseur, offering a sweeping variety of magnificent work that ranges from blown glass and mixed-media pieces to original paintings and handcrafted jewelry.

The 30-plus participating locations are dispersed throughout downtown Franklin’s core. For more information, visit www.franklinartscene.com or www.facebook.com/FranklinArtScene.

Visit http://franklinartscene.com to learn more!

Three Trips for Seniors

3:56 pm | Tuesday, Dec 1st

| No Comments

Online registration is now available for the Williamson County Archives & museum on January 14, the Hatch Show Print tour on January 27 and the Nashville Symphony on February 19.

January 14: Williamson County Archives and Museum & Merridee’s Breadbasket

Hop on board a Franklin Transit trolley at 9:15 a.m. at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. on January 14 for a fun excursion to downtown Franklin. Tour the outstanding Williamson County Archives and Museum (free admission), where you will see a full size log cabin built by early settlers, historic quilts, clothing and tools. Learn about the area’s ancient history and Native American culture as well. After the tour, the group will walk two blocks to Merridee’s Breadbasket for a Dutch treat lunch. Participants must register online in advance ($5) at www.wcparksandrec.com (event code # 5670). The group will ride the Franklin Transit trolley back to the recreation complex arriving at 1:45 p.m. Phone reservations are available through the Franklin Recreation Complex at (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010. No messages allowed. Registration ends January 7 or when the trip is full.

January 27: Hatch Show Print Tour & Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

Seniors are invited to visit legendary Hatch Show Print in Nashville on Wednesday, January 27. Learn the history of the iconic Hatch Show Print posters as you watch them come off the presses during your tour. Lunch will be at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken (Dutch Treat). The trip is $30, and includes transportation from three locations: Longview Recreation Center at Spring Hill, 2909 Commonwealth Dr. at 9:15 a.m.; from the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. at 10:15 a.m.; and the Williamson County Recreation Complex at Nolensville, 7250 Nolensville Rd. at 10:15 a.m. Registration is now open and ends January 20 or when the trip is full. Register on-line at www.wcparksandrec.com (event code # 5662) or at the recreation centers. Phone reservations are available through the Franklin Recreation Complex at (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010. No messages allowed.

February 19: Nashville Symphony Coffee & Classics

Visit the beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Center on February 19 for Coffee & Classics, a daytime concert of Mussorgsky and Ravel favorites. Williamson County Parks and Recreation invites seniors (55+) to join the fun. In addition to the lovely classical concert, coffee and pastries will be served at the event. The trip is $50, and includes transportation from three locations: Longview Recreation Center at Spring Hill, 2909 Commonwealth Dr. at 7:30 a.m.; from the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. at 8:30 a.m.; and the Williamson County Recreation Complex at Nolensville, 7250 Nolensville Rd. at 8:30 a.m. Registration is now open and ends January 15 or when the trip is full. Register on-line at www.wcparksandrec.com (event code #5663) or at the recreation centers. Phone reservations are available through the Franklin Recreation Complex at (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010. No messages allowed.

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 registration and additional information, visit www.wcparksandrec.com, or call (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010. You may also receive department information by “liking” Williamson County Parks and Recreation on Facebook or following us on Twitter at @wc_parksandrec or on Pinterest.

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.