Press Kit
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Just the Facts Annual Events Ongoing Events What to Do Accolades Story Ideas Contact
"The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022"
Just the Facts NASHVILLE INT'L AIRPORT FRANKLIN
Only 17 Miles South of Nashville Franklin and all the unique communities of Williamson County are located just minutes south of Nashville, Tennessee, easily accessible off Interstate 65 & State Route 840. Nashville International Airport is only 24 miles from downtown Franklin and offers over 390 flights daily from 18 airlines with more than 86 nonstop markets.
The Necessary Numbers Population of Franklin
Population of Williamson County
87,000
251,000
6,000+ Hotel Rooms
500+
24 Miles
Restaurants
from Nashville Int'l Airport
Easily accessible from
Interstate 65 & State Route 840
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Central Time Zone
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Just the Facts •
1.23 million visitors travel to Franklin and the communities of Williamson County each year, supporting an industry that employs more than 7,100 and generates over $775.97 million in visitor spending.
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Franklin's Public Square is home to the "March to Freedom" statue, honoring U.S. Colored Troop Soldiers who served in the Civil War. Unveiled in 2021, it was the sixth monument of its kind when installed and the only one placed in a public square.
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Franklin was the pilot city for the Mars Petcare BETTER CITIES FOR PETS national initiative and historic Main Street is lined with fresh dog bowls and features over 100 shops, businesses, and restaurants that are pet-friendly. The program has now expanded to cities across the country.
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Franklin's Main Street is designated a "Great American Main Street" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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The Masonic Hall in downtown Franklin (est. 1809) is the oldest continually operated Lodge in Tennessee and was the site of a fateful meeting between President Andrew Jackson and American Indians.
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The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway that runs through Franklin & Leiper's Fork is the eighth most visited National Park in the United States.
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The Carter House office building is the most bullet-riddled building still standing from the Civil War.
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Events
Annual Events SPRING Main Street Festival*: April Nolensville Buttercup Festival: April Franklin Rodeo: May Tennessee Renaissance Festival: May Simmons Bank Open: May SUMMER Juneteenth Celebration**: June Franklin on the Fourth: July Bluegrass Along the Harpeth: July Great Americana BBQ Festival: August Williamson County Fair: August Southern Whiskey Society: August FALL Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival: September Pumpkinfest*: October Wine Down Main Street: November Battle of Franklin Illumination: November WINTER MADE SOUTH Holiday Market: August Dickens of a Christmas*: December Franklin Christmas Parade: December Leiper's Fork Christmas Parade: December *Denotes Heritage Foundation of Williamson County event **Denotes African American Heritage Society event
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Events
Ongoing Events ALL YEAR Franklin Art Scene first Friday of each month Open Mic Night at Puckett's of Leiper's Fork each Thursday Studio Tenn Productions The StillHouse Sessions at Leiper's Fork Distillery APRIL - AUGUST Vintage "Base Ball" at Carnton APRIL - NOVEMBER Music in the Vines & Bluegrass in the Barn at Arrington Vineyards MAY - OCTOBER Wine & Cigar Night at Arrington Vineyards JUNE - JULY Sunset Concert Series at Carnton JUNE - OCTOBER Polo Matches at Tractor Supply Arena
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What to Do Attractions ARRINGTON VINEYARDS Middle Tennessee's largest vineyard and coowned by country music star Kix Brooks COMPANY DISTILLING AT THOMPSON'S STATION Williamson County's first legal distillery in over 100 years LEIPER'S FORK DISTILLERY Small batch artisan distillery producing bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey CURIO BREWING COMPANY Craft brewery making unique blends of coffee and beers CARNTON Historic house and museum that served as a field hospital during the Civil War's Battle of Franklin and is home to the largest privately owned Confederate cemetery in the United States CARTER HOUSE Historic house and museum that was the epicenter of the Civil War's Battle of Franklin LOTZ HOUSE Historic house and museum that was the epicenter of the Civil War's Battle of Franklin VISITFRANKLIN.COM
McLEMORE HOUSE African American museum that chronicles the struggles, triumphs, and significant contributions of African Americans in Williamson County LANDMARK BOOKSELLERS Located in one of the oldest buildings in Franklin, this bookshop was the inspiration for Karen Kingsbury's New York Times bestselling book The Bridge THE FACTORY AT FRANKLIN Historic 1920s era former stove factory that is now home to multiple performance halls, restaurants, art galleries, shops, and offices including the North American headquarters of Lonely Planet FRANKLIN ON FOOT Walking tours through historic downtown Franklin focused on history, art, ghosts, food, and more NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY BRIDGE The 145-foot tall Presidential Award for Design Excellence winning bridge is the signature piece of the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway and provides scenic views for miles MARCH TO FREEDOM STATUE Statue honoring USCT Soldiers, located in Franklin's Public Square BACK TO BEGINNING
What to Do
Live Music FRANKLIN THEATRE Classic 1930s era theatre that features an iconic neon marquee out front and hosts over 600 events per year inside its state-of-the-art hall, including live music, movies, and stage performances PILGRIMAGE MUSIC & CULTURAL FESTIVAL An annual music and cultural festival each September at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin co-founded by Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin and co-produced by Justin Timberlake that features headlining acts, a dedicated family-friendly kids stage, MADE SOUTH Makers Village, and the Americana Music Triangle Experience FIRSTBANK AMPHITHEATER A world-class boutique amphitheater at Graystone Quarry provides a spectacular natural backdrop to see the most popular touring musicians in the world perform PUCKETT'S OF LEIPER'S FORK The original Puckett's location in the village of Leiper's Fork with live music most nights and a famed open mic night each Thursday KIMBRO'S PICKIN' PARLOR A traditional juke joint located in Franklin, Kimbro's is home to flowing drinks, good food, and nightly jams from songwriters
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Accolades "Charming Small Towns of the South"
"The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022" "Most Romantic Towns" "Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the US"
"Top 10 Cities for People with a Sweet Tooth"
"The Most Charming Christmas Towns Across the World"
"The 25 Coolest Towns in America"
"The South's Prettiest Towns"
"The Most Charming Small Towns Across America"
"A Small Town Gem Near Nashville"
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Franklin Named "Best Southern Town"
"The 30 Most Beautiful Main Streets Across America"
"'Where to Go Now' - 'Franklin, with its boho-meets-Southernchic vibe, seems to have a magnetic pull on celebrities who pick, strum, and sing their way to fame in Nashville.'"
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"Tennessee's Quaint Franklin Still Shows Scars of the Civil War"
"Best Music Cities"
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Story Ideas A Great American Main Street Just south of Nashville, Franklin's Great American Main Street runs through the heart of a 16-block historic district that radiates sophistication and brims with history, music, shopping, and of course, Southern hospitality. Along Franklin's Main Street, you'll find 15 spots to hear live music daily, along with nationally acclaimed shopping, restaurants, and bakeries that made Travel Channel name Franklin one of the top 10 spots in the world for people with a sweet tooth.
A Pet-Friendly Paradise Franklin, Tennessee, is the pilot city for Mars Petcare's national BETTER CITIES FOR PETS program, which launched in June of 2017. Along Franklin's iconic Main Street, you'll find over 90 businesses with dog bowls out front, each welcoming pets inside their shops so travelers can feel comfortable exploring Franklin alongside their furry companions.
The Hidden Gem: Leiper's Fork Leiper's Fork, the tiny village just outside of downtown Franklin, is a place where you'll find the finest art galleries right next to BBQ spots where you eat off of a paper plate. The antique stores have famed pickin' corners, the scenic views are unrivaled, and of course, the music is unbelievable. The entire village - which is not much bigger than an average city block - is filled with a spirit of community. Each business has a front porch or fire pits with s'mores or swings out front, all so people have a place to gather and have real interactions. Many of the world's most iconic musicians call the area home, and on a Thursday night at Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant, you never know who's going to take the stage for open mic night.
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Story Ideas World Famous Music in Franklin Franklin, Tennessee, is home to some of the biggest names in music. In Franklin's historic 16-block downtown district alone, you'll find 15 spots to catch live music! This ranges from restaurants - like Gray's on Main and Puckett's that have stages inside to serenade guests as they dine - to the iconic 1930's-era Franklin Theatre that is said to be the best 300-seat music venue in the world. Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant of Leiper's Fork is known for its legendary Thursday open mic nights that feature new up-andcoming talent as well as local Grammy award winners. Leiper's Fork is also home to some of the top music talent in the world, and these performers along with other big names in the industry take center stage at the newly built FirstBank Amphitheater - a world-class venue nestled inside Graystone Quarry.
Making the Pilgrimage for Music Franklin is home of the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival each September. Better than Ezra frontman (and Franklin resident) Kevin Griffin had the initial vision for the festival, and in 2015, the first Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival debuted with acts like Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, and Steven Tyler kicking it off. In its inaugural year, Pilgrimage was called "the best-curated festival in the country" by Rolling Stone. Modeled in the vision of the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Pilgrimage mixes stages of great music with cultural areas and, of course, great food and drink. Pilgrimage added Franklin resident Justin Timberlake who headlined the festival in 2017 - as a co-producer of the festival in 2016, and acts from his record label often appear.
Whiskey, Beer, and Wine - Oh My! Franklin's Masters & Makers Trail hooks up the area's breweries, distilleries, and a winery into one fun-filled (and delicious) trail. Winding 70 miles throughout Williamson County, the trail takes you to breweries like Mill Creek Brewing Co. and Curio Brewing Co. for a taste of their unique brews. The trail then winds you into the countryside for visits to the areas first legal distillery in 100 years, Company Distilling at Thompson's Station, along with the beautiful Leiper's Fork Distillery. For the wine lovers, country music legend Kix Brooks's acclaimed Arrington Vineyard awaits.
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Story Ideas Top Place for a Sweet Tooth Franklin is known for being a sugar lover's paradise! In 2017, Travel Channel named it one of the "Top 10 Cities for People with a Sweet Tooth" based on the number of bakeries, pie shops, and confectioneries sprinkled throughout the city. The newly launched Sweet Treats Trail highlights some of the area's best stops for a sugar fix, including the original Five Daughter's Bakery and its famed 100-layer donut!
Telling Franklin's 'Fuller Story' Franklin's history is a complex one that includes much more than just the Civil War battle here. The full story of Franklin's history is that some events and occurrences happened in its public square and its downtown area, particularly denigrating to the black citizens of the time, which would be considered wholly unacceptable in modern society. While not a positive history or source of pride for Franklin, these events cannot be overlooked as if they never happened. The Fuller Story Project includes five historical markers around the public square to acknowledge the terrible events of the past and serve as an education to residents and visitors alike about more than just the Civil War story, but the 'Fuller Story.' In November of 2021, a statue of a U.S. Colored Troop was erected outside the historic courthouse next to that marker to honor the men who signed up for service there, and their story will be visible to all who walk by. When installed, the statue was only the sixth of its kind in the U.S. and the only one in the country displayed in a city's public square.
The Bookstore that Inspired a New York Times Bestseller Landmark Booksellers, in independent bookstore located in one of downtown Franklin's oldest buildings, was the inspiration for author and Franklin resident Karen Kingsbury's New York Times bestselling novel, The Bridge. After moving to town, the renowned author was drawn to the bookstore and its owners, Joel and Carol Tomlin, and their unique love story. Inspired, she penned the fictional novel with the Tomlins as the main characters. The book quickly soared to the top of the New York Times bestseller list and has since been turned into a holiday Hallmark movie of the same name. Visitors today will meet the same Joel and Carol and have the same experience that Kingsbury did when she first fell in love with the shop. VISITFRANKLIN.COM
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Contact Us
Matthew Maxey DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS 615.550.8696 matthew@visitfranklin.com 400 Main Street, Ste 200 | Franklin, TN 37064
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