The Main Street Festival in downtown Franklin is an annual spring event featuring vendors, live music and other attractions. (Courtesy Daniel C. White)
The free arts and crafts festival in the Franklin Historic District will include more than 150 artisans showcasing their goods, food and drink concessions, children’s activities and live music on separate main and acoustic stages, according to the announcement. The event is sponsored by First Horizon Bank and hosted by the foundation in cooperation with the Downtown Franklin Association.
The festival will be held from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 23 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 24.
All downtown Franklin merchants will be open and celebrating the event with specials, features and promotions for enhanced shopping, according to the announcement.
“We are thrilled to announce the return of one of Franklin’s most anticipated spring events thanks to the support of First Horizon and all of our corporate partners that make putting on a community event like Main Street Festival possible,” an e-mail statement attributed to Bari Beasley, president and CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. “Not only does the festival’s multimillion-dollar economic impact support local merchants, vendors and more, but it helps the Heritage Foundation sustain its efforts to protect and preserve Williamson County’s historic, architectural and geographic resources.”
The announcement included schedules for both the festival’s main and acoustic stages for both days.
MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE
April 23 Main Stage:
9:45 a.m.: Opening remarks
10 a.m.: Special guest
10:30 a.m.: Rocky Top Revue
11:10 a.m.: Ann Carroll School of Dance
12:30 p.m.: Brandon Scott
1:10 p.m.: Dirty Rain Revelers
2 p.m.: Taylor Barton
2:50 p.m.: Allison Clarke
4:20 p.m.: Mark Anthony
5:10 p.m.: Anne Wilson presented by K-Love 97.1 FM
6 p.m. Adam Drasin & The Panic
April 24 Main Stage:
9:45 a.m.: Opening remarks
10:10 a.m.: Little Kid Dance
10:30 a.m.: Grassland Dance Academy
11:10 a.m.: Southern Irish Dance
11:50 a.m.: WCPR Rhythm & Spirit Dance Program
1:10 p.m.: Conservatory of Annie Moses
2 p.m.: Jaysen Gold
2:50 p.m.: Patrick Carpenter
4:20 p.m.: Pitch Perfect from Act Too Players
5:10 p.m.: Carly Moffa
ACOUSTIC STAGE SCHEDULE
April 23’s Acoustic Stage Presented by Lipscomb University
11:30 a.m.: Amber Sawyer
Noon: Heritage Foundation
12:30 p.m.: Abby Whitman
1 p.m.: Olivia Henn
1:30 p.m.: Heritage Foundation
3 p.m.: River & Rail
3:30 p.m.: Heritage Foundation
4 p.m.: Hello Darling
4:30 p.m.: LeeAnn Mazzei
5 p.m.: Lexi Gail
5:30 p.m.: Katie James
6 p.m.: Garden
April 24 Acoustic Stage Presented by Lipscomb University
Noon: Heritage Foundation
12:30 p.m.: Sydney Brown
1 p.m.: Sydney Brown
1:30 p.m.: Alexandra Hammock
2 p.m.: Alexandra Hammock
2:30 p.m.: Heritage Foundation
3 p.m.: Niko Hartig & Kamri Hoffman
3:30 p.m.: Katie James
An estimated 125,000 people attended last year’s festival, and the event provides a boost to local merchants, Bari Beasley, CEO and president of the Heritage Foundation, said in the announcement.
Among the special attractions from Franklin businesses and community groups at the event will be KidZone presented by Grace Chapel, PetZone from MARS Petcare, Spring Street presented by GEICO Corp., and the Whiskey Lounge and Beer Garden, according to the announcement.
PetZone will include pet photo stations as well as on-site pet adoptions through the Williamson County Animal Center. Spring Street, a new attraction this year, is intended to be an interactive, multisensory arts experience including multiple art disciplines, according to the announcement.
The festival will be held from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 23 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 24.
The group also recently announced the dates for two other signature events, the 37th annual PumpkinFest on Oct. 29 and Dickens of a Christmas on Dec. 10-11.
For more information, visit www.franklinmainstreetfest.com.
Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has been dedicated to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic and cultural heritage as well as promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Notable projects include The Franklin Theatre; Roper’s Knob; parts of the Franklin battlefield; the Old, Old Jail; and McConnell House. In addition to the Main Street Festival, other Heritage Foundation events include the Heritage Ball, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas.
