MEDIA KIT
Just the Facts
ONLY 17 MILES SOUTH OF NASHVILLE
Franklin and the unique communities of Williamson County are located just minutes south of Nashville, Tennessee, and are easily accessible via Interstate 65 & State Route 840. Nashville International Airport (BNA) is only 24 miles from downtown Franklin and offers more than 600 flights daily on 19 airlines, with nonstop service to more than 100 markets.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Franklin’s Main Street is designated a “Great American Main Street” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
• Franklin was the site of the Civil War’s Battle of Franklin in 1864.
• The Carter House office building is the most bullet-riddled building still standing from the Civil War.
• Franklin’s downtown public square is home to the March to Freedom statue honoring USCT soldiers. At its installation, it was only the sixth of its kind in the United States, and the first to be displayed in a city’s public square.
• The Masonic Hall in downtown Franklin (est. 1809) is the oldest continuously operating lodge in Tennessee and was the site of a historic meeting between President Andrew Jackson and American Indian Tribes in 1830.
• The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway that runs through Franklin & Leiper’s Fork is the eighth most visited National Park in the United States.
• Franklin is the pilot city for the Mars Petcare BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ national initiative. Historic Main Street is lined with fresh dog bowls and features over 100 shops, businesses, and pet-friendly restaurants.
• Franklin is the 15th fastest-growing large city in the United States, growing over 32% since 2010.
• Franklin is home to 25% of Tennessee’s INC. 5000 companies, including over 200 national and international corporate headquarters.
• FirstBank Amphitheater is the only amphitheater located in a former rock quarry in North America.
More About Franklin
88,000
237,000
6,000+
ANNUAL EVENTS
APRIL
Main Street Festival
MAY
Nolensville Buttercup Festival
Franklin Rodeo
Tennessee Renaissance Festival
JUNE & JULY
Juneteenth Celebration
Franklin on the Fourth Bluegrass Along the Harpeth
AUGUST
Williamson County Fair
Southern Whiskey Society
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
Simmons Bank Open
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
Spring Hill Whole Hog Festival
PumpkinFest
NOVEMBER
Wine Down Main Street
Made South Holiday Market
Battle of Franklin Commemoration
DECEMBER
Franklin Tree Lighting & Christmas Parade
Dickens of a Christmas
Leiper’s Fork Christmas Parade
ONGOING EVENTS
YEAR-ROUND
Franklin Art Scene
first Friday of every month
Fox & Locke Open Mic Night each Thursday night
Studio Tenn Productions
Leiper's Fork Distillery StillHouse Sessions
SEASONAL
Music in the Vines & Bluegrass in the Barn at Arrington Vineyards
April through November
Wine & Cigar Night at Arrington Vineyards
May through October
Polo Matches at Tractor Supply Area
June through October
EVENTS CALENDAR
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival (top), Williamson County Fair (bottom left), Dickens of a Christmas (bottom right)
Things to Do
EXPLORE HISTORY
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
MCLEMORE HOUSE
African American museum that chronicles the struggles, triumphs, and significant contributions of African Americans in Williamson County
MARCH TO FREEDOM STATUE
Statue honoring USCT soldiers, located in Franklin’s Public Square
FRANKLIN ON FOOT
Walking tours through historic downtown Franklin focused on history, art, ghosts, food, and more
LANDMARK BOOKSELLERS
Located in one of the oldest buildings in Franklin, this bookshop was the inspiration for Karen Kingbury’s New York Times bestselling book The Bridge
SIP & SAVOR
ARRINGTON VINEYARDS
Middle Tennessee’s largest vineyard; co-owned 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
EXPERIENCE IT ALL
FRANKLIN HOP TROLLEY TOUR
Vintage trolley tour featuring live narration and five convenient hop-on, hop-off locations to explore at your own pace
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
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
LIVE MUSIC
THE FRANKLIN THEATRE
Classic 1930s era theatre that features an iconic neon marquee 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 that features headlining acts, a makers market, and more
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
FOX & LOCKE
Leiper’s Fork restaurant with live music most nights and a famed open mic night each Thursday where countless stars pop up and future stars are discovered
KIMBRO’S PICKIN’ PARLOR
Franklin’s own traditional juke joint featuring flowing drinks, good food, and nightly jams from songwriters
PUCKETT'S
A local favorite restaurant serving up an array of Southern dishes with a side of live music right in downtown Franklin
PICTURED
The Franklin Theatre (top), FirstBank Amphitheater (bottom left), Puckett's (bottom right)
“Best Places to Visit in Tennessee”
Accolades
“Most Romantic Towns”
“Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the U.S.”
“Top 25 Hotels in the South”
“40 Most Charming Small-town Downtowns in America”
“The South’s Best Kept Musical Secret”
“Little Cities that Think Big”
“Best Music Cities”
“The South’s Best Cities 2025”
“The Best Cities to Vacation in Tennessee”
“The Best Christmas Towns in the U.S.”
“Best Places to Visit in the Fall for Peak Foliage”
“A Small Town Gem Near Nashville”
“Small-but-Mighty Music Towns in the South”
“3 Wellness Getaways to Rest This Year”
“The 25 Coolest Towns in America”
“Best Small Towns in Tennessee”
Story Ideas
TEN MILES FROM FRANKLIN, A WORLD OF ITS OWN
Just 10 miles from Franklin, Leiper’s Fork is a tiny village with a big personality. With a population of just over 600, it pairs fine art galleries with BBQ joints, antique stores with pickin’ corners, and sweeping countryside views in every direction. The village centers on gathering, with front porches, fire pits, and swings inviting conversation.
Fox & Locke anchors the community as a legendary music venue where Thursday open mic nights might feature a local songwriter or a Grammy winner. Beyond music, visitors explore shops like Patina Home & Garden, The Copper Fox Gallery, and the hidden Tornado Room speakeasy, or enjoy wine tastings and creekside dinners at Crown Winery. Leiper’s Fork encourages visitors to slow down and connect, offering a sense of place that feels genuine and unpolished.
HISTORY, FULLY TOLD: FRANKLIN’S PUBLIC SQUARE
Franklin’s Public Square serves as both a gathering place and a site of reflection through the “Fuller Story” initiative. Five historical markers illuminate often-overlooked chapters of the city’s past, including the 1867 riot, the square’s role in the sale of enslaved people, and the enlistment of U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War. The initiative began in 2017 when local pastors and community leaders came together to acknowledge Franklin’s complex history and work toward a more inclusive narrative. At the center of the square stands the March to Freedom statue, honoring the U.S. Colored Troops who enlisted at the courthouse. One of only a few such monuments in the nation and the first on public land, it invites education, reflection, and dialogue for residents and visitors alike.
THE BOOKSTORE THAT INSPIRED A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Landmark Booksellers, an independent bookstore located in one of downtown Franklin’s oldest buildings, inspired Karen Kingsbury’s New York Times bestselling novel The Bridge After moving to Franklin, the author was drawn to the shop and to its owners, Joel and Carol Tomlin, and their real-life love story. Kingsbury based her novel on the couple, and the book quickly rose to the top of the bestseller list before being adapted into a Hallmark holiday movie. Today, visitors can still meet Joel and Carol and experience the same welcoming bookstore that inspired the story.
MICHELIN-RECOGNIZED SUSTAINABILITY IN FRANKLIN
Sustainability is woven into how Franklin grows, preserves, and welcomes visitors. Southall Farm & Inn, a 425-acre luxury resort, blends heritage farming and regenerative practices into its daily operations. The resort is home to January, a restaurant that was awarded a prestigious MICHELIN Green Star for leading the industry in sustainable, eco-friendly practices.
Franklin also became Tennessee’s first LEED Silver-certified city in 2018 and remains one of only 10 Silver-certified cities worldwide, positioning Franklin as a leader in environmentally responsible development. The historic Franklin Theatre was Williamson County’s first LEEDcertified historic restoration, and newer developments like Harpeth Square have followed with the same certification. FirstBank Amphitheater has also been recognized with the Tennessee Governor’s Award for Environmental Stewardship for its plastic-free, zero-landfill initiatives and reclamation of the former quarry site.
A SMALL TOWN WITH GLOBAL SOUND
Music is part of daily life in Franklin, home to some of the most influential names in the industry. In the historic 16-block downtown alone, more than a dozen venues host live performances, from restaurants like Gray’s on Main and Puckett’s to late-night favorites like Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor. The 1930s-era Franklin Theatre is widely regarded as one of the best 300-seat music venues in the world, while songwriters behind radio hits perform on stages throughout town.
Just outside downtown, Fox & Locke in Leiper’s Fork is known for its legendary Thursday open mic nights, where emerging artists often share the stage with Grammy winners. Franklin’s 7,500-seat FirstBank Amphitheater, set inside a former rock quarry, is the only venue of its kind in North America. Music history also runs deep at the famous Dark Horse Recording Studio and the nearby WSM tower, which has broadcast the Grand Ole Opry for a century. Each September, the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival brings world-class acts to Franklin, earning national praise for its carefully curated lineups and culture-forward experience.
WRITE YOUR STORY
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS (615) 550-8696
matthew@visitfranklin.com
400 Main Street, Ste 200, Franklin, TN 37064
SARAH ERICKSON
MARKETING CONTENT MANAGER (615) 392-5340
sarah@visitfranklin.com
400 Main Street, Ste 200, Franklin, TN 37064