THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY MAGIC ON MAIN
Kickoff event to take place Nov. 27 at 4 p.m. on Main St.
(FRANKLIN, Tenn.) – The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN and its division, the Downtown Franklin Association (DFA), have partnered with Visit Franklin and the City of Franklin to celebrate Holiday Magic on Main during the Christmas season.
Downtown Franklin is not to be missed at Christmastime and this year America’s Favorite Main Street district will be celebrating Christmas safely, with shopping options for unique gifts from locally-owned retailers, a variety of restaurants perfect for memorable family meals and plenty of spots throughout downtown Franklin to take that perfect keepsake photo.
Heritage Foundation CEO Bari Beasley said, “There’s no doubt the pandemic has affected everything about how we work, how we interact and even how we celebrate. Our Holiday Magic on Main promotion offers residents and visitors the chance to celebrate the winter holidays by spending time with their loved ones in our beautiful downtown district, making memories at our unique restaurants and shopping for distinctive gifts at our locally owned shops.”
Holiday Magic on Main will kick off Nov. 27 with the lighting of the iconic NOEL sign atop the White Building at Main St. and Fifth Ave. and a ceremony at 4 p.m. that will conclude with Franklin Mayor Ken Moore reading a proclamation in honor of the event. On Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, many participating downtown merchants will offer special discounts, promotions and showcase holiday window displays. The DFA is working with the TMA Group, Franklin’s public transportation service, to offer free shuttles between Downtown Franklin and The Factory, 230 Franklin Rd., every Saturday during this promotion from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shuttles will run on Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.
Downtown Franklin Association Main Street Director Jill Burgin noted the free shuttle offers flexibility for people to park at The Factory and shop there and in Downtown Franklin. “With the road work going on along Franklin Rd., we want to do everything possible to make the shopping experience easier,” Burgin said. “The National Retail Federation reports that more people will be Christmas shopping earlier this year, to avoid crowds and to bypass any shipping delays they may experience online. We want to support that and highlight the variety of shopping options available in Downtown Franklin.”
Another favorite annual downtown event will look different this year: the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree on the public square. This year the tree lighting will be virtual, with the return of The Shindellas along with the Freedom Intermediate School Choir and other special guests for a fun virtual program to air Thanksgiving evening on the city’s social media channels and Franklin TV. Citizens are invited to watch the tree lighting online after their Thanksgiving meal and visit downtown later that evening and throughout the Holiday Magic on Main season to see the beautifully lit Christmas tree on the square.
Holiday Magic on Main also will feature pop-up appearances by everyone’s favorite Dickens characters as well as period dancers and live musicians performing Christmas music. For schedule updates, follow our social media accounts, @downtownfranklintn on Instagram, @downtown.franklin on Facebook and our website: www.downtownfranklintn.com/holidaymagic.
About the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN
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 and the Old, Old Jail. The Foundation brings county history to about 3,000 school children each year through the Heritage Classroom program as well as walking tours of downtown Franklin. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas bring hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to downtown Franklin each year. The Heritage Foundation owns and operates The Franklin Theatre, the Downtown Franklin Association, and the organization’s newest division and current restoration project, Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit www.williamsonheritage.org.
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