Your 48-Hour Christmas Itinerary in Franklin, Tennessee

Featured in this Article:

Christmas Events in and near Franklin, TN
Where to Eat in Franklin, TN
More Things to Do in and near Franklin, TN
 

Dickens of a Christmas is the centerpiece of Franklin's holiday season. Historic Main Street provides a perfect stage for an event which features many folks dressed as characters in Charles Dickens’ novels including the Ghost of Christmas Past, Ebenezer Scrooge and others from the classic A Christmas Carol. Combined with approximately 200 performers of all kinds playing accordions and singing Christmas carols, as well as vendors offering everything from handcrafted ornaments to warm cider, you will find all you need in downtown Franklin to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. A massive Christmas tree towers over the festivities and you won't venture far without seeing a live Christmas music performance like a minstrel quartet and violinists.

Historic Franklin Theatre

While in town, be sure to catch one of the Christmas movies in Historic Franklin Theatre's lineup running through December, including The Last Holiday, Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, This Christmas and more. This iconic theater first opened in 1937, and after an extensive renovation orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, the Franklin Theatre of today remains as much a centerpiece of the historic downtown as it was in its pre-World War II heyday. Local tip: Concerts, regularly held in the evenings, can be a hot ticket due to the limited seating and intimate setting of the theater. Look well ahead of your arrival to town for tickets to ensure yourself a seat. 

Leiper's Fork Parade - Leiper's Fork

Any visit to Historic Franklin begins in its preserved downtown, and any trip downtown begins at Frothy Monkey. Originally a 12South Nashville staple, Frothy Monkey opened its downtown Franklin location and quickly became a local favorite. With a menu that will satisfy and seasonal coffee blends that are roasted in Nashville, it’s easy to see why. For so many living in and visiting Franklin, Frothy Monkey is the first-stop fuel up spot for work or play.

Culaccino Italian Restaurant + Bar

For brunch (served daily until 2:30 p.m.), lunch and dinner, pop into Culaccino Italian Restaurant and Bar for made-from-scratch pastas, an extensive wine menu and delicious desserts. You can't go wrong with their woodfired pizzas and craft cocktails as well. Local ingredients are sourced from nearby farms in Murfreesboro, Leiper's Fork and McEwen, Tennessee.

Red Pony Restaurant

If you're looking for a cozy place to grab dinner, visit Red Pony Restaurant for flavorful dishes like shrimp and grits, smoked bison short rib and grilled salmon. Start off your meal with a bang by ordering the succulent grilled lamb chops, pork belly Brussels sprouts and the stuffed poblano pepper.

Gray's on Main

Anyone who’s traveled the Tennessee Whiskey Trail through Middle Tennessee knows that Leiper’s Fork Distillery is a crown jewel in the state’s whiskey heritage. This family-owned, small batch distillery offers an extensive tour and tasting, teaching you how to “chew” whiskey in their tasting room. You'll get the distinct feeling that this distillery is part of something much older than the barrel aged spirits in the bottle. Maybe it’s because the namesake of their Hunter’s Select rode with Andrew Jackson to fight the British in the Battle of New Orleans. Or, maybe it’s because their signature bourbon and Tennessee whiskey is aging as we speak, and in a few years will undergo the Lincoln County process, that most distinct and defining step in making a true Tennessee whiskey.

Battle of Franklin Tours: Carter House and Carnton

Any understanding of Franklin’s identity as a city and its place in American history begins on the Franklin battlefield. In late 1864, toward the end of the Civil War, this quaint Southern town became the scene for one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. At the Carter House, learn the harrowing story of the Carter family, whose home and farm became the battle’s grisly epicenter. At Carnton, an historic mansion with grounds that served as the Confederate right flank, learn about the wounded soldiers who were cared for inside the home’s walls with their blood permanently staining the wooden floors and see many of their final resting places in the cemetery on the grounds.

Kimbros Pickin’ Parlor

Situated just two short blocks off Franklin’s Main Street and within walking distance of downtown, Kimbros Pickin’ Parlor is an historic-home-turned-music-venue that you will not want to miss. Attending a show here is more like an intimate house concert, like being a guest at a friend’s place who happens to know famous artists and musicians of the music industry.

Franklin, Tennessee is a perfect Christmas getaway for you and your family and friends. Find even more holiday festivals, places to visit and more festive fun in Tennessee.