Every year in Franklin · December
Christmas in Franklin 2026
The tree on the Square, the parade, Dickens on Main Street and the rest of the season, in the order they come, each with its own page.
The season
In the order they come.
FrankTown Festival of Lights
Williamson County Ag Expo Park. A drive-through light show at the Ag Expo Park: about a mile and a half of more than 200 displays set to music on your car radio, with a lit tree, fire pits and a food truck at the end. The money goes to FrankTown Open Hearts, a Franklin nonprofit for young people at risk.
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Historic Downtown Franklin. The city lights the 40-foot tree in the middle of the Public Square, with school choirs, carolers and performers, free photos with Santa, and a livestream on the city’s Facebook and YouTube pages. About 10,000 people come.
Franklin Christmas Parade
Historic Downtown Franklin. Floats, bands and Santa through downtown on the Saturday after the tree lighting. Walkers beside the floats hand out candy; nobody throws it. The 2026 route runs the opposite way to recent years: it starts at 11th Avenue and West Main, comes east along Main to the Public Square, turns north on 3rd Avenue North to Bridge Street, then runs west on Bridge Street and Highway 96 to finish on New Highway 96 West.
Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm. Children decorate a treat bag, then hunt for candy canes by flashlight at the barn at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm, with hot chocolate and cookies after. For ages 2 to 12; bring your own flashlight.
Dickens of a Christmas
Historic Downtown Franklin. A Victorian Christmas on Main Street: Dickens characters from Scrooge and Tiny Tim to Fagin, carolers and dancers in a Victorian Village, story times, Father and Mother Christmas with treats for children, food and craft vendors, and a closing Town Sing. The Heritage Foundation bills 2026’s as the 41st.
Downtown weekends
Where to park.
The city's two downtown garages, on 2nd Avenue (257 spaces) and 4th Avenue (333), are the nearest public parking for the events on Main Street and the Square, and the city's counter shows the open spaces in each, level by level. Each event's page has what its organizer says about closed streets and parking.
The weekend, every Thursday
Every December weekend, in your inbox.
Thursday's email has the weekend's picks, where to park and what it costs.