Every year in Franklin · Christmas
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2026
Friday, December 4, 2026, at Historic Downtown Franklin.
- What it is
- 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.
- When it runs
- Friday, 6 to 8:30 p.m., on the city’s calendar. The 2026 program is not posted; in 2025 the festivities and Santa photos started at 6, the performances at 6:40, and the tree was lit at about 7:15.
- Where to park
- In 2025 the city marked free parking at the 2nd and 4th Avenue South garages, paid lots, accessible spaces around downtown and overflow parking at Bicentennial and Pinkerton parks, with no shuttle, and an accessible viewing area on the southeast side of the Square. Main Street, the Square and 3rd Avenue North and South closed for the evening. 2026’s maps are not out.
- What it costs
- Free, and the Santa photos were free in 2025. Kettle corn and hot drinks were for sale on the Square.
- The history
- Franklin’s first downtown Christmas tree went up in 1999, the Williamson Herald reported, and the first ceremonies were small enough to hold inside City Hall. The city holds it on the first Friday in December.
From the events calendar
On the calendar.
The events calendar lists Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and what goes with it once the organizers post the year's schedule. It is read every morning.
Christmas in Franklin
Every year, nearby on the calendar.
Sources
- City of Franklin: Calendar entry 14320
- City of Franklin: Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square
- City of Franklin: News release 11645
- City of Franklin: Event map
- City of Franklin: Event map
- Williamson Herald: O Christmas tree: Franklin’s annual tree lighting to take place Dec. 5
- City of Franklin: Annual Events & Festivals
The date is the City of Franklin's own rule for the event, worked out for 2026. A change the city announces replaces it here.
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