Summer in Franklin, Kentucky starts with our Summer Nights Concert Series and this year is an extra special one. Summer Nights is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season so lots of fun at the concerts is expected. Our season kicked off June 16th but will run through August. The concerts are free to the public, and each one is a family-friendly night of music, good food, and dancing. We bring old-style country, classic rock, R&B, Motown, and modern-day country to our courthouse bandstand so you better dust off your dancing shoes and bring them along with you. Come downtown a little early and shop with our downtown merchants, grab a bite to eat at one of our local restaurants, or just set your chair up early and grab dinner from one of the food trucks that will be there. The giant shade trees on the lawn will provide plenty of shade while you eat, socialize with friends, and wait for the band to start. Our 2023 Summer Nights Concert Series is presented by Franklin-Simpson Renaissance and sponsored by Simpson County Tourism, Franklin Bank & Trust, Hunt Ford, and EH Harris Lumber Company. “During the summer we host a variety of events on our downtown square and most of them are free. Our courtyard and downtown are beautiful and a perfect setting for concerts, music festivals, and special events for kids and families,” said Kim Roberts, Executive Director of Franklin-Simpson Renaissance. “It is worth your while to come early and do some shopping with our local merchants. The variety of shops is endless, and the merchants just love seeing old and new faces.”
Each concert starts at 7pm and usually wraps up around 9pm. Lawn chair rentals are available each night. The August schedule kicks off on the 11th with well-known Tyrone Dunn and Kinfoke playing R&B for everyone to sing along and dance to. Buelers Day Off will perform on August 18th, singing a lot of your favorite classic rock tunes.
Several events are planned to coincide with the concerts this summer. On August 11th, the F-S Chamber of Commerce will host the Garden Spot ½ Mile Kids Run before Tyrone Dunn makes his appearance. The run is the kickoff event for the Garden Spot 5K Run on Saturday morning, August 12th. Summer Vibes Music Festival will be on August 26, and will begin with a songwriters showcase from 1pm to 3pm. This year’s headliner for Summer Vibes is nationally-known Smash Mouth taking the big stage on the street along with four other local and regional bands. September 15th, the Sidewinders will be on the bandstand for the Franklin-Simpson Renaissance Car Show Cruise-In.
“Franklin is growing, and our events are a big part of that. We are a cool little town with a big heart, and we know how to put on events. I take pride in our historic downtown district and look forward each year to planning things that the entire family can enjoy while focusing on the activities people say they want,” said Mrs. Roberts.
-submitted by Franklin-Simpson Renaissance
