Small Town Christmas
The first Saturday of December brings the holiday season to life in downtown Franklin. The merchants’ windows are adorned with all things Christmas, thousands of lights will be shining around the courthouse lawn, and each corner of the historic downtown square will be decorated for the holidays. December 2 is the day when the community comes together to enjoy the fun of our annual Small Town Christmas celebration. Hot chocolate will be plentiful, and the Toyland Express will be tooting its horn, ready to give the kids a free train ride. Music is a staple to Franklin and Small Town Christmas is no exception. Multiple choirs will perform, and a band will be playing your favorite Christmas carols in between. With everything the day has to offer, we can’t forget about one of the most magical parts of the day… Santa Claus will make his appearance in Toyland to meet the kids and give them the opportunity to hand-deliver their Christmas wish list. The afternoon will end with the Kiwanis Christmas parade and the lighting of the community tree. The annual celebration is organized and sponsored by Franklin-Simpson Renaissance. This tradition has been going on for years. Renaissance looks forward to this because it is our goal is to make the beautiful, vibrant downtown a magical place for families to enjoy time together while making memories and traditions that will go on for years to come. Small Town Christmas is the kickoff to this. “I love making our little town a wonderland of lights. The lamp posts are wrapped with garland and big red bows, and other decorations give each corner its own theme. It’s a special place that I am always proud to call home. We invite families to our historic downtown to experience Small Town Christmas with us,” said Kim Roberts, Executive Director. For information on Small Town Christmas, visit www.franklinsimpsonrenaissance.com or the Franklin-Simpson Renaissance Facebook page for all the exact times and locations of the events.
Christmas Open House
November is the time in Franklin when our downtown merchants are eager to show off their new inventory for the holidays. Franklin has a big variety of shops that house everything from sporting goods to boutique-style clothing. The merchants look forward each year to seeing familiar faces, along with new ones, in their stores. When you need to warm up or take a break and grab a bite to eat, Millhouse Café is the place to go. Get your favorite coffee, pastries, sandwiches, soups, and other lunch favorites. If you want a bigger meal, the famous Brickyard Café has a menu of lunch and dinner options along with a full bar for your favorite cocktail. Shopping locally is very important to any small business. Your experience will be much more satisfying and personal than shopping online or with a big chain. The merchants will help you pick out that special decoration for your home or a special gift for someone on your Christmas list. “On behalf of the Franklin Downtown Merchants Association, thank you in advance for shopping with us and supporting our small businesses,” said Kim Roberts, Executive Director of Franklin-Simpson Renaissance. For more information on special downtown merchant events, visit their Facebook page.
-submitted by Franklin-Simpson Renaissance
