Happy Friday, Franklin. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! In today’s edition: Windy Hill Park opening, holiday lights, the 3rd annual local Christmas market, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Farm runway legacy preserved: Brentwood will open its 15th park, Windy Hill Park, with a ribbon cutting Dec. 13 at 10 a.m., featuring walking trails, an airplane-themed playground, and a mural — get all the details.

Community buzz and benefits: Nolensville’s new Publix at Village Green opened ahead of Thanksgiving, drawing about 200 for the Nov. 19 ribbon cutting. The 48,385-square-foot store features a deli, bakery, pharmacy, and more — read the full story.

Local home security reminder: Franklin Police offer a Vacation Patrol Service for residents traveling, with extra checks in marked vehicles. Requests are reviewed during business hours, and patrols are not guaranteed — see how to submit a request.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: Last week, my step-dad got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Annual plans are 55% off until Sunday — check it out here.

Highlights this week

• Grand Kyiv Ballet presents Swan Lake
• Guests enjoy discounted Skylight Bar happy hour
• Celebrate German Christkindlmarkt at tree lighting
• Explore Owl’s Hill by lantern light
• Shop festive crafts and holiday gifts
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals
• Pet parents: Don’t miss Chewy’s Black Friday sale

🫶 We got your back

Long-term roadwork impacts ahead: Heads up, Liberty Hills Drive at Liberty Pike will close starting Tuesday, Dec. 2 for a box culvert replacement tied to the Liberty Hills Stream Restoration Project. Expect a 12 to 14 week closure. Detours send drivers south via Liberty Hills Drive to Freedom Drive and North Royal Oaks Boulevard. See closure dates and detours.

Community holiday celebration returns: Franklin’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting is set for Friday, Dec. 5, 6 to 8 p.m. on the Square. Expect a 40-foot tree with 30,000 lights, free Santa photos, and headliner Matthew West. The tree flips on around 7:15. Nearby: a Sister Cities market and the Art Crawl. Livestream available. Downtown road closures apply. Find times, music, and closures.

Flip-worthy vinyl fix: Whether you’re after a crisp reissue, a well-loved classic with scuffs and stories, or cassettes that smell like nostalgia, Luna Record Shop keeps bins fresh, curated by two Franklin-native sisters who know their genres cold. Ideal for a quick lunchtime dig or a weekend victory lap.

Health drinks that don’t taste like grass: With tasty tea and matcha blends for everything from recovery and radiant skin to energy without the crash, a metabolism boost, and immune support, everything in Pique’s lineup tastes as good as it makes you feel. They’re clean, there are no additives, and all new monthly subscriptions are 20% off for liferight now. Yup… literally forever (or until you cancel).

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🕯 Candlelight: Tribute to Adele @ Conrad Nashville | Friday (11/28) at 8:45pm – Trade the Broadway bustle for candles, strings, and Adele at Conrad Nashville. A quartet tackles the big choruses while you sip, sway, and maybe cry a little, gracefully. Expect goosebumps, nostalgia, and actual seats, not barstools.

🍔 Food Truck @ Arrington Vineyards | Friday (11/28)at 12:00pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to lounge on a hillside with live jazz and carbs, this is it. The Lilliston Effect sets the mood while Mac Shack, Simply Living Life, and The Derby Desserts & Coffee handle mac, sweets, and coffee. Low-key bliss.

This weekend

🎄 3rd Annual Local Christmas Market @ The Gate Church | Saturday (11/29) at 9:00am – Whether you’re doing Small Business Saturday right or just chasing free cocoa and cider, Franklin’s Christmas market delivers. Live music, food trucks, a bouncy house, over 40 local makers, and a holiday-card-worthy photo backdrop await, all free, and delightfully low-fuss.

🚶 Marshmallow Hike @ Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary | Saturday (11/29) at 9:30am – Holiday cabin fever calls for a winter wander at Owl’s Hill, with hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows, and your dignity intact. Choose easy or moderate trails, departures are prompt, no pets or strollers. Book online to save, and yes, Noon Year’s Eve gets its kid-friendly toast.

🎸 Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA @ Conrad Nashville | Saturday (11/29) at 6:30pm – Take a break from Broadway and sink into candlelit glam at Conrad Nashville, where a string quartet pits Queen against ABBA, hit after hit. Expect 60 minutes of pure nostalgia, big harmonies without the amps, and impeccable vibes. Your inner Dancing Queen will thank you.

✨ Holiday Lights @ Cheekwood | Sunday (11/30) at 4:30pm – Cheekwood turns into a glowing winter escape with more than a million lights wrapped around a dreamy one-mile trail. Sip cocoa, toast s’mores, browse the Holiday Marketplace, and wander through the mansion decked out in stunning seasonal décor. It’s a Nashville holiday tradition that delivers all the sparkle and nostalgia you could want.

⚔️ 161 Anniversary of the Battle of Franklin @ The Crag Franklin | Sunday (11/30) at 4:30pm – Nothing says Franklin like honoring history on the lawn where it happened. Lotz House marks the 161st with a morning battlefield walk led by Thomas Cartwright, an illumination at 4:30 p.m., and a tip of the hat to Matilda Lotz turning six the day before.

🎵 Walking the Line and Gold Dust Woman Double Tribute Experience @ The Mockingbird Theater | Sunday (11/30) at 7:00pm – Black tees and fringe, please, The Factory’s serving a double hit of nostalgia. First Johnny Cash’s grit, then Stevie Nicks’ shimmer, all the classics from Folsom Prison Blues to Dreams, performed with heart, twang, and zero cheese. For locals who prefer quality over hokey tributes.

Next week

🦢 Swan Lake @ Williamson County Performing Arts Center at Academy Park | Monday (12/1) at 7:00pm – Whether you can hum Tchaikovsky or just want an excuse to dress up, Swan Lake glides into the Williamson County Performing Arts Center with Grand Kyiv Ballet, lavish sets, and serious swoon. It’s date-night-worthy, sitter-worthy, and the swans get more cardio than my gym membership.

🎶 Elmer’s Tunes Tuesday (Adults 55+ daytime party!) at Whiskey Room Live – Franklin, TN @ Whiskey Room Live inside King’s Bowling | Tuesday (12/2) at 12:00pm – If you prefer your classic hits before sunset, Whiskey Room Live hosts a 55-plus daytime shindig where Dennis Elmer’s dueling pianos meets cocktail lounge, rolling through the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Sing along, make friends, and lunch is included, soda, tip, and tax. Alcohol extra.

🍷 Sips and Stories Happy Hour Tour @ Factory at Franklin | Tuesday (12/2) at 5:45pm – Trade your bar stool for a buzzed history lesson at The Factory. Grab a drink at The Skylight, then stroll with their historian through indoor and outdoor stops, rain or shine. It’s happy hour with context, comfortable shoes, and fewer awkward bar stories.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 11/28 The Eye of @ Category 10 – 2:30 pm
• 11/29 Renata The Band @ Category 10 – 11 am
• 12/4 Annie Lee Rose and more @ The Mockingbird Theater – 7 pm
• 12/5 Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and more @ The Blue Room – 7 pm
• 12/6 Jazz Brunch 2025 @ Fisher Center – 10:30 am
• 12/7 Solo Piano Christmas @ Miller Piano Specialists – 2 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Franklin edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Carrie Prickett (Compass RE)

On 4+ acres minutes to Cool Springs and I-65, a gated hilltop retreat framed by four-board fencing, an iron door, and sweeping Williamson County views. Sunlit spaces pair soaring ceilings with an open plan. The gourmet kitchen hides a walk-in pantry behind floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and is outfitted with top-tier appliances. The main-level suite brings dual closets and a spa bath, the tub gets front-row seats to the hills.

Retractable wall opens to pool and patio for effortless indoor outdoor living. Four bedrooms plus a lower level with private entrance. Franklin address, panoramic views, no HOA, rare privacy near everything.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →