Dickens of a Christmas is Franklin's most beloved holiday tradition. It turns downtown into a Victorian-style winter festival and gives the city exactly the kind of seasonal event you'd expect from a place that takes history and charm seriously.
What It Is
The event typically runs over a weekend in December and fills downtown Franklin with costumed performers, carolers, craft vendors, food, live music, and street performances. The setting makes sense here because Franklin's downtown already looks like a period piece.
What to See
You'll see Santa, holiday lights, old-fashioned costumes, theater groups, local vendors, and families moving through the streets in a way that feels festive rather than commercialized.
Insider Tips
Go early if you can. Dress warmly. Expect crowds. Park outside the busiest core and walk in. And if you have kids, let them treat it like a parade day because that's basically what it is.
Why It Matters
Dickens of a Christmas is one of the clearest examples of how Franklin uses its downtown as an actual community space. It is seasonal, nostalgic, and genuinely local in a way most holiday events are not.
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