Franklin does the holidays on Main Street. The first weekend of December brings the tree lighting on the Square and the Christmas Parade back to back, and a week later Dickens of a Christmas comes to downtown Franklin. Here are the 2026 dates the organizers have posted so far. Organizers sometimes adjust times close to the date, so check their pages before you go.
Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square, Friday, December 4
- Date:
- Friday, December 4, 2026
- Place:
- The Square, downtown Franklin
The City of Franklin's annual events page lists the 2026 Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square for Friday, December 4, 2026. The city describes an evening with entertainment by local school children, musicians and performers, and a visit from Santa Claus. Check the city's page closer to the date for the start time and any parking notes.
Franklin Christmas Parade, Saturday, December 5
- Date:
- Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Time:
- 1:00 pm
- Place:
- Main Street, Historic Downtown Franklin
The next afternoon, the Christmas Parade comes down Main Street. The Downtown Franklin Rotary runs it, and its Christmas Parade page sets the 2026 parade for Saturday, December 5, at 1:00 pm. The city's calendar lists the parade on December 5 as well.
For the 2025 parade, streets closed an hour before the start. If this year works the same way, give yourself extra time to park and walk in, and pick your spot along Main Street early.
Main Street is a fitting route. It was named a Great American Main Street in 1995.
Dickens of a Christmas, December 12 and 13
- Date:
- Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, 2026
- Time:
- Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm
- Place:
- Main Street, Downtown Franklin
The 41st Dickens of a Christmas fills downtown Franklin on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, 2026. Our Dickens of a Christmas guide has the details, and the organizer's listing has the daily hours.
FrankTown Festival of Lights
- Date:
- Friday, November 20 to Thursday, December 31, 2026
- Time:
- 5 to 9 pm nightly
- Place:
- Williamson County Ag Expo Center
For a light show, FrankTown Festival of Lights sets up at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center. It runs nightly from 5 to 9 pm, Friday, November 20 through Thursday, December 31, 2026. On select Wednesdays, Walkin' Wednesdays let visitors walk the course from 5 to 6:30 pm. Visit Franklin describes it as a mile-and-a-half course of displays synced to music. Check the organizer's site before you go, since hours and special nights can shift during the season.
Westhaven and neighborhood lights
Westhaven is a planned neighborhood west of downtown on New Highway 96. Visit Franklin points to it for elegant white-light decor, and City Cast Nashville's holiday lights guide suggests pairing it with Princeton Hills, Fountainhead and McGavock Farms in Brentwood on the same night. The neighborhood has held a community tree lighting at Magli Green. In 2023 that tree stood 42 feet tall with more than 33,000 lights.
If you go for a drive, keep your headlights on low, pull fully over if you stop, and stay on public streets.
All of these dates, plus events in towns around Franklin, are on our Nashville-area holiday lights calendar.
Permanent roofline lighting for Franklin homes
Every Franklin roofline is a little different, from the older homes near the Square to the newer streets of Westhaven. A permanent system follows that roofline with LEDs set in a low channel under the eave, and it stays in place all year. From the app you can switch from a Christmas look to warm white, or to team colors on game day, with no ladder.
Expect the install itself to take 8 to 10 hours for most homes. At 6 to 12 hours a day, the system works out to about 10 to 20 years. On the coverage side, you get the manufacturer's 5-year product warranty and our installers' workmanship warranty.
Our Franklin permanent lighting page covers Franklin homes in more depth. When you are ready, start a quote online.