August is known as back-to-school time in Williamson County, but did you know that you can go “back to school” on Main Street?
Many Downtown Franklin Association member merchants offer classes on a variety of topics. Some are free, but some charge a fee. Please check the store websites and social media or call for details before you sign up.
Yarrow Acres on Main Street offers multiple opportunities to learn about plants and take some with you in the Happy Hour with Plants class series. One of their most popular events is the Make and Take Terrarium class. They have Mommy and Me classes as well for you to “sow the seeds” of plant knowledge for your kids. 424 Main Street (615) 591-7090
A couple blocks away, Onyx and Alabaster home interiors market and design studio has launched their successful Inspiration Series, where you can register to hear authors and influencers share their thoughts on a wide range of topics.
134 2nd Avenue North (615) 628-8253
Every visit to Landmark Booksellers is a learning experience. If you ask owners Joel and Carol Tomlin, Carol will guide you to just the right book to match your interests, and Joel will test your knowledge of Southern authors by challenging you to name all 22 writers in the photos on the bookshop wall. Check their website for book club meetings and book signing events.
114 East Main Street (615) 791-6400
Just around the corner, the Historic Franklin Masonic Hall is one of Franklin’s most captivating landmarks and a treasure trove of information. They offer an author series, have scheduled a symposium in the fall, and an ongoing preservation series in which skilled preservationists, craftsmen, architects and historians demonstrate various building techniques of the 19th and 20th centuries and lead interactive workshops allowing attendees to explore the hall.
115 2nd Avenue North (615) 584-4523
Afterward, catch a wine tasting at JJ’s Wine Bar, where they serve wine, cocktails and tapas in a historic home at the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue. You can sign up on their website to be notified of upcoming tastings. 206 East Main Street (615) 942-5033
While not technically inside the 16-block historic district, Carnton is the site not only of one of Franklin’s most historic homes but also of lectures and programs for students and Scout groups. DFA member The Battle of Franklin Trust, which operates the historic home, also hosts a podcast called Tenn in 20, where historians discuss various aspects of Tennessee history in 20 minutes.
1345 Eastern Flank Circle (615) 794-0903
Finally, classes are the thing at Craft Love, a DIY workshop located off Columbia Avenue where you can use their tools to test your talent. Check their website to sign up for a public workshop or host your own girls night out, corporate event, team building, birthday, or private event.
107 Confederate Drive (615) 447-8510