Saturdays • November 30th & December 7th
5:00pm to 8:00pm • Downtown Franklin, North Carolina
Join with the Town of Franklin as we ring in the holidays with Winter Wonderland. These annual events are held on the two Saturdays after Thanksgiving from 5:00 pm to 8:00 each evening.
Plus, you'll be able to enjoy enhanced holiday decor throughout the season with many great photo opportunities throughout the downtown area.
We're updating information on this year's festivities often, so keep scrolling for more information and check back soon. You can also find the latest information on our Facebook Page.
As a reminder, Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic both nights of Winter Wonderland with parking along Main Street closing at 4:00 p.m. Plenty of free parking is located throughout the downtown area and detours will be clearly marked related to street closures.
November 30th Schedule
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Free Carriage & Wagon Rides
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Meet Santa!!
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Small Business Saturday™ (Downtown Businesses Open Late!)
6:30 pm - Live Sounds of the Season with "Generations" at the Gazebo
7:00 pm - Franklin's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
7:15 pm - Merchant sponsored Candlelight Service (Nativity Scene)
December 7th Schedule
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Free Old Fashioned Hay Rides
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Meet Santa!!
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Free Axe Throwing
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Food Vendors featuring Ben's Backdraft BBQ, Thai Spice, Lazy Hiker, Slanted Window, and Red's Lemonade, just to name a few.
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Rankin Square (across from courthouse) - Macon Early College will be offering Free Letters to Santa, Read to Me will be handing out books, and more!
7:00 pm - Free Movie - ELF - Shown in lower level parking lot of Franklin Town Hall (95 East Main Street). Bring a lawn chair, blanket, etc., and enjoy this holiday comedy classic with your family! (97 minutes / Rated PG)
* Schedules subject to change / Weather Permitting
Keep scrolling for detailed information of both evenings of Winter Wonderland in Downtown Franklin, NC!
tree lighting ceremony • Nov. 30th • 7:00 PM
The Town of Franklin, North Carolina officially kicks off the holiday season with the first night of Winter Wonderland. Our Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm on Saturday, November 30th. The Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place at the Gazebo on the Square in Downtown Franklin.
The ceremony is sure to be very special this year as we will have Judie Lau, surviving spouse of Deputy Jim Lau, officially lighting the tree. A fitting way to honor Jim and his many years of service to the communities he served.
FREE CARRIAGE RIDES • November 30th • 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Take a free carriage ride during the first night of Winter Wonderland! This is a perennial favorite of young and older alike. Those wishing to take a spin can board in front of the Macon County Courthouse on Main Street across from the Gazebo on the Square. These free rides will be offered this year the first night only (November 30) from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY™ • November 30th
The Town of Franklin is honored to again be a Neighborhood Champion of Small Business Saturday. We encourage you to Shop Small and Shop Local all season long!
Merchant Sponsored Candlelight Ceremony • Nov. 30th • 7:15 PM
Immediately following the Town of Franklin's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, merchants will present the Annual Candlelight Service on the Speaker's Corner at the Macon County Courthouse. The event will be led by Rev. Dr. Vic Greene & Rev. Janet Greene.
visit with jolly ole st. nick! • Both Nights!
Yes indeed! Santa will be making appearances both nights of Winter Wonderland! His visit is always a special time as he takes to the streets to spread cheer and speak with the young ones about their holiday wishes. You'll find him along the streets of Downtown Franklin and inside our local merchants visiting with both young and young at heart!
Free Movie! ELF • December 7th • 7:00 pm • Town Hall Lower Parking Area
Enjoy a FREE HOLIDAY MOVIE under the stars during the second night of Winter Wonderland. We'll be showing the instant holiday comedy classic, "Elf", beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the lower level parking lot of Franklin Town Hall. Be sure to bring a lawn chair, blanket, etc., to enjoy this outdoor event.
About Elf
One Christmas Eve a long time ago, a baby crawled into Santa's bag of toys... Raised as an elf, Buddy (Will Ferrell) grows into an adult three times larger than the biggest elf - and realizes that he will never truly fit in at the North Pole. This holiday season, Buddy goes looking for his true place in the world - in New York City. Buddy finds his workaholic father (James Caan) - who's on Santa's "naughty" list, a new mother (Mary Steenburgen) and a 10-year-old brother who doesn't believe in Santa Claus or elves. Here, now, Buddy discovers his destiny - to save Christmas for New York and the world!
Run Time: 1h 37m
Rating: PG
Expanded Holiday Decor • Throughout the Season!
There will be photo ops galore during Winter Wonderland and anytime you visit Downtown Franklin, NC. It is a great time for family photos or a reminder of your special visit to Franklin!
You can also enjoy Franklin's holiday decor throughout the season from late November until just after the New Year.
