April showers bring May flowers, and boy are we looking forward to all of that vibrant color! But while it’s raining this month, you can stay dry at Gracious Plates on Main. Join us all month long to celebrate our 3rd anniversary with lots of great specials! Check them all out here.
Gracious Plates On Main is open 7 days a week with all of your favorite Farm-to-Table dishes, unique cocktails, and premium wines. As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time to dine on our patio and enjoy the sights and sounds of Main Street. Whether you’re dining inside or outside on our covered Main Street patio, you’ll find that our friendly service is the perfect finishing touch for any meal. And we’re committed to exceeding your expectations. Check out our list of local happenings below to see what else you’d like to do around town before or after you enjoy your next meal at Gracious Plates On Main!
Local Highlights
Riverwalk Grille Grand Opening
Join us on Monday, April 14, for the Grand Opening of Riverwalk Grille, Franklin’s premier steakhouse! Experience delicious food, great company, and a full bar in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Indulge in juicy grilled steaks, seafood cooked to perfection, and our signature stuffed burgers, packed with bold flavors and mouth watering ingredients. Whether you're looking for a casual bite or a special night out, Riverwalk Grille is the new place to be in town. Celebrate food and friendship with us as we bring top-quality dining to the heart of Franklin. Don’t miss this exciting event—come hungry and ready to enjoy an unforgettable meal!
Art Classes
Uptown Gallery
Various Dates
Each month, Uptown Gallery on Main Street offers a variety of fun and engaging classes for artists of all levels, from beginner to advanced. Learn watercolor painting, fused glass art, colored pencil art, jewelry design, and more. Check out their Facebook Events page to see all they have to offer this month.
Trivia
Rathskeller Coffee Bar & Pub
Various Dates
Rathskeller Coffee Bar & Pub hosts Trivia every other week, and the proceeds from the fun always go to a local nonprofit chosen by the winning team! They offer a full espresso bar, an array of craft beers, and fresh baked goods.
The Franklin Gem & Mineral Society
Educational Offerings
Various Dates
The Franklin Gem and Mineral Society is dedicated to sharing and promoting cultural, educational, and scientific interests in rocks, minerals, fossils, and the lapidary arts. This nonprofit offers youth education and activities through the JUNIOR ROCKHOUNDS for students, ages 7 through 17. The society also offers adult education, including field trips and classes. The museum is open Thursday-Saturday from 12:00-4:00pm.
Echoes of the Past Historic Ghost Tours
Downtown Franklin
Various Dates
Listen for “Echoes of the Past” and learn about the local legends of downtown Franklin, NC. Experience our histories and mysteries on an immersive walking tour through one of the most historically diverse and haunted places in America. From stories of pre-Columbian explorers to the Civil War to modern day, each one hour ghost tour is appropriate for all ages.
Yarn & Fiber Classes
Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Various dates
Silver Threads & Golden Needles is a friendly and fiber obsessed yarn shop located in the Historic Downtown shopping area of Franklin, North Carolina. Whether you are a local or taking a vacation in the Smoky Mountains, we are your one stop destination for all things yarn and fiber!
Book Club
A Novel Escape
April 3 ~ 6:30pm
On the first Thursday of every month, A Novel Escape hosts Book Club. It’s a fun group that delves into a variety of different genres, with each month’s book selected by popular vote. And to make it even better, each month’s chosen book is 15% at the bookstore!
Artisan Alley Spring Market
Town Hall on Main Street
April 5 ~ 9:00am - 2:00pm
Come out and see us at our temporary location in the Franklin Town Hall Parking lot. Tons of new exciting vendors plus all the amazing returning vendors. Everything from vintage antiques, handcrafted gifts to baked goods.
National Tartan Day
Scottish Tartans Museum and Heritage Center
April 5 ~ 11:00am - 2:00pm
Celebrate Scottish, Irish and English heritage as only those wearing the kilts and the Scottish Tartan Museum and Heritage Center can do. There will be music, food, games, and so much more.
The Wild World of Animals Live
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
April 5 ~ 7:00pm
Born in Lancaster, PA and reared in Miami, Grant Kemmerer became an enthusiastic animal advocate early on. Living so close to the ocean and the Everglades, Grant became a certified scuba diver, and then began guiding tours into the captivating Everglades, introducing people from all over the world to the ecosystem and its monarch, the alligator.
Grant has performed live animal programs in 37 states, trained animals for TV, and is a guest lecturer for one of the leading ecotourism companies in the world, often traveling to the Amazon and Galapágos Islands. Grant has been a guest on Martha Stewart Show, Meredith Vieira Show, Anderson Cooper, CBS Early Show, and Fox and Friends and has worked with Jim Fowler and Jack Hanna. He has supplied animals for such entities as the National Wildlife Federation, National Geographic, Animal Planet, Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Show with Jimmy Kimmel, Late Show with Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live, Rachel Ray, Wendy Williams, Maury Povich, Regis and Kelly all the way to Kelly and Ryan, Today Show, Good Morning America, Steve Harvey Show, Tyra Banks, Gale King, Fox and Friends.
An Evening of Worship with Jamie Grace
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
April 11 ~ 7:30pm
Jamie Grace is a Christian singer, songwriter and actress. Originally from Atlanta, the two-time GRAMMY nominee and Dove Award-winning artist got her start on YouTube when she was only 14-years-old, creating characters for original improv sketches and sharing acoustic covers of popular pop, country, and CCM/Gospel songs.
With nearly 1.5 million followers across social media, Jamie Grace actively advocates for joy, wellness and mental health through the lens of music, film and Faith. Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (OCD, ADHD and Anxiety) at a young age, her resilience gives her the fuel to create content regularly, including the release of her devotional “Wait It Out” as well as weekly videos and podcast episodes in an effort to encourage others.
With 4 #1 radio singles and a GOLD record before she was 25 years old, Jamie Grace’s music, videos and podcast episodes continue to inspire anyone who listens. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation to find their voice and be a part of creative avenues to share their voice.
“I write and produce pop music.I love Jesus, my family and tacos. I’m an independent artist from Atlanta.I have Anxiety, Tourette and ADHD almost everything I create is through the lens of finding joy, even when it seems impossible to find.”
Silent Book Club
A Novel Escape
April 17 ~ 6:30pm
Join us for an hour once a month and read silently amongst your fellow book lovers! There will be a "settle-in" period from 6:30-7pm, silent reading from 7-8pm, and a short exclusive shopping period from 8-8:30pm. Bring your pillow, blanket, or any other items to help you feel comfy while reading. Don't forget your book!
Artisan Alley Spring Market
Town Hall on Main Street
April 19 ~ 9:00am - 2:00pm
Come out and see us at our temporary location in the Franklin Town Hall Parking lot. Tons of new exciting vendors plus all the amazing returning vendors. Everything from vintage antiques, handcrafted gifts to baked goods.
The Civil War: The Musical Story of Us
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
April 24, 25, 26 ~ 7:00pm
Based on historical accounts, this gut-wrenching retrospective covers the enormous emotional landscape of a nation at war. Drawing on letters, diaries, firsthand accounts and the words of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Walt Whitman, The Civil War is a thrilling and awe-inspiring “dramatic theatrical concert.” The original Broadway production was nominated for multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and features an unforgettable score filled with Gospel, Country, Rock and Folk.
This epic thematic revue puts a human face on the greatest tragedy of American history. It explores the experiences of the soldiers and leaders who fought for their way of life. It also examines the lives of the loves and families whom they left behind, as well as the hopes and fears of the slaves whose freedom was at stake. This musical passionately asks us to consider our beliefs about freedom, honor and faith. Music by Frank Wildhorn, Lyrics by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd & Jack Murphy. Presented by the Overlook Theatre Company.
