December Holidays in Franklin, NC

It’s finally here, the last month of the year! December days bring us holiday parties, festive decor, Christmas trees covered in ornaments, lighted Menorahs, the most amazing food, and the chance to enjoy all of it with our family and friends. Be sure to visit Main Street in Downtown this month to see all of the spectacular decorations and holiday window displays. Both the Town of Franklin and the Main Street Merchants have worked tirelessly to create an atmosphere with holiday spirit you can feel with every step you take along the sidewalk. So come downtown and support local as part of your holiday traditions. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season.

For those still trying to find that perfect venue or catering for your December gatherings, Gracious Plates On Main welcomes you to one of our tables, or in fact to as many tables as you need, in order to bring your co-workers, friends or family together in one place to celebrate the holidays. Contact us for custom Catering and Event Hosting at (828) 369-2690.
We also have the perfect stocking stuffer for every member of the family. This holiday season, our gift cards are Buy $25, Get $5 FREE! Everyone will love waking up on Christmas Day to find their very own gift card for the best farm-to-table experience in Western North Carolina!

Gracious Plates On Main is open 7 days a week with all of your favorite Farm-to-Table dishes, unique cocktails, and premium wines. 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!

Shop Local This Holiday Season
Downtown Franklin 

“Shop Local” is a fairly common term these days, but we hear it so much that we don’t often stop to think about what it truly means anymore. It means different things to different people, but some of the definitions are deeper than others. Shop Local means a family that’s lived in our town for generations gets to continue to live in the home their great grandparents built. Shop Local means that even though Franklin is growing, we can keep the small town feel that’s created by our network of small businesses. Shop Local means receiving the best customer service you can get, hands-down. And this Holiday season, Shop Local means you’re helping local business owners provide Christmas gifts for their own families while you get the perfect gifts for yours, too. So this December, as you purchase decorations, gifts, food, and other holiday essentials, consider visiting the small businesses first and Shop Local whenever you can!

Weekly Wine Tasting
Gracious Plates on Main
Wednesday Evenings ~ 5:30-7:30pm
Every Wednesday, Gracious Plates On Main welcomes a guest Sommelier from a different wine distributor and offers a guided wine tasting at individual tables throughout dinner service. Joining Wine Club and attending the tastings are both free.

Watercolor Wednesdays with Maryellen Tully
Uptown Gallery
Wednesdays ~ 4:15-6:00pm
Join fellow artists of this translucent medium in a step
by step approach of delightful seasonal subject matter.
All levels are welcome. These classes are led by instructor
Maryellen Tully. Libations and snacks are also
welcomed!!! Materials list is available.
Class fee $30members/$40nonmembers
Materials fee: $20.00 if not provided by student.
Email, mtully1001@gmail.com to RSVP

Thursday Painters - FREE
Uptown Gallery
Thursdays ~ 10:00am-2:00pm
Join MCAA Member Artists at the Uptown Gallery from 10am-2pm every Thursday for a fun time! Bring a bagged lunch and your art project that you would like to work on. Bring your own art materials, as this is a free and open to the public event. Contact Pat Mennenger at 28734pm@gmail.com for any questions.

Trivia
Rathskeller Coffee Bar & Pub
Wednesday Evenings
Rathskeller Coffee Bar & Pub hosts Trivia every Wednesday evening, 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!

Annual Christmas Parade
Main Street - Downtown Franklin
December 1 ~ 3:00pm - 5:00pm
A wonderful tradition falling on the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the procession of the Franklin Christmas Parade. The Parade floats will line up on Church Street, entering Main Street through Town Hall’s parking lot. The parade will continue down Main Street, turning left onto Porter Street at the Lazy Hiker, then turning left again onto Palmer Street at the red light and ending at the Highlands Road Intersection. The parade will feature fire trucks, EMS, police cars, floats, trucks, cars and walkers.

Book Club
A Novel Escape
December 6 ~ 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!

Three Times A Lady Christmas
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
December 6 ~ 7:00pm
Together called “Three Times A Lady,” Singer/ songwriters Kennedy Scott, Victoria Camp and Hannah Blaylock present the most timeless show in country music. Initially starting out as a just-for-fun tribute to their all time favorite “Trio” albums (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris), the combo grew artistically as the girls started playing their own original songs and adding in their own trio-inspired covers.
Between them they have toured nationwide with the best in the business such as Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lady A and Blake Shelton as well as performing on the Opry 20+ times. Already, the trio is playing across the country including iconic venues such as The Mulehouse Theatre, a residency at the iconic 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN, and a 6-week long residency in Dollywood at the Showstreet Palace Theater.
They also just released their first record “Three Times A Lady: Live at 3rd & Lindsley”. Their show is filled with captivating storytelling and top notch songs from their catalogs which include works like “Married Alone” album title track by Sunny Sweeney & Vince Gill, Grammy nominated album title track “Stronger Than The Truth” by Reba McEntire and top 20 radio hit “Amen”.

Winter Wonderland
Main Street - Downtown Franklin
December 7 ~ 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Join with the Town of Franklin as we ring in the holidays with Winter Wonderland. Winter Wonderland is held on the two consecutive Saturdays after Thanksgiving from 5:00 to 8:00 each evening. Remember, our Downtown Merchants are open late with great gift ideas for everyone on your shopping list! And Gracious Plates On Main will be serving dinner and cocktails both inside the restaurant and outside on the patio until 9:00pm.
You'll find there's no holiday quite like a mountain holiday in Franklin, NC, so bring the family and enjoy all the music, lights, fun and holiday cheer of Winter Wonderland in Historic Franklin, North Carolina. Winter Wonderland is held rain or shine but subject to snow.

Once Upon A Christmas Star
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
December 13 & 14 ~ 7:00pm
Emily is excited, for this Christmas it is her first turn to place the star on top of the family Christmas tree, however, in all the confusion of the holiday preparations, the star has become lost. While searching for the star, Emily must face the emotions of excitement, disappointment and discovers the realization that family is one of the greatest gifts one can receive.
Told through traditional and sacred songs, dance and stories. Presented by the Overlook Theatre Company and friends.

Christmas With Mark Lowry & Friends
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
December 21 ~ 7:00pm
The musical soundtrack of Mark Lowry’s childhood rang rich with beautiful family harmonies, so it’s no surprise that his love for that same harmony has only grown with age. As a singer, songwriter, author, and humorist, Mark Lowry is best known for penning the lyric to the Christmas classic “Mary Did You Know?” and singing baritone for the Grammy Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band for many years. Lowry, who’s entertained audiences since he was 11 years old, has a unique gift of communicating profound Biblical truths through music and storytelling. His life’s work features a large catalog of diverse projects including many videos, books, and CDs. Join Mark this Christmas Season as he presents a night of music, laughter and special memories.

New Year’s Eve Ruby Drop
Main Street - Downtown Franklin
December 31 ~ 9:00pm & Midnight
The New Year’s Eve Ruby Drop has become one of Franklin’s favorite holiday traditions. This year marks the 11th anniversary the Crabtree family, with help from the Town of Franklin, has sponsored the New Year’s Eve Ruby Drop. The 10th Annual Ruby Drop, sponsored by Motor Company Grill and Crabtree General Store & Coffee Vault, will ring in the New Year with two ruby drops:
one at 9:00 p.m. and one at midnight to officially welcome in 2024. Gracious Plates On Main will be open for dinner and drinks until 9:00PM.