Franklin is a feeling.  It is a sense of belonging to a small but growing community.  It is where people work hard to run a business, raise their family and contribute to the good of their county.  It is where we roll up our sleeves and work hard to better the place we live; all while we advocate for one another.

My husband and I own two businesses in Franklin – the Williamson Herald, our hometown newspaper, and Southern Exposure Magazine.

Our official residence is in Brentwood and where we lay our heads down after a busy day.  But, as anyone who knows us will tell you, the majority of the time we work, play and live in Franklin.

I was honored to have the opportunity to join the Heritage Foundation Board in May and be part of a focus group where we were asked: “What makes Franklin so special?” Most of us said, “It’s just a feeling; a sense of pride as your drive through Main Street and downtown Franklin and smile to yourself that this is the city you are lucky enough to be a part of.

Part of that feeling comes from our traditions.  The festivals put on by The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County: Dickens of a Christmas, Pumpkinfest, Main Street Festival are all part of the fabric of our Franklin memories.

Maggie Jones, Natalie Myers, Derby Jones and Ben Myers, Dickens Festival 2015

I have pictures of my two kids through the years attending these downtown festivals with friends and family.  These events have become part of our lifestyle here in Franklin.  We know how special these festivals are to our heritage and how they enhance the feeling of family and community for all of us.

Dickens of a Christmas will be held this year on Saturday and Sunday, December 9th and 10th.  Each year the goal of the Heritage Foundation is to make Dickens a magical experience for everyone.

Characters in period attire sing carols in the street and remind us of a simpler time that involved a slower pace.  This year an ice skating rink will be added outside City Hall to inspire “kids” of all ages to capture that magical holiday feeling.

Make plans this year to attend Dickens of a Christmas and savor the time spent within your community engaging in fellowship with each other and celebrating our traditions that give us that “Franklin feeling.”