FRANKLIN, TN – The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN’s 34th annual Dickens of a Christmas presented by First Citizens National Bank will return to downtown Franklin on Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018.

“True to downtown Franklin’s Victorian architecture, Dickens of a Christmas allows visitors to step back in time and experience the era of Charles Dickens and his famous characters,” said Bari Beasley, CEO of the Heritage Foundation. “Our hope is that families can enjoy a special holiday experience while supporting our mission to protect and preserve Williamson County’s rich history.”

Dickens of a Christmas activities include:
• Vintage craft demonstrations
• 150 arts and craft vendors
• Food trucks and street food vendors
• Live entertainment
o Guitar Center Main Stage, 1st Avenue Stage and 4th Avenue Stage
o Roaming carolers
o Town Sing – Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.
• Victorian characters strolling downtown
• Photo opportunities
• Kids’ zone
• Contests
o Festive Victorian beard contest, sponsored by Lucky Scruff
o Victorian costume contest

This year, there will also be a new app to help visitors maximize their experience and easily locate different activities. The app will launch in the Google Play store and Apple App Store by Dec. 1.

Dickens of a Christmas is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Some attractions will involve a small fee.

Park n’ride shuttle service locations to be announced soon.

Sponsors and key supporters include First Citizens National Bank, City of Franklin, The Heritage at Brentwood, GSRM Law, Hyundai of Cool Springs, MARS Petcare, Guitar Center, Lucky Scruff, Mix 92.9 and JACKfm.

About The Heritage Foundation
Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN has been dedicated to protecting and preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic and cultural heritage and promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Notable projects include The Franklin Theatre, Roper’s Knob, parts of the Franklin battlefield and the Old, Old Jail. The Foundation brings county history to about 3,000 public, private and homeschooled children each year through the Heritage Classroom program and walking tours of downtown Franklin. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas bring hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to the county each year. The Heritage Foundation owns and operates The Franklin Theatre and has two other divisions including the Main Street Program, Downtown Franklin Association and Next Gen, a segment of its membership base for those aged 21-40. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit williamsonheritage.org.