St. Patrick’s Day will bring the first green of spring to Downtown Franklin, with the return of the Main Street Brew Fest on Saturday, March 17. In its ninth year, the popular event will feature more than 50 craft beers at 29 tasting sites from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., along with Celtic performers and plenty of Irish cheer.
Presented by R.S. Lipman Company and Lipman Brothers, the Brew Fest is an opportunity for beer lovers to taste some of the latest local, national and international additions to an exploding micro-brewery market while exploring Downtown Franklin’s historic retail district. The event has sold out well in advance the past two years, and tickets are selling fast.
“There’s no better place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than in Downtown Franklin, and this event has become the traditional kick-off to spring,” said Nancy Williams, director of the Downtown Franklin Association that coordinates the event. “With Main Street open to foot traffic, it’s a great opportunity to visit our merchants and sample some incredible beers.”
Several new brands will be featured in this year’s festival, including Craggie Brewing Company of Asheville, N.C., Estrella Damm of Barcelona, Spain, and Lost Coast of Eureka, Calif. Many of last year’s favorites, such as California’s Ace Cider, Nashville-based Yazoo and Left Hand from Colorado, are returning. A complete beer list will be available in early March.
In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, a host of Irish entertainers will be performing, including the Nashville Pipes and Drums group in full Celtic regalia strolling the streets with bagpipes, the pub-song band The Irish Gypsies at Five Points and Mitch O’Reily wandering through different tasting sites on Irish flute. As a complement to the district’s restaurants, several food vendors will be set up, and Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant will be unveiling their food trolley at the event.
Tickets are $40 in advance, and are available online at www.downtownfranklintn.com. Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic at 4 p.m., and the public is welcome – but only ticket-holders will be able to participate in the beer-tasting. Many of the shops will extend their hours to remain open during the night event.
Ticket-holders will check in at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Main Street to get a tasting site map, a description of the beers, and a tasting glass sponsored by Puckett’s.
Attendees are encouraged to arrange safe rides to and from the Brew Fest. The Franklin Transit Authority is offering round-trip transportation to and from locations inside Franklin city limits for $6 per person. To reserve a ride, call (615) 628-0263 or email sue@twilighttodd.org.
Franklin’s Main Street Brew Fest is produced by the Downtown Franklin Association, a nationally certified Main Street Program of the National Trust and a division of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. Proceeds from the event go to the continued revitalization and promotion of Historic Downtown Franklin. To learn more, visit www.downtownfranklintn.com.
