On Jan. 3, 2026, one shopper went to two farmers markets in Franklin on the same morning. The Williamson Herald reported that it was the first day of the split. The Franklin Farmers Market opened at its new home at Franklin First United Methodist Church that morning. A separate market opened the same day at The Factory, where the old one had been for years.
Ten months later, the split is part of the weekly routine. The holidays will test it in a new way. On Saturday, Nov. 21, both markets run. The MADE SOUTH Holiday Market fills Liberty Hall at The Factory, and Centennial High School opens its holiday craft show. The two markets keep different hours, and that's what makes the day work.
Two markets, two addresses, staggered hours
| Franklin Farmers Market | Factory Farmers Market | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 120 Aldersgate Way, at Franklin First United Methodist Church | Water Tower Plaza, 230 Franklin Road |
| Saturday hours | 8 a.m. to noon, year-round | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Opened at this site | Jan. 3, 2026 | Jan. 3, 2026 |
| Who runs it | The nonprofit Franklin Farmers Market | Curated by Diane Kolopanas |
The schedules overlap from 9 to noon. The original market opens an hour earlier and closes an hour sooner. Anyone who wants both can do Aldersgate Way first and The Factory second. Doing it the other way around leaves less time at the first stop.
The two markets also differ in size. The Franklin Farmers Market opened at the church with nearly 90 vendors and expected to reach 110 by summer, according to the Williamson Herald. Its fundraising site now says more than 100 vendors come each week. The Herald counted more than a dozen vendors at the Factory market's debut. Plan the bigger shopping trip at Aldersgate Way and the shorter stop at Water Tower Plaza.
Why the old market left The Factory
The move had been coming for years. Holladay Properties bought The Factory in 2021, and its redevelopment plans included the space the market used. The Williamson Herald reported that the replacement spot offered on the north side of the property left no room to grow. Market director Amy Tavalin also pointed to vendors and customers competing for parking, plus construction on the site. The market had grown to 110 vendors, and the new facility is planned for twice that.
The church partnership grew out of the market's existing Giving Garden relationship with Franklin First United Methodist Church. The church council approved the plan. The move was first set for summer 2025, then pushed back so the market could finish its lease without disrupting its busiest season. NewsChannel 5 reported in May 2025 that the market would stay at The Factory through the end of the year and move in January.
The Factory kept a Saturday market of its own. FranklinIs announced the Factory Farmers Market in December 2025. It's a separate business that started on the same Jan. 3 date the original market opened across town.
What the Aldersgate Way site is still waiting for
The church campus is the market's long-term home, but it isn't finished yet. The Move With the Market campaign is raising $4.5 million for a pavilion with modern restrooms, room for 150 vendors, and three times the current customer parking. Tavalin told the Williamson Herald she hopes the pavilion opens in 2027 or 2028.
That means this holiday season still uses the open-air setup. In the same Herald report, vendors described an opening-day layout that put everyone in one big circle, along with easy parking and good foot traffic. On a cold November morning, dress for being outside.
The week the calendar fills in
The two-market Saturday sits in the middle of a busy pre-Thanksgiving week. Here's how it lines up, starting the Wednesday before.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18. Merriest Main Street opens holiday shopping downtown. It's free, with extended shop hours, holiday treats and promotions. Evening hours vary by shop.
- Friday, Nov. 20. The MADE SOUTH VIP Party runs from 5 to 9 p.m. in Liberty Hall at The Factory. It's 21 and over, and tickets won't be sold at the door.
- Saturday, Nov. 21. Both farmers markets, MADE SOUTH's all-day market, and the first day of Centennial High School's 28th Annual Holiday Craft Show.
- Sunday, Nov. 22. The Centennial craft show's second day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 26. Turkey Trot Franklin, benefiting GraceWorks, on Thanksgiving morning.
- Saturday, Nov. 28. Both farmers markets are back on their regular Saturday hours.
What's inside Liberty Hall
The MADE SOUTH Holiday Market brings more than 60 makers and artisans from around the South. Food & Wine Magazine called it "the best holiday market in the state of Tennessee," according to MADE SOUTH. Friday's VIP guests get early shopping with smaller crowds, cocktails made with Dread River Distilling spirits, three chef tastings, live music, and a reusable MADE SOUTH tote.
Saturday runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to all ages. Kids 13 and under get in free, Santa will be there for photos, and the first 300 guests get a free tote. An afternoon ticket lets you in from 1 p.m. The first 100 tickets of each type are sold at early-bird prices. Saturday tickets will also be sold at the door, by card only. A portion of proceeds goes to One Generation Away, a Franklin nonprofit that gets healthy food to families who don't have adequate access to it.
The Factory's calendar puts both events on the property at once on Nov. 21. The farmers market is outdoors from 9 to 1, and MADE SOUTH is indoors from 9 to 5.
What's at Mallory Lane
The Centennial High School Holiday Craft Show is at 5050 Mallory Lane. It runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 22. VIP ticket holders can shop from 8 to 9 a.m. on Saturday. Proceeds go to the school's PTSO for educational programs. Because it runs both days, Sunday is a good time for it if Saturday is already full.
A Nov. 21 morning, in the order the clocks allow
Each stop opens at a set time, which makes the order easy to work out.
- 8 a.m., Aldersgate Way. The Franklin Farmers Market opens first. This is the bigger produce, meat and bakery stop, and it closes at noon.
- 9 a.m. on. The Factory Farmers Market at Water Tower Plaza and MADE SOUTH in Liberty Hall both open at 9. Coming from Aldersgate Way puts you there after the gates open.
- Before 1 p.m. The Factory market closes at 1. If you're holding an afternoon MADE SOUTH ticket, finish at the farmers market first, then go into Liberty Hall at 1 and shop until 5.
- Sunday, if needed. Save the Centennial show for its Sunday hours.
A VIP ticket to the Centennial show changes the order. Its 8 a.m. early hour is the same time Aldersgate Way opens, so you'll have to choose between them.
Thanksgiving morning goes to Cool Springs
Five days later, the week ends with the Turkey Trot Franklin benefiting GraceWorks. This is its 27th year, and Race Roster's event page says more than 4,700 people take part. The start is at 5000 Meridian Blvd. The 10K costs $50, the 5K run/walk $45, and the Kids' Turkey Chase $15. Teams of four or more adults get $5 off each registration. Race fees are the same as last year. Under a Tennessee law, the online price now includes the platform's processing fee.
On race day, registration opens at 6:15 a.m. The 10K starts at 7, the 5K at 8 and the Kids' Turkey Chase at 9. The City of Franklin clears the course at 9:30. Packet pickup is Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and race morning from 6:30 to 7:55. You have to register online before you can pick up a bib. Before you set an alarm for 5 a.m., check GraceWorks' Turkey Trot page for final details.
Race proceeds go to GraceWorks for food, shelter and support services for neighbors in need. MADE SOUTH's Saturday proceeds go to One Generation Away. So both of the week's ticketed events fund local food programs.
After Thanksgiving
The two markets keep their Saturday hours after the holiday. The Factory's calendar lists its market through Dec. 5. The Franklin Farmers Market stays year-round at Aldersgate Way. Downtown's next big date is the Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square on Friday, Dec. 4. Free Santa photos start at 6 p.m., performances at 6:40, and the tree is expected to light at 7:15.
Where your Saturday routine runs now depends on where you live, and the market split changed that map for many Franklin households. If you're thinking about how a future home fits the places your weekends already go, Susan Salazar can help you compare them using local knowledge, without pressure. When you want to know where your current home stands first, start with a free home valuation.
