The Park at Harlinsdale Farm is 200 acres of rolling pasture with a pond, a turf running track and a dog park. The City's posted hours close it from dark to dawn. This December, the City's final park event of the year starts at 5 p.m., after the sun has set, and it takes place inside a barn.
The barn makes that possible. The renovation added overhead heaters, a warming kitchen, more bathrooms and structural work to bring the building up to code for events. That turned the farm into a park with a cold-weather calendar. Here is that calendar for the rest of 2026, along with the easiest ways to get there.
What the Barn Renovation Added
The City of Franklin reopened the Main Barn on August 19, 2025. City staff worked with the State Historic Preservation Office, Kimley Horn and Friends of Franklin Parks to update the building while keeping its historic character. The City's list of improvements:
- New roof and updated exterior siding
- A paved road around the barn with ADA parking
- Landscaping improvements
- A warming kitchen, new flooring and drainage
- Additional bathrooms and overhead heaters
- Fans for better air circulation
- Structural updates to meet code so the barn can host events
The City's capital projects tracker lists the Harlinsdale Main Barn Restoration as complete and fully operational as of September 2025, with a project estimate of $4,000,004. The plan calls for the building to serve as event space, a place for educational programs and the park office.
The building has a long history. W.W. Harlin established the farm in 1933, and it became known for its stallion Midnight Sun, the first repeat World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse. The City describes Harlinsdale as possibly the most significant historic farm tied to the modern Walking Horse industry. In 2004, the Harlin family sold the farm to the City at a reduced price instead of selling it for development. The park's first phase opened on September 22, 2007.
Elf on the Lawn, Friday, November 20
The barn's season starts outdoors on the lawn. The City's Movies in the Park series spent the summer on movies based on video games. It closes on Friday, November 20, with Elf at Harlinsdale. Showtime is 8 p.m. or sundown, and a food truck will be on site. Friends of Franklin Parks also lists the screening on its calendar. The City describes the evening as a "cozy classic" to start the winter season. Bring a blanket and a chair for a late-November night on open pasture.
Three December Evenings in the Barn
Nineteen days after Elf, the season moves inside. The City describes the Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt on its 2026 events page:
"The final event of the year! The barn will be sprinkled with candy canes ready to be eaten. Grab your flashlight and help us hunt for the holiday treats!"
The hunt runs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 9, 10 and 11, with start times of 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. each night. Kids decorate treat bags before the hunt, and hot chocolate and cookies are served. Each participant needs a flashlight, and the City supplies everything else. Festive outfits are welcome.
The event is free but requires preregistration. Registration began Monday, November 9, and the City notes that the hunt is very popular and space is limited. For details, email the Parks team at [email protected].
Several renovation items come into play on these nights. December evenings are cold and dark by 5 p.m. The overhead heaters keep the building warm, the warming kitchen supports the hot chocolate, and the code work allows a crowd inside. The paved road and ADA parking around the barn make arriving in the dark easier.
The hunt also falls in a busy stretch of holiday dates around Franklin:
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Dec. 4 | Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony | Downtown square |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | Christmas Parade, sponsored by Downtown Franklin Rotary | Historic downtown |
| Wed.–Fri., Dec. 9–11 | Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt | Harlinsdale Main Barn |
| Sat.–Sun., Dec. 12–13 | Dickens of a Christmas | Historic downtown |
The hunt is the only event on this list that runs on Wednesday and Thursday nights. It ends the Friday before Dickens of a Christmas fills downtown for the weekend.
Arriving on Foot Over the Harpeth
You can also walk or bike to the hunt and the movie. The Harlinsdale pedestrian bridge is 220 feet long and 12 feet wide. It crosses the Harpeth River and connects the Chestnut Bend neighborhood, Bicentennial Park, Franklin High School and Harlinsdale. The bridge was completed in May 2024 at a cost of $4.4 million. That included $3.2 million from TDOT's Transportation Alternative Program. The larger Harlinsdale trail and bridge project also built a second multi-use trail connection to Claude Yates Drive through City property. The City lists it as complete and fully operational as of September 2025.
Bicentennial Park, at 400 5th Ave. N., is the downtown end of that walk. It reopened on June 18, 2025, with a pavilion, plaza, picnic areas and a stage along the Harpeth. A walk that starts there and crosses the bridge reaches Harlinsdale without using Franklin Road.
Stop on the bridge to look at the art panels. In July 2025, the City unveiled four panels by artist Michael McLaughlin, each 2.5 by 5 feet and built to be waterproof and flood-resistant. They are the first permanent public artwork commissioned by the Franklin Public Arts Commission. The City's announcement says the design honors Harlinsdale's equestrian history, including Midnight Sun, along with the area's community and natural beauty. If you're carrying a flashlight to the hunt, you'll pass the panels on the way.
If you drive, the park has two entrances. The south, or main, entrance is at 239 Franklin Road, and the north entrance is at 331 Franklin Road. The City's August 2025 reopening notice used the 331 Franklin Road address for the barn. Franklin Road itself won't change this season. The City's planned widening between Mack Hatcher Parkway and Mallory Station Road is still in early planning, with a tentative completion year of 2032.
The Farm on Ordinary Days
Between the two events, the park keeps its regular amenities: the 4-acre dog park, the 5K turf track for walking or running, the 3-acre catch-and-release pond, which requires a state fishing license, and the equestrian trail. Williamson Source reported that the north entrance and dog park were scheduled to close September 14–18, 2026, for milling and repaving, with the south entrance and the rest of the park open.
The barn also hosts private events now. The City's Main Barn rental page lists the restored barn and its outdoor lawn as event space for weddings, meetings and fundraisers, with booking through the City's online reservation system. Friends of Franklin Parks also takes barn rental inquiries. The same renovations that make the candy cane hunt possible in December make the barn available for a company gathering or a family celebration the rest of the year.
The renovation shows what a historic barn can do with heat, plumbing, a kitchen and code-ready structure added. If you're thinking about a barn of your own on land south of Franklin, whether for gatherings, horses or both, Kim Biddle knows event-ready barns and acreage in southern Williamson County. Explore Leiper's Fork Listings & Request a Private Tour.
