A few thousand beer lovers will be taking over what’s become known as “America’s Favorite Main Street” for the 12th Annual Main Street Brew Fest on Saturday, March 14. Presented by the Downtown Franklin Association (DFA), Lipman Brothers and Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant, the pre-St. Patrick’s Day beer tasting festival serves as a fundraiser
for the non-profit DFA and its programs that sustain Downtown Franklin’s nationally recognized Main Street retail district.
Participants will have a chance to taste dozens of craft beers — local, national and international at about 30 different tasting sites in the city’s historic core. Downtown Franklin resident and business owner Jay Sheridan will serve as chair of the event, leading a committee of dedicated volunteers who produce the festival each year.
“This has become one of our favorite events, kicking off the spring with a celebration of everything our great American Main Street has to offer while enjoying an incredible selection of beers from Lipman Brothers,” Sheridan said. “We encourage people to buy tickets early, because we always sell out at 2,500 glasses, and we’ve added some new entertainment and food options that we think will make this the best Brew Fest yet.”
Main Street, the Public Square and Fourth Avenue North and South will be closed to vehicular traffic,
and many of the shops stay open late while live music fills the air. Indoor and outdoor tasting sites are spread around the downtown core, and participants can shop while sampling a selection of unique beers they may not yet have even heard of. Tickets are $45 in advance at www.downtownfranklintn.com and the event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
As president of Sheridan Public Relations (SPR) in downtown Franklin, Jay Sheridan has been immersed
in the community for years, serving on non-profit boards, city commissions and as a volunteer on numerous event committees. SPR works with the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County, the DFA, Friends of Franklin Parks, the Puckett’s family of restaurants and a number of other local businesses on major initiatives that range from hospitality and tourism to education and healthcare.Sheridan was recently named to the Nashville Business Journal’s
40 Under 40 list for 2015.
“I couldn’t imagine a better place to live, work and raise a family than downtown Franklin, and Brew Fest
is another one of those things that make this place special,” Sheridan said. “For the DFA, it’s another opportunity to showcase our restaurants, retail merchants and entertainment venues, along with the history and architecture that make our community different than Anytown, USA.”
Sheridan said the Brew Fest planning committee has learned from previous events and continues to find ways to enhance the traffic flow and overall experience for participants. The Square will include more tasting sites this year, and ticket-holders will now check in at City Hall to get a site map, a description of the beers, and a tasting
glass.
“City Hall gives us a home base and a way to create several check-in stations to get people started with the tasting quickly and efficiently. By starting at the Square and working their way down Main Street, we will help eliminate the lines that can become a challenge at tasting sites. We’ve really thought through how to make it flow better, and the difference will be noticeable.”
Attendees are encouraged to arrange safe rides to and from the Brew Fest. TheFranklin Transit Authority is offering round-trip transportation to and from locations inside Franklin city limits for a $6 fee. To reserve a ride, call (615) 628-0263 or email [email protected].
In addition, the DFA has secured local company Ride Simply for the March 14 event: email [email protected]
call 615-604-0881 for a safe, two-way, flat-rate transit.
Those looking to extend their stay can take advantage of the special Brew Fest package available at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Franklin, which includes special rates as well as other perks. To book, call 800-378-7946 and use the group number 2237441.
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 the historic district, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and designated by the National Trust as a Great American Main Street and a Preserve America community. To learn more, visit www.downtownfranklintn.com.
