Downtown Franklin's annual wine-tasting fundraiser turns 25 on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Wine Down Main Street returns from 7 to 10 p.m. along Main Street. More than 20 local shops will offer wines from around the world paired with small bites from area restaurants, according to Williamson Scene. Live music rounds out the evening. The rain-or-shine event is open to adults 21 and older.
Proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, which provides mentorship, after-school and summer programs for kids ages five through 18.
$2.94 million and counting
The fundraiser has raised more than $2.94 million since its 2001 debut, according to Denise Carothers, the organization's chief development officer. The money funds after-school support, summer programming and other resources for young people, Carothers told the Williamson Herald.
The event started when six downtown female merchants, later known as the Main Street 6, decided to draw shoppers back to Main Street as competition from Cool Springs Galleria grew. They ordered 500 tickets for the first event. They sold out in three days.
A new shop joins the stroll
John Henry, an Atkinson family business that opened in September on Third Avenue, will make its Wine Down debut Saturday, Nov. 7. The shop showcases Native American jewelry, culture and heritage alongside local craftsmanship, the Williamson Herald reported.
Kaylee Atkinson, the shop's creative director, said her family worked with Carothers to get involved. The shop will feature Ö-61, a tattoo-inspired wine brand named after Ötzi the Iceman, a mummy discovered in the Alps whose body bears 61 tattoos.
Tickets
General admission tickets are $85 plus a processing fee. VIP admission is $125 plus a fee and includes a private food and wine-tasting experience inside the historic Franklin Theatre. Premium VIP admission is $200 plus a fee and includes a gift bag valued at more than $200. Tickets are available at bgcmt.org.
