The Christmas spirit was in the air at the Citizen Christmas Parade in Franklin on December 5th, 2020, at Harlinsdale Farm.

Each year, the city of Franklin holds a Christmas parade to kick off December. Due to Covid restrictions, the city’s parade was canceled, but that didn’t stop the Christmas spirit.

After the cancellation was announced, a few Franklin citizens, lead by local resident, Erin Holland, banded together and worked with the Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman to put on the Franklin Citizen’s Christmas Parade.

“We designed and planned the parade specifically for kids and families in school because numerous activities keep getting shut down on them.” —Erin Holland

The main goal wasn’t to get a huge audience but to get students, businesses, and performers out doing what they love once again.

Roughly 37 businesses and organizations joined in, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get our Competition and Performance Company dancers outdoors and performing together again.

“It really felt like a community again. It was such a positive and uplifting experience, and the joy was contagious!” – Jen Burns, Parent, and Operational Manager

It’s the first time ROOTS dancers have performed together in front of an audience in nearly a year.

There was something magical about that day…the weather was beautiful, spirits were high, and you could feel the joy in the air.

Merry Christmas, everybody!