The spots worth your morning
Town Square Gazebo — Pickin' on the Square
Free bluegrass, 2nd & 4th Saturdays May–Oct, 6 PM. Bring a chair, bring the kids, bring the dog.
In Franklin
Lazy Hiker Brewing
Beer Mile fixture at 188 W Main St. Most Thursday nights. AT mile 110 default — patio + food truck.
In Franklin
Currahee Brewing
Friday nights with rotating local acts on the patio. Dog-friendly. 100 Lakeside Dr.
In Franklin
SMCPA
1,500-seat theater at 1028 Georgia Rd. Ticketed — country, gospel, tributes, Americana.
In Franklin
"The Beer Mile is the working-age locals' social engine of Franklin. Pickin' on the Square is the whole-town night."
On the calendar
All events →
Tue
9
Jun
6:30pm
Music & Live Shows
Tuesday Night Jam at the Cowee School
Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center
·
In Franklin
FreeKid-friendly
Free
Wed
10
Jun
All day
Music & Live Shows
Evening Concert Series
Highlands Performing Arts Center
·
35 min · Highlands
Free
Free
Thu
11
Jun
All day
Music & Live Shows
Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Concert
Highlands, NC
·
35 min · Highlands
Free
Free
Thu
11
Jun
All day
Music & Live Shows
Live Music at Lazy Hiker
Lazy Hiker Brewing Co
·
35 min · Highlands
Free
Free
Thu
11
Jun
6pm
Music & Live Shows
Live Music at Lazy Hiker Brewing
Lazy Hiker Brewing Co
·
In Franklin
Free
Free
Thu
11
Jun
7pm
Music & Live Shows
Open Mic Night at The Rathskeller
The Rathskeller Coffee Haus
·
In Franklin
Free
Free
Thu
11
Jun
7:30pm
Music & Live Shows
The Doo Wop Project
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
·
In Franklin
Free
Free
Fri
12
Jun
All day
Music & Live Shows
Live Music at Balsam Falls Brewing
Balsam Falls Brewing
·
28 min · Sylva & Dillsboro
Free
Free
Good to know
When is Pickin' on the Square in 2026?
2nd and 4th Saturdays, May through October, 6 PM, at the Town Square Gazebo. Free, family-friendly, BYO chair.
Which brewery is the live-music night?
Lazy Hiker hosts most Thursdays. Currahee and the other Beer Mile spots rotate Fridays and Saturdays.
Where is SMCPA?
1028 Georgia Road in Franklin (south end of town). 1,500-seat theater, ample parking, ticketed shows.
What about the Franklin Area Folk Festival?
The Franklin Area Folk Festival ran for 17 years, with the final installment in 2023. There's no 2026 instance scheduled. For festival-style live music in town this year, Pickin' on the Square is the standing one, plus the SMCPA's ticketed lineup.