Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival was inspired by friendship, history, experience and the desire to create an authentic music festival. Musician and Franklin, TN resident Kevin Griffin was on a September morning run through The Park at Harlinsdale, a century-old horse farm recently purchased by the City of Franklin. Kevin was so taken by the rolling hills, natural amphitheaters, and breathtaking vistas of the 230-acre farm, he envisioned it as a natural fit for a music festival venue. Considering Franklin’s music and cultural history, Kevin wanted the community to further appreciate combining this with the beauty and rustic quality of Middle Tennessee in the fall, and with the blessing of the City, began to dream up a music festival to do it justice.

Partnered with lifelong buddies W. Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan, the trio aspired to highlight the diversity and community spirit of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, tailoring the best elements to Franklin– a richly historic town just 20 minutes south of Nashville. Like Jazz Fest, Pilgrimage offers a diverse yet renowned lineup of rock and roll, alt-country, bluegrass, jazz, indie, gospel and more that includes new artists, local and regional up and comers and national and international headliners and middle cards. Suffice it to say you will see some favorites and discover new favorites at Pilgrimage.

The festival has grown in its tenth year to one known equally for its robust music programming - including legendary pairings and cameos - and diverse, rich patron experiences appreciatied by all ages from around the country and the world. Pilgrimage has also focused attention on evolving its cultural focus by showcasing hundreds of local artisans, restaurants, food trucks and makers that give context and authenticity to the Pilgrimage experience.

Pilgrimage has always presented itself as family friendly which means kids are welcomed and encouraged to experience festival culture at a young age; especially in our Franklin Fun Farm area. Each year Pilgrimage develops new elements to continue to create a music festival with the mission to grow and evolve each year. Experiences like Americana Music Triangle, which is a collection of municipalities from the rich music heritage of the South all in one tent. Fans get to see in one place, locations they might want to visit these towns, small and large, to keep this history alive.

When performances wrap and the lights come back on at 10pm each night, guests can conveniently walk back into the heart of downtown Franklin, within walking distance from the Park at Harlinsdale, to imbibe the best of the town’s bars and restaurants, retail shops, and great weekend lineups of nighttime shows and events.