Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is back for a fifth year, and this time the folks in Franklin are bringing even bigger names, tastier culinary experiences, and more makers than ever before. The fest, co-founded in 2015 by Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin, is a family-friendly feast for the eyes, ears, and more.
Tyler Leaman
"Pilgrimage is about all the things that bring us together as a community,” he says. “Not only is Pilgrimage an incredible destination for live music, but the festival also brings together artisans, makers and top-tier culinary and beverage partners to ensure the experience is a thrill for all senses"
This year’s musical lineup will bring high-octane headliners like Foo Fighters, The Killers, and Keith Urban to the Park at Halinsdale, with performances by some of the most talked about artists across all genres, from Leon Bridges and Lauren Daigle, to The War and Treaty and Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real.
"Pilgrimage has a world-class lineup that defies genres and appeals to music enthusiasts who have a wide variety of musical tastes,” Griffin says. “The lineup was carefully curated in this fashion, to bring some of the best talents to the Franklin, TN community. It is our hope that this diverse lineup will continue to defy genre barriers and make new fans of those who experience some of the artists for the first time."
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The Nashville Blanket Project
The makers presented at the festival are equally eclectic, presenting a decidedly diverse and exciting collection of wares. Stop by the Manhead Pilgrimage Boutique Shop to pick up merch from your favorite acts; purchase pop culture portraits from J. Matthew Welker of Pop Art Done Good or a Groovy Guitar Plaque from Tonia Sellers of Clever Clogs Art; or shop for a cause at the Nashville Blanket Project—they sell authentically and ethically made blankets woven by artisans in Mexico and give one to a Nashvillian in need.
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Fruit Tea Chicks
If food is your fave, Pilgrimage has a slew of culinary experiences in which to indulge. Quench your thirst with a refreshing beverage from Fruit Tea Chicks; treat your sweet tooth at The Tennessee Cobbler Company; and sample gourmet twists on a timeless favorite (and marvel at Nashville’s original tiny house food truck) at The Mac Shack.
And don’t forget the kids! Pilgrimage has plenty of fun in store for the younger set in the Mare Barn Theater area of Lil Pilgrims. From magic to music making, there’s something for even the most cantankerous kids. But if you can’t bring them, don’t worry, you’ll still be home in time to tuck them in.
“The Festival ends each evening at 8:30 to ensure those with children at the festival, or babysitters to get home to, also get to enjoy the full lineup," Griffin says, who, with the rest of the festival team, is working tirelessly to make the event “a destination for world-class entertainment that is enjoyable for the entire family.”