Know Before You Go: Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

This year’s festival takes place on September 23 and 24.

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Music lovers, foodies, and entertainment enthusiasts rejoice: Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is back for another unforgettable weekend.

Celebrating its ninth anniversary, Pilgrimage invites fans of all ages to The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin for two fun-filled days of music, makers, memories, and much more. This year’s festival takes place on September 23 and 24 and includes a roster of tremendous talent spanning a variety of genres. As always, the musical lineup was carefully curated and features The Lumineers and Zach Bryan as headliners along with countless other must- see artists like The Black Crowes, Yola, James Bay, Hailey Whitters, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Ashely McBryde, Margo Price, Luke Grimes, The War and Treaty, Patrick Droney, and more.

There is much to discover beyond the music at Pilgrimage as well. Better Than Ezra frontman and Franklin resident Kevin Griffin immediately recognized the untapped potential for a music festival unlike any other when he was on a neighborhood run in the fall of 2013 and stumbled upon The Park at Harlinsdale Farm. Eager to bring his vision to life, he co-founded the first Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in 2015 with a mission to capture the essence of such a beautiful space and spirit through an authentic, all-encompassing experience.

“The Harlinsdale Farm is a headliner in its own right with its history, natural amphitheaters, and rolling hills. It’s gorgeous, and you’re in arguably one of the coolest small cities in America: Franklin, Tennessee,” says Griffin. “[There’s] compelling, cool music from the first bands that start to the headliners. It’s a deep dive into what’s so great about Middle Tennessee from the music and the food to the artisans and the makers. It’s also family-friendly, but that doesn’t mean it’s not cool, exciting, and fun. Our inspiration was New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which has always been a family-friendly festival but also a cool music experience. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive, and we’ve proven that with Pilgrimage.”

Attendees can indulge in more than 40 local and regional restaurants and cafes located throughout the festival offering a variety of diverse cuisine to curb every craving. There’s also one of the South’s best food truck parks, Farm-to-Turntable, featuring a mouthwatering selection of 16 local-favorite food trucks. Be sure to come as thirsty as you are hungry because there is no shortage of quality beverage options at Pilgrimage, including specialty coffees, smoothies, juices, spirits, beer, wine, and more.

Shop ‘til you drop at the festival’s Makers Village where some of the most talented local artisans, jewelers, expert crafters, and more sell their unique pieces and trinkets. And at the Americana Music Triangle Experience, some of the South’s most historic music cities come together to share their rich heritage. Highlighting the living history of American music, there are relics, church pews, a historic photo wall, exhibits, and more to explore. New additions including a whiskey bar, a bigger stage, and changes to the set design further enhance this fan-favorite experience.

Make it a family affair because there is plenty of fun for kids of all ages at Pilgrimage, too. The Lil’ Pilgrims Family Stage features Grammy- winner Ralph Covert leading the show along with singing pirates, a pirate play ship, craft workshops, puppet shows, magicians, and more hands-on interactive activities than ever before.

“Pilgrimage is a festival for your senses; it’s an experience,” Griffin says. “Immediately you’re struck by the beauty of Harlinsdale Farm, then you start to smell the amazing food as some of the best chefs in Middle Tennessee are firing up their kitchens. You hear the bands tuning up, the kids run to the stuff that they see, that’s what I love about it. That’s what the Pilgrimage experience is: friends and family, good times, good music, and one of the coolest cultural spots in the country right here in our backyard.”

With so much to see, hear, taste, and discover, the 2023 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is sure to be a fest of nothing but the best. (pilgrimagefestival.com)