The Gardner School believes learning can happen anywhere. Preschoolers enjoy hands-on experiences, and it’s one of the best ways to learn! Historic Franklin, Tennessee, offers quite the education for history fans, and the city also offers plenty of opportunities for our youngest scholars to learn. With this in mind, we’ve curated a list of our favorite activities in Franklin for the fall season.
Act Too Players (Kindermusik)
Join a Kindermusik class at Act Too Players. The classes are geared toward newborns up to three years old. Each week, your child will participate in an age-appropriate music curriculum that incorporates dance, instruments, and songs in ways that encourage healthy development.
The Franklin Farmers Market
Encourage healthy, seasonal eating with a trip to The Franklin Farmers Market. Discover fresh fall produce offered by 70 local farmers. You’ll find apples, pears, corn, squash, and more. Show your child their favorite fruits and vegetables and help them pick new ones to try!
Pumpkinfest
You can’t miss Middle Tennessee’s largest family fall festival! Pumpkinfest stretches along Main Street and its side avenues in downtown Franklin and offers tons of festive fun including a KidZone, costume contest, pumpkin carving, and more.
Gentry Farm
A local tradition, Gentry Farm is open to the public on the weekends during the fall season. Perfect for hands-on learning and imaginative play, children will enjoy the farm’s many activities, like the corn maze, tire swings, wagon rides, and child-sized general store. Before you go, let your child select their own pumpkin to bring home!
Mistletoe Farm Alpacas
Are you ready for a trip to Mistletoe Farms? Alpaca my bags! Bring your preschooler to the farm for a sensory experience with alpacas of all sizes. Your child will enjoy bottle-feeding the babies and hand-feeding leaves to older animals. The alpacas are soft and fuzzy, and they welcome hugs and cuddles from their human friends of all ages.
Natchez Trace Parkway
Go leaf peeping with a drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The highlight of your drive will be the red, orange, and golden-colored leaves that adorn Tennessee’s hardwood trees. Whether you cruise while the children sleep or stop to take in a waterfall, a day on the parkway is a day to choose your own adventure.
Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary
Spend the day outdoors, and enjoy fall’s cooler temperatures at Owl’s Hill Sanctuary. The 300-acre nature sanctuary is an ideal environment for your budding naturalist to explore the great outdoors. Children ages three and up can rent a Wild Explorer Pack, complete with a magnifying glass, to get a closer look at the native flora and fauna.
Lucky Ladd Farms
The award-winning Lucky Ladd Farms offers family-friendly fun that’s hard to top. Your preschooler will enjoy exploring one of Tennessee’s best corn mazes, taking a turn on farm-themed rides, and choosing their own pumpkin from the “#1 Pumpkin Patch” in the state. Just be sure to save room for favorite fall treats like caramel apples and apple cider doughnuts!
Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom
The Gardner School of Franklin offers an engaging curriculum for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Our caring teachers encourage children’s curiosity while building a strong foundation for future learning. To learn more about our preschool, contact us to set up a tour.