Finally. Williamson County has a drive-in theater — and the timing couldn’t be better.
The Field at Franklin opened to the public last weekend. Franklin-based company AP Live set up its massive 22-foot-by-41-foot LED wall in the field by Rolling Hills Community Church in Franklin and has invited the community to the drive-in experience starting July 23, 2020.
The outdoor venue will host technically free events (though patrons are welcome to make contributions at the time of a ticket reservation).
“In the Covid-19 era, The Field At Franklin aims to provide our community with a place to come together, no matter your ability to pay, in a safe way with a platform that has been around for years” per the company’s website.
One thing that makes The Field at Franklin unique is its use of LED technology. Most drive-ins use digital projection, making it necessary to wait for "the lights to go down" outside like it would in a movie theater. LED technology can broadcast in daylight with the same clarity as it would at night.
Another thing is their relaxed policies, with the outdoor venue allowing carloads to bring in their own food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Films on The Field's "marquee" will lean toward family-friendly entertainment, with the the 1987 cult classic The Princess Bride. Each week after will accompany some sort of event, whether it be a movie or concert, with the space being open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Last weekend, the drive-in kicked things off with the coming of age film The Sandlot.
Historically, Williamson County hasn’t had any drive-in theaters, with the Pink Cadillac Drive-In off of Highway 100 in Hickman County being just about the closest location to enjoy.
With movie theaters having been closed in Williamson County since March (The Franklin Theater opening very briefly in June before cancelling all film showings and live events through the rest of the year), The Field at Franklin will temporarily be the only theater showing films in the county. AMC, which owns the Thoroughbred 20 in Cool Springs, is slated to reopen July 31, but this feels unlikely at the moment with studios continuing to remove major films from the 2020 calendar.
Read more about The Field at Franklin, check showtimes and purchase tickets on its website.
