The Franklin Buzz
Posts
🐝 World Cup News

🐝 World Cup News

Mayor Race, Events & More

April 30, 2026

Your guide to staying connected in Franklin, TN

Happy Thursday, Franklin!

Can you believe we're closing out April already? Tomorrow flips the calendar to May, which means we’re officially 33% of the way through the year.

Today is National Oatmeal Cookie Day. The underrated cookie finally gets it’s moment. Today is also National Raisin Day but we’ll let you decide if that’s worth celebrating.

Highlights
🐝 Summer Kickoff World Cup Events
🐝 Williamson County Mayoral Race

Let’s get to it.

- Beau

Nashville SC Unveils 2026 Visit Music City Summer Kickoff at GEODIS Park

Nashville Soccer Club has announced an ambitious seven-week celebration that will transform GEODIS Park into a hub of soccer, music, and community festivities throughout the summer of 2026. The Visit Music City Summer Kickoff will run alongside the FIFA World Cup 26 tournament and culminate in a highly anticipated MLS matchup.

The festivities take advantage of the FIFA World Cup 26 schedule pause, giving Nashville the chance to launch what club leaders hope will become a new annual tradition. Chief Business Officer Lindsey Paola described it as part of GEODIS Park's broader vision to serve as a world-class venue that brings the community together beyond match days.

What's on the Schedule

The lineup blends free public viewings, ticketed concerts, and family-friendly community events:

Soccer Celebration presented by Discount Tire — Free FIFA World Cup 26 live viewings, including USA vs. Paraguay (June 12), USA vs. Australia (June 19, alongside the Juneteenth615 Festival at Centennial Park), and USA vs. Turkey (June 25)
Concert Series — Forrest Frank on June 19 (sold out) and Thomas Rhett with Niall Horan on July 9
Community & Family Events — Youth soccer camps (June 1–2 and 4–5), the InterNASHional Night Market hosted by TIRRC (June 13), and the fourth annual Dash at the Castle 5K Night Run (June 28)
Grand Finale — Nashville SC vs. Atlanta United FC on July 17, during FIFA World Cup 26™ Final weekend

A Boost for Music City

Deana Ivey, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, said the city's tourism strength is being driven in large part by the kinds of events featured in Summer Kickoff. Country star Thomas Rhett added that opening his tour at GEODIS Park alongside Niall Horan is a bucket-list moment for him.

Williamson County Mayoral Race Heats Up Ahead of May 5th Primary
For the first time in nearly a quarter century, Williamson County is poised to elect a new mayor, and the race is tightening as the May 5 Republican primary approaches. The seat opened up after longtime incumbent Rogers Anderson, who held the office for 24 years, decided not to seek another term. The two Republicans vying to replace him are County Commissioner Mary Smith, who would become the county's first female mayor, and Andy Marshall, founder and CEO of Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant.

The candidates have spent recent weeks at forums and rallies, with hundreds packing Parish Presbyterian Church earlier this month for a debate on growth, debt, and transparency. Smith, who holds an MBA in Leadership and Ethics and works in strategic management at Nissan North America, is running on a platform she calls "Keep the charm, protect the taxpayer," emphasizing disciplined budgeting, infrastructure that keeps pace with development, and competitive pay for county employees. She has pointed to the county's nearly $1 billion in debt as a central issue and pitched herself as a fiscal watchdog.

Marshall is running on what he calls the "Marshall Plan" — a private-sector approach prioritizing fiscal stewardship, public safety, smarter road investments, attainable housing, and preserving farmland and historic corridors. "I'm not a career politician," he told a recent crowd, leaning into his decades of business leadership. His campaign has earned endorsements from local mayors and state figures and drawn large fundraising crowds.

Both candidates agree infrastructure must catch up with rapid growth, but differ in style and campaign finance approaches. Turnout has been low through early voting, which runs April 15–30. The primary winner will face Independent BK Muvvala in the August general election.

One of my favorite parts of writing The Franklin Buzz is getting to spotlight the people, places, and stories that make this town such a special place to live. But while the Buzz is a fun side project that takes up about 1% of my working hours each week, the other 99% is spent helping people navigate the local real estate market.

For Ashley and me at Burns & Co, helping people buy and sell homes in Franklin and across Williamson County is what we do every day. Since 2025, we've helped more than 50 families buy or sell real estate in the area, representing over $70 million in closed or pending sales.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. What we care about most is the relationships. Many of our clients become friends, and our goal is to be the kind of team people feel comfortable calling long before they're ready to make a move. Whether you're selling a home you've loved for years, relocating to the area, upsizing, downsizing, or quietly looking for something off-market, we want to be a trusted resource.

Our approach is both personal and strategic. Great real estate is built on relationships, trust, local knowledge, and strong marketing, and we lean on all of it. Between our network across Williamson County, our presence here with The Franklin Buzz, social media, and digital advertising, we're always working to create opportunities for our clients, both publicly and behind the scenes.

If you're considering a move in 2026, or even just starting to wonder what your next chapter could look like, we'd love to be a resource. You can reach me anytime at [email protected].

Thursday April 30th

Nashville Sounds Baseball vs Norfolk | 5:35pm | The Factory
Games also on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Friday May 1st

Saturday May 2nd

Franklin Farmers Market | 8am - Noon | Franklin First United Methodist Church (120 Aldersgate Way)

Sunday May 3rd

2652 McLemore Rd | 4 Beds, 6 Baths | 5,078 Sq Ft

Price: $2,725,000

Days on Market: 6

Listing Agent: Chris Elrod-Laskey

Details:

🏠 Architect-designed retreat on nearly 2 acres — A P. Shea-designed home in South Franklin with sweeping views, abundant natural light, and a custom screened porch made for morning coffee and evening conversations.

🏠 Gardens, orchards, and spaces that restore — Flourishing herb gardens (lavender, sage, rosemary, and more) and young fruit trees, plus a private theatre and wellness room designed for reflection, exercise, and everyday enjoyment.

🏠 Country calm, city convenience — Minutes to Berry Farms and just 10 minutes to Historic Downtown Franklin's restaurants and boutiques—a true balance of peaceful retreat and effortless access.

Thanks for reading The Buzz today. If you enjoyed it, please share it with someone else.

Have a great rest of your week.

Was this email shared with you? Sign up here
Thinking about buying or selling real estate? Message me here.
Want to advertise to over 12,000 locals? Reply to this email.