The Park at Harlinsdale Farm is celebrating a landmark restoration this year with the return of Raise the Roofs on Saturday, August 16, hosted by Friends of Franklin Parks (FOFP). Now in its 14th year, the annual fundraiser was first created to support the restoration of Harlinsdale’s Main Barn—making this year’s event, celebrating the completion of that very project, especially meaningful.

Presented by Medical House Calls, this year’s Raise the Roofs will honor progress at Harlinsdale and throughout Franklin’s park system. With just a limited number of tickets remaining, organizers are encouraging the public to secure their spot soon for this one-of-a-kind community event benefiting Franklin’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

This year’s co-chairs, Faye & Clay Harlin and Karla & David Landrum, are eagerly looking forward to the festivities and are honored to welcome the community to the Main Barn. With deep-rooted ties to Harlinsdale, they’ve worked tirelessly to help create a truly memorable evening — and with tickets nearly sold out, they encourage everyone to secure their spot soon.

The weekend kicks off with the International Cup Polo Match on Friday, August 15 in the Tractor Supply Co. Arena at Harlinsdale, where Team USA will face Team Mexico in an exhilarating match hosted by the Franklin Polo Academy. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., with a pre-game match at 6:30 p.m., and the main match at 7:30 p.m. Tickets and concessions will be available on-site, and all proceeds support Friends of Franklin Parks.

Friends of Franklin Parks Executive Director Torrey Barnhill shared: “This year is another full-circle moment for us. What began as a dream to save the Main Barn has become a reality thanks to the generosity and passion of this community and the restoration efforts by the City of Franklin and Parks Department. Other accomplishments this year include opening the Hayes House for public tours—fulfilling a mission to to bring the history of the Walking Horse and Harlinsdale Farm back to the community; the City of Franklin breaking ground on the future Pearlene M. Bransford Park, which will be home to Ellie G’s Dream World; and partnering with the City of Franklin Parks Department to develop a design scope for the recently acquired Creekside property. The Tractor Supply Co. Arena has also grown into a vibrant venue for hunter-jumper events, polo matches, and even saw its first rodeo with the Harlinsdale Round-Up. This celebration is not just a fundraiser; it’s a testament to what we’ve accomplished together.”

Jason Gregg, Director of Leadership Gifts at Battle Ground Academy and sports announcer for BGA, will emcee the evening. A highlight of Saturday’s Raise the Roofs event will be a performance by The Woods at the Afterparty. The Woods aren't just a band; they're a place where genres and generations overlap—blending the three-part harmonies of 1970s folk-rock with the hooks of modern-day country music.

This year’s event is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. Presenting Sponsor is Medical House Calls; Midnight Sun Sponsor is Jackie & Barry Alexander; Winner’s Circle Sponsor is Linda and Mayor Dr. Ken Moore; Platinum Sponsor is Puckett’s Restaurant; Sponsor’s Party Sponsor is Highwoods Properties, Cocktail Sponsor is Pape-Dawson, and RaganSmith, a Pape-Dawson Company; and the Afterparty is sponsored by Tennessee Equine Hospital. International Cup Polo Sponsors include Tractor Supply Co. and Franklin Polo Academy.

Additional sponsors include Gold Sponsors: 906 Studio Architects + Interiors, Battle Ground Academy, Benesch, McEwen Northside/Boyle Cares, Brown Family Charitable Fund, Burr & Forman, Catering and Events by Suzette, Civil Constructors LLC, FirstBank, Kindred Land Management, Lipman, M2 Group LLC, MTLC Building Group, Morgan Stanley - Jamey Parker, Optura, Regent Homes, Southern Events Party Rental Company, Speciality Anesthesia of Tennessee, Stites and Harbison PLLC, TMP, TruGreen, TTL, and Walker Dunlop.

Silver Sponsors include: Alliance Homebuilders of Tennessee, Baird-Berry Peña Group, Ford Classic Homes, Onward Real Estate, Park Happy LLC, PLA Media, Randy Jones and Associates, Residence Inn, and YOUR Williamson.

Supporting Sponsors are: Carriage Riders of Middle Tennessee, Compost Nashville, Down to the Wire, and Holly Consults, and Slice House by Tony Gemignani.

All proceeds benefit Friends of Franklin Parks and their ongoing mission to preserve and enhance Franklin’s public parks for generations to come.

To learn more or be a friend of the parks, visit www.friendsoffranklinparks.org.