Beer board approves Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival permit for Sept. 27–28, 2025

On Sept. 9 the City of Franklin Beer Board approved a permit application from Pilgrimage Foundation Inc., d/b/a Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival, for events at Harlem Dale Park (239 Franklin Road) scheduled for Sept. 27–28, 2025, with hours listed as noon to 10 p.m. central time. Staff reported that the application and inspections are complete and recommended approval.

Rob Pinson, attorney for Pilgrimage Foundation, described the festival as a longstanding event in Franklin and told the board, “this is the pilgrimage that you know and hopefully love.” Pinson said security would be “tight,” that organizers expect a confined event footprint with multiple entrances and exits, and that the festival uses off‑duty (and possibly on‑duty) police officers, remote parking with shuttles, and controlled entry points. Pinson also made remarks about restrictions on beverages, saying “no drinks allowed out, you know, once you're I think no drinks allowed in either,” which reflects the transcript language.

Alderman Barnhill moved to approve the permit; the chair seconded. The roll-call vote recorded Alderman Barnhill and the chair voting yes, and the motion passed.

Board discussion included staffing and security protocols at multiple entrances, shuttle parking arrangements, and organizers' expectation that prior operations have proceeded without major incidents. The transcript contains a garbled numeric response when Barnhill asked about attendance; the attendance capacity or expected attendance was not clearly specified in the meeting record and therefore is reported here as not specified. The board took formal action to approve the permit and did not record additional conditions in the transcript.

Organizers and city staff will continue coordinating logistics with parks and police departments ahead of the festival.