Life is better in color. Whether it’s a Tennessee hillside dressed in fall foliage or a freshly painted front door, color makes a lasting impression. In honor of National Color Day (October 22), we’ve gathered a few ways to enjoy the colorful world around us.

GO ON A “COLOR WALK”.

Image: Janylah Etienne, Unsplash

Take a stroll through downtown Franklin, Nashville, or other neighborhoods, and pay special attention to the variety of colors in buildings, street art, and nature.

Or do a color scavenger hunt with a group. Pick up some color cards from a paint store (they’re free!). Then see how many of those colors you spot along your walk. You can give each person sets of different colors to look for, have teams who share colors, or all use the same cards and race to spot all the colors first.

Bonus points if you wear your favorite color on your walk.

GET LOST IN A COLORFUL MAZE.

Image: Lucky Ladd Farms

Experience Lucky Ladd Farms’ brand-new aMAZEing Family Glow Night. For two nights only (October 23 & 24), you can experience their famous corn maze in the dark. Some paths are illuminated in vibrant colors while others remain shrouded in darkness.

Every ticket includes complimentary glow necklaces and bracelets to enhance your nighttime adventure. (Additional light-up souvenirs are available for purchase.) Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Advanced ticket purchase required. Get yours here.

CREATE YOUR OWN COLORFUL WORK OF ART.

Image: Painting with a Twist

Join a painting party at one of the local studios, paint a ceramic masterpiece, or order one of the paint-by-number kits that are so trendy right now and paint on your own time, solo or with friends. You can even host a private painting party. There are many places and ways to do this, but a few local options are listed below.

• Painting with a Twist – Nashville, TN
• Pinot’s Palette – Franklin, TN
• Paint the Town – Nashville-based, but they bring the party to you.
• Third Coast Clay Home Page – Franklin, TN
• Paint by number kits – Just one option of many available online and in stores.

MAKE A COLOR-THEMED PLAY LIST.

Image: Vitaly Gariev, Pexels

Make a playlist of color-themed songs (“Yellow Submarine,” “Purple Rain,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” etc.) to listen to on your color walk or anytime, anywhere.

Or what about a color-themed movie night? There are plenty of options there, too: The Color Purple, Red Notice, White Christmas, and Green Lantern, just to name a few. Bonus points if you serve colorful snacks to munch on during the film.

DISCOVER COLOR WORTH THE DRIVE.

Image: Natchez Trace State Park

According to Tennessee State Parks, Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of Tennessee’s largest and most visited state parks. It’s about two hours east of Franklin and is known for stunning waterfalls, including its namesake, Fall Creek Falls—one of the tallest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Not sure what to expect? Check out the park rangers’ agenda for “the perfect day” at the park.

If you’d rather go the opposite direction, you can find Natchez Trace State Park about 1.5 hours west of Franklin. This Tennessee treasure offers three picturesque lakes, scenic trails, and rustic charm. There’s a whole webpage full of park highlights, but the Red Leaves Trail, offering secluded lake views and prime wildlife viewing opportunities, sounds like a wonderful way to view nature’s color palette.

ADD SOME COLOR TO YOUR GARDEN.

Image: Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary

Fall is the best time to plant! At the Fall Plant Sale at Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary you can choose from a selection of native seeds, perennials, trees, shrubs, grasses and vines. 

Saturday, October 24, 10;00 AM – 12:30 PM. Proceeds benefit Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary and Wild Ones of Middle Tennessee.

REFRESH YOUR HOME WITH A NEW COLOR.

Image: Maria Ovchinnikova, Pexels

From a color change in one room to a complete exterior makeover, paint has a way of transforming the way a home looks and feels. Even if you keep the exact same color, a fresh application of the same shade can give your home a brand-new look. Ready to explore the possibilities? Get in touch!