A guide to downtown Clarksville: Franklin Street and Strawberry Alley, the Customs House Museum, the Roxy, Downtown Commons, F&M Bank Arena and free parking.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Clarksville’s parking page and park pages, the Customs House Museum, the Roxy Regional Theatre, Montgomery County’s Downtown Commons page, F&M Bank Arena, Visit Clarksville and the National Park Service’s National Register listings, as shown on our history and landmarks page.
Downtown Clarksville sits on the bluff above the Cumberland River, a grid of 19th-century brick around Public Square, Franklin Street, Strawberry Alley, Second Street and Legion Street. Much of it is the Clarksville Architectural District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It is where Clarksville eats, drinks, goes to the theater and gathers for parades, markets and concerts. Visitor information: Visit Clarksville, 335 Franklin St., 1-800-530-2487.
What this means for you
- Park free on weekends, after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on city holidays.
- Start at the Customs House Museum or the riverwalk at McGregor Park.
- Evenings: the Roxy, Downtown Commons concerts and F&M Bank Arena are within a few blocks.
- Saturday mornings, May to October: the Clarksville Downtown Market on Public Square.
The landmarks
- Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, 200 S. Second St. The 1898 building at Second and Commerce streets was built as a federal post office and customs house for the tobacco trade, served as the city electric department’s offices from 1939 to 1983, and opened as a museum in 1984. It survived the F3 tornado that hit downtown on Jan. 22, 1999. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (museum history).
- Roxy Regional Theatre, now at its temporary home at 114 Public Square, stages musicals and plays most of the year as it plans a move into the city’s new performing arts center; box office 931-645-7699 (Roxy).
- Poston Block, 126-130 Public Square, and the Clarksville Federal Building are among the downtown National Register listings; the full list is on our history page.
Gathering places
| Place | Address | What happens there |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Commons (Montgomery County) | 215 Legion St. | Central lawn and stage, seasonal water feature, public restrooms; concerts, movie nights, fitness classes, the county tree lighting and New Year’s Eve party |
| F&M Bank Arena | 101 Main St. | Concerts, sports and touring shows |
| McGregor Park and the Cumberland Riverwalk | 640 N. Riverside Drive | 1-mile riverwalk, ADA playground, boat ramp, Christmas on the Cumberland in winter |
| Public Square | 1 Public Square | Clarksville Downtown Market, Saturdays May to October, 8 a.m. to noon |
Downtown @ Sundown, Montgomery County’s summer Friday concert series, fills Downtown Commons on warm evenings; the county posts the lineup on its Downtown Commons page (931-648-5732).
Eat and drink
Restaurants with their own pages, all within a short walk:
- The Mailroom, 116 N. Second St., with a large patio and weekend brunch.
- Strawberry Alley Ale Works, 103 Strawberry Alley, a brewery and scratch kitchen.
- Shelby’s Trio, 304 N. Second St.: Joe’s Garage, the Trattoria di Cat steakhouse and the Skyline 500 rooftop bar.
- Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, 132 Franklin St.
- Yada on Franklin, 111 Franklin St., a casual place “to eat, drink, and gather,” it says.
More in our brunch, date night and live music and nightlife guides.
Parking
From the city’s parking page:
- Meters and garages are enforced 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
- Free on weekdays after 5 p.m., all weekend and on city-observed holidays.
- The first two hours of a ParkMobile on-street session are free once a day (not at coin meters or garages).
- Garage kiosks charge $1.50 an hour and sit in the lot by the historic courthouse at Second and Commerce streets.
Through the year downtown
- Spring and summer: the Downtown Market, Downtown @ Sundown concerts and the Fourth of July.
- Fall: Fright on Franklin and the Veterans Day Parade.
- Winter: Christmas on the Cumberland, the Christmas parade and tree lighting and the New Year’s Eve party.
More: history and landmarks, getting around and free things to do.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in downtown Clarksville?
Visit the Customs House Museum, see a show at the Roxy Regional Theatre, catch a concert at Downtown Commons or F&M Bank Arena, walk the Cumberland Riverwalk at McGregor Park and eat along Franklin Street and Strawberry Alley.
Is parking free in downtown Clarksville?
On weekends, weekdays after 5 p.m. and city holidays, downtown meters and garages are free. Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. they are enforced, but the first two hours of a ParkMobile street session are free.
Where is the Clarksville visitor center?
Visit Clarksville lists its office at 335 Franklin St.; call 1-800-530-2487.
What are the Customs House Museum hours?
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, at 200 S. Second St.
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