When fall comes to Franklin area, local residents know what to expect.
Marching bands, colorful floats and community groups parade through the center of town. Dachshunds, their tiny legs pumping, scamper towards the finish line to capture victory and spectators’ hearts. Local bakers put their skills to the test in a themed cooking contest.
Fried fish, fresh-smoked barbecue and just about every other kind of tasty treat is served up for a day’s worth of eating.
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Franklin’s annual fall festival has been a longtime tradition, with people coming together around food, friendship and beloved events.
But even a long-standing event can use an infusion of energy, which Franklin gets this year from a new name and the addition of dozens of vendors offering handmade and vintage goods throughout the festival. The Franklin Fall Vintage Festival, scheduled for Saturday, will meld old and new together for a unique experience this year, said Holly Johnston, community events and programs director for the Franklin Parks & Recreation Department.
“This festival has a lot of old things. The fish fry has been going on for years. The baking contest, for years. The Dachshund Derby, for years. You want to bring in new things, but your old traditions are so great. So you want to balance that,” she said.
The vintage part of the fall festival came together through a partnership between local vendors and festival organizers.
Franklin has become a hotspot for vintage shopping, with several shops located around the downtown area offering unique home decor and handmade items. Every year, local vendors work together to put on spring and fall vintage festivals.
In recent years, that autumn gathering took place the weekend following the annual Franklin Fall Festival. Julie Stewart, a co-owner of Salvage Sisters in Franklin, approached Johnston and suggested combining the two fests.
“Why not just do it together? It made a lot of sense,” Johnston said.
Vintage vendors, as well as those who specialize in handmade goods, will be set up in booths around the downtown area and be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Specialized areas will be established in the city parking lot on East Jefferson Street near Branigin Boulevard, as well as on West Jefferson Street and on North Main Street.
“It kind of ties the whole town together,” Johnston said. “We really want to get back to the feel of craft, vintage items that people want to look at and browse and buy. People seem really excited.”
In addition to the vintage vendors, here’s a rundown of what else to expect:
Rock Around the Block: Moyra’s Mile
Details: 9 a.m., with registration starting at 8; start at Franklin City Court, 1 Cassion Drive
What: This unique spin on fundraising 5k races invites the community to dance around downtown Franklin in memory of Moyra McCain. Style Dance Academy, La Rose Dance Studio and the Webb Elementary dance team will all be on hand to help you shake your groove thing. Registration is $20 per person or $60 for a family of four.
Community entertainment
Details: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Main stage at Monroe and South Main streets
What: See local dance groups, musicians and other entertainers perform throughout the day.
Food Vendors
Details: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., East Court Street
What: Savor the best food items from around Johnson County and beyond, with vendors all grouped together in one area for easy snacking throughout the day.
Lion’s Club Fish Fry
Details: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monroe and Water streets parking lot
What: Fill yourself with freshly fried fish and other items, such as tenderloin, all-beef hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, chips, drinks and homemade desserts. Proceeds benefit the Franklin Lions Club.
Baking contest
Details: Enter by 11 a.m., drop off at Jefferson and East Court streets
What: Show off your skills in the kitchen in this year’s baking contest, which focuses on pineapple as a main ingredient. Prizes will be awarded to champions in the bread category, pie, cake, miscellaneous and an overall champ. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m. on the main stage.
Kids Zone
Details: Noon to 5 p.m., city hall parking lot
What: Keep the kids happy with inflatables, games and other activities throughout the afternoon.
Elks Club beer garden
Details: Noon to 10 p.m., courthouse parking lot
What: Adults looking to cool off and relax can stop into the Elks Club designated beer garden for a cold beer or glass of wine.
Parade
Details: 1 p.m., starting at Northwood Elementary, moving down Walnut Street, through Jefferson Street downtown and south on Home Avenue.
What: The highlight of each year’s fall festival, groups will put on their best show and march through the downtown area, greeting spectators and pumping up the crowds.
”Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”
Details: 2 and 7:30 p.m., Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St.
What: Take a break from the outdoors to enjoy the third installment of the Harry Potter film series, as Harry and his friends encounter the titular escaped prisoner, Sirius Black. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, college students and active military and $4 for children 12 and under.
Dachshund Derby
Details: 3 p.m., Province Park; registration between 2 and 2:45 p.m.
What: One of the most unique and enjoyable events in Johnson County, the derby pits tenacious wiener dogs against one another in a jaunt to the finish line. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 day of. Call the Humane Society of Johnson County at 317-535-6626 for any questions or email [email protected].
Silly Safari
Details: 2:30 p.m., Main Stage
What: Marvel at cuddly, crawly and creepy animals at this popular show, which allows people to get up close with some of the world’s most unique animals.
Rusty Bladen & the Unstoppables
Details: 7 to 10 p.m., Main Stage
What: Bladen, an Indiana mainstay, takes the stage with his band to perform a powerhouse set of music sure to get the crowd fired up. The group performs a mix of radio classics and original songs, with some hippie country-rock tunes mixed in. Pull up a chair and chill out.
Fireworks
Details: 9:28 p.m., shot off just south of the courthouse
What: No big community festival would be complete without fireworks, and festival organizers have planned a dazzling display that is perfectly viewed from around the courthouse square.
