The Blue River Band plays at the Firecracker Festival at the Driverhubler.com Amphitheater in downtown Franklin on July 3, 2023. The locally-based band will perform once again during the festival on July 3.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Every July, it’s an opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate American traditions.
People gather at the Norman P. Blankenship Firecracker Festival in Franklin to gorge on carnival foods and listen to live music throughout the afternoon and evening. Kids relish in getting their faces painted, while adults sit and relax inside the beer and wine garden.
At the end of the evening, people all ooh and aah as fireworks dance across the sky.
The annual Firecracker Festival will be held from 5 p.m. until after dark on July 3 at the DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Youngs Creek Park, 237 W. Monroe St.
Festivities kick off with food vendors, face painting and the Cornett Roofing Beer & Wine Garden. The Franklin Community Band ramps up the patriotic fervor with a special concert starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by a headlining set by the Blue River Band from 7 to 10 p.m.
Blending country, rock, blues and other elements together, the Greenwood-based Blue River Band stays true to the grit that makes country music great. Their shows are heavy on the energy, with the band performing their own original songs as well as beloved country classics.
The night wraps up with fireworks as the sky erupts in pyrotechnic majesty.
IF YOU GO
Norman P. Blankenship Firecracker Festival
When: 5 to 11 p.m. July 3
Where: DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Youngs Creek Park, 237 W. Monroe St.
Schedule:
5 p.m.: Food trucks, face painting, Cornett Roofing beer and wine garden opens
5;30-6:30 p.m.: Franklin Community Band concert
7 to 10 p.m.: Blue River Band
10:10 p.m.: Fireworks
