Johnson County will celebrate its bicentennial with a special festival in conjunction with the Franklin Fall Festival on Saturday.
RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL
Don’t be surprised to bump into Ben Franklin in downtown Franklin this weekend.
As you’re walking around the Johnson County bicetennial celebration — held in conjunction with Franklin’s Fall Festival — you’ll hear from reenactors talking about settling this wild part of Indiana in 1823. People can try making candles or churning butter, and see antique farm equipment used locally over the past two centuries.
“Our Bicentennial Celebration on Saturday will give the people of Johnson County a chance to both celebrate and witness history,” said David Pfeiffer, director of the Johnson County Musuem of History. “We’ll have demonstrators and re-enactors on hand for visitors to see what life was like in the past. For us at the museum, we always want to engage with the public on history as much as we can and these events give us the perfect opportunity to do so.”
And when they’re ready to jump 200 years back to the present, visitors can enjoy food trucks, live music, and even dashing doxies.
The county’s bicentennial celebration brings together much of what has made Johnson County such a unique and special place to live. Parades, photo booths and fireworks frame the exuberant nature of the community on Saturday, while the Heritage Days activities at the Johnson County Museum of History feature demonstrators, vehicle displays and more to get a glimpse of the past.
Taken together, the event is a chance to mark 200 years in a way only Johnson County could.
“In Franklin, we do a lot of partnerships with a lot of groups for a lot of events,” said Holly Johnston, community events and program director for Franklin Parks and Recreation. “We were glad we could help out with some of the county’s bicentennial things and combine it together. It’s what makes this community special.”
As organizers were figuring out the best way to mark the county’s bicentennial, they decided to come alongside an existing Johnson County tradition and amplify it.
The Franklin Fall Festival, one of the county’s most popular events, seemed like a great fit.
“A lot of things are the same old traditions — the parade, entertainment throughout the day, concert at night, fireworks,” Johnston said.
But key additions have been made as well. One of the most significant are the number of vendors taking part — it seemed as if everyone wanted to be involved in the bicentennial event, Johnston said.
More than 120 are scheduled to appear on Saturday.
“It’s the most ever. Last year, we probably had close to 100 but not over it. It’s been very popular this year,” Johnston said.
The Daily Journal is one vendor taking part. Newsroom staff will greet the public and give away copies of our Johnson County Bicentennial special section, which includes stories about people and places that have shaped Johnson County’s history for the past 200 years. Subscribers will also get a copy inserted into their weekend paper on Saturday.
Other activities also have a bicentennial flavor to them.
On West Court Street, organizers have planned a look at historic vehicles through the ages, including agricultural equipment, law enforcement vehicles and military machinery from Camp Atterbury.
The museum’s Heritage Days will take visitors back into the pioneer times, to see what life was like at the time when Johnson County was founded.
“We want to show that history of how we made candles, or how we made apple cider — things we take for granted now,” Pfeiffer said.
Though bicentennial events have been ongoing throughout the year, this central celebration will be a way for more people to be involved with ceremoniously honor the county’s heritage.
“I think community is such an important part of this celebration,” Pfeiffer said. “We’ve tried to incorporate a wide variety of communities and organizations in the planning of all our bicentennial events. I’m hoping people can learn more about the rich history of this county as a whole.”
A centerpiece of the festival is the annual parade, where community groups, high school marching bands and more take to the streets in joyous revelry.
This year’s grand marshal, Jean Davis, has a unique historic tie — she had been named the Sesquicentennial Queen for in 1973 for the county’s 150th birthday. She’ll be joined by Jenna Kelsay, this year’s Johnson County Fair Queen.
“It’s been such an honor to have been asked to represent the bicentennial as a grand marshal in the parade. It doesn’t get much better than that,” Davis said.
The festivities actually get going on Friday with a performance by No Fences, a Garth Brooks tribute band. The band had originally been scheduled to perform on Aug. 25, but excessive heat caused organizers to move it back, Johnston said.
Those who aren’t too worn out from boot scootin’ all night long can wake up early on Saturday for Rock Around the Block: Moyra’s Mile. Starting at 8 a.m., people are invited to dance throughout the streets while spreading positive messages of encouragement in the form of painted rocks.
Vendors, food trucks, the beer and wine garden, and entertainment will be held throughout the day. People can also get their pictures taken in a retro VW bus at the Penny Lane Photo Booth.
With everything going on, it might be hard to take part in all of the activities featured this weekend. But one of the Fall Festival’s most popular events is not to be missed: the Dachshund Derby.
Some of the area’s fastest wiener dogs put their skills to the test during the short race, which is hosted by the Humane Society of Johnson County. The event will be held at Young’s Creek Park this year, as opposed to Province Park in previous years.
“It’s always a favorite,” Johnston said. “It’ll be fun to have it at the amphitheater, people don’t have to leave downtown in the middle of the day to go see it.”
As the day winds down, people will gather at the DriveHubler.com Amphitheater for Mellencougar, a tribute band to John Mellencamp. The bow-tie on the day will be a fireworks display.
Organizers are hoping for a record-breaking crowd.
“People always come out for the Fall Festival, because it’s turning fall. The parade brings a lot of people, the concerts, the fireworks, even the vendors. It’s just fun to see everyone come out and enjoy everything we can provide,” Johnston said.
IF YOU GO
Franklin Fall Festival and Johnson County Bicentennial Celebration
Friday
5:30-10 p.m.: Food trucks and beer/wine garden
7-10 p.m.: No Fences, a Garth Brook tribute band
Saturday
8-10 a.m.: Rock Around the Block: Moyra’s Mile, 1 Caisson Drive
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Entertainment
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Vendor booths, Jackson, Monroe and West Court streets
11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Historic vehicle displays, West Court Street
11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days, Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St.
11 a.m.-10 p.m.: Food trucks
Noon-10 p.m.: Beer/wine garden
1 p.m.: Parade, downtown Franklin
3 p.m.: Dachshund Derby, Young’s Creek Park
5-9 p.m.: Penny Lane Photo Booth
7-10 p.m.: Mellencougar, a John Mellencamp tribute band
9:30 p.m.: Fireworks
