Downtown Franklin Strawberry Stroll Scheduled for Friday, June 8

Enjoy a taste of summer with mouth-watering strawberry shortcake while enjoying entertainment, sidewalk sales and fun activities at the 16th annual Strawberry Stroll in downtown Franklin on June 8.
For the first time in its history, the event is scheduled on a Friday, rather than a Thursday. The Strawberry Stroll will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., rain or shine, on Main Street and Dean Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic.
“We happily listened to the suggestion by residents and businesses to move the Strawberry Stroll to a Friday evening this year,” said Beth Wierling, event co-organizer. “We anticipate booth numbers to surpass last year’s registrations with over 60 vendors already committed to participating. We are especially excited to welcome a food court area, featuring tasty items from our local restaurants and live bands to the Stroll for the first time.”
Dean Bank’s staff will be serving the signature strawberry shortcakes under the tents in front of the bank. Strawberries prepared by Dean College will be piled on top of more than 800 shortcakes and topped with Garelick Farms whipped cream.
“The demand for the strawberry shortcakes was so high last year, that we’ve arranged to have even more strawberries, shortcakes and whipped cream this year,” said Strawberry Stroll co-organizer Jennifer Hurst of Dean Bank. “Our employees always enjoy serving the shortcakes and we look forward to this event every year.”
Plenty of entertainment will be available during the Strawberry Stroll. Guitarists Jamie Barrett and Andrew Barry, in addition to Franklin High School orchestra students, will entertain crowds at the Century 21 parking lot off Main Street.
Dean Bank will premier its Dancing on Dean event that will feature local bands David Rak and Josh Briggs & Friends. Dancing on Dean will be held at the corner of Dean Avenue and Main Street. Dean Bank plans to offer the block-party style Dancing on Dean twice more in the fall.
A variety of activities will be offered that will appeal to young and old. The Franklin Historical Museum will be open and will feature a bridal gown exhibit. The weekly Farmers’ Market which starts at noon will continue to run through 6 p.m. on the common. A new fun, interactive Kindness Rocks activity will be available at the Berry Insurance/Rockland Trust booth. Anyone can paint a rock that will be placed in the town’s new Kindness Rocks Garden.
The Strawberry Stroll is made possible by the support of local sponsors. The event’s Platinum Sponsor is Dean Bank and its Gold Sponsor is Dean College. Silver Sponsors are Atria-Franklin, Franklin Cultural Council and Keefe Insurance. Bronze Sponsors are Chestnut Dental, DCU, Franklin Ford, Glen Meadow Apartments, Middlesex Savings Bank and Teen Revolution. Friends Sponsors are Franklin Central Pizza, Franklin Health & Rehabilitation Center, Renewal by Andersen and Tom Fricker Heating & A/C, Inc.
Entertainment is supported in part by a grant from the Franklin Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
For more information about the Strawberry Stroll, please contact Beth Wierling at strawberrystroll@gmail.com.
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501©3 organization made up of 240 residents, business owners and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll, Harvest Festival and Holiday Stroll, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, greenspace and sculpture projects. For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.