Nearly 8,000 people are expected to attend the largest-ever Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 5 from noon to 5 p.m.! The Franklin Downtown Partnership’s 17th annual Harvest Festival will be held in downtown Franklin. In case of rain, the Harvest Festival will take place on Sunday, October 6.
This year’s Harvest Festival will feature great entertainment, kids’ activities, artisans and crafters, fall-themed giveaways, and an expanded food court. The expanded food court will have pizza, Italian sausage and pepper, chicken, burgers, ice cream, and much more. New this year, The BLACK BOX will host an Oktoberfest during Harvest Festival featuring German food and music, as well as wine from LaCantina Winery and beer from As Built Brewing Company, Start Line Brewing Company & Shovel Town Brewery.
More than 160 vendors, crafters, exhibitors and groups will participate in this celebration of the arrival of autumn! The festival will take place on Main Street, Dean Avenue, West Central Street, Depot Street, and the large parking area behind Rockland Bank. Dean Bank will be selling cider doughnuts and warm cider, with proceeds supporting Partnership events, in front of the bank.
“The Harvest Festival is our opportunity to invite people to gather in downtown and have fun experiencing the local businesses throughout our community that are unique to this area,” said Scott Martin, president of the Franklin Downtown Partnership and event chairperson. “The mix of activities and entertainment we have for this year’s festival will make this community event special for all ages, while showcasing the wonderful shopping and dining opportunities in downtown.”
There will be an abundance of entertainment at the Harvest Festival. Dean Bank will host Dancing on Dean, featuring the bands Ben Gardner’s Boat and The Noyz. Other entertainment includes fashion shows by Dynasty Models and Talent, performances by Feet in Motion Dance Studio at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., and live broadcasting by MyFM 101.3.
During the Harvest Festival, the Franklin Historical Museum will be open and serving seasonal favorites. The Franklin Art Association will host “Autumn Splendor,” a fine art painting and photography exhibit in the Rockland Trust building next to the bank. Attendees may vote for a “People’s Choice” award.
The Children’s Area, located in the parking lot behind Rockland Trust, will feature a petting zoo and Ruby’s Ice Cream Truck. Additionally, the Franklin Fire Department will host its always-popular Touch-a-Truck event, and Bobo the Clown will be creating balloon animals.
During the Harvest Festival, Main Street, and portions of Dean and Depot Streets, will be closed to vehicular traffic.
“We fully expect this year’s event to be our largest-ever Harvest Festival. This year, we have more vendors, a wider variety of foods and an Oktoberfest celebration,” said Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. “As always, we have lots of live entertainment lined for this fun, family event. We thank our local sponsors who make this event possible!”
Silver sponsors for the Harvest Festival are Dean Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank and Rockland Trust.
Bronze sponsors are Atria - Franklin, Arcadia Dental, Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill, Bernon Family Branch YMCA, Chestnut Dental, DCU, Dynasty Models and Talent, Fenton Financial Group, Franklin Ford, Franklin Cultural District, Glen Meadows Apartments, Keefe Insurance, and LaCantina Winery.
Friends sponsors are Bank of America, Beaux Regards Photographic Art, Camford Property Group, Charles River Bank, D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Encore Music Academy & Recording Studios, Franklin Glass Company, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Mint Dental of Franklin, MyFM 101.3, Rescom Exteriors, and Simon’s Furniture.
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit, 501©3 organization made up of 275 business owners, community leaders and residents working to stimulate economic development downtown and create a positive impact throughout the area. Go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/ for more information.