Harvest Festival Registration is Open!

Registration for booth space at the Franklin Downtown Partnership’s 16^th annual Harvest Festival s now open! The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., on Main, West Central, Dean and Depot Streets in downtown Franklin. The rain date is Oct. 14. Organizers expect booth space for this event to sell out. Franklin Downtown Partnership members receive a booth for free; non-members pay $125. Downtown businesses must send in an application to ensure store-front space. Booths are assigned on a first-come first-serve basis. Follow the registration link and pay online through the “Donate” button on this page.

Kindness Rock Garden Installed in Downtown Franklin

Franklin’s new Kindness Rock Garden has been installed and is located on Main Street in downtown. The project is an extension of a popular national initiative called The Kindness Rocks Project that has a mission of promoting random acts of kindness to unsuspecting recipients by painting and dropping inspirational rocks.

The project was a community effort: Berry Insurance spearheaded the Kindness Rock Garden, Rockland Trust donated the space, Franklin Agway put down river stones and planted marigolds, and the Downtown Franklin Partnership facilitated the project. 

The project kicked off during the Partnership’s Strawberry Stroll in June when children and adults painted rocks at the Berry Insurance booth. 

“We’re excited to bring a dedicated Kindness Rock Garden to downtown Franklin, said Berry Insurance President Kaitlyn Pintarich. “Watching the residents paint rocks at the Strawberry Stroll was so rewarding – together we can help spread more kindness one rock at a time.”

Berry Insurance plans to continue to offer rocks and supplies for people looking to make them throughout the year and is also hoping to offer one or two “paint nights” a year for community members. 

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Kindness Rock Garden next to Rockland Trust, 58 Main St., Franklin. 

“Rockland Trust is excited to be part of the Kindness Rocks Project and invite all of Franklin to stop by the garden outside of our branch to see the wonderful designs and messages firsthand,” said Laurel Katsaros, Vice President of Retail at Rockland Trust and Franklin Branch Manager. “We take great pride in our community involvement and were delighted to participate in a program that emphasizes positivity and strengthening relationships with one another.”

Harvest Festival October 13

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is planning downtown Franklin’s Harvest Festival for Saturday, October 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In case of rain the event will take place on Sunday, October 14. 

Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the event which will feature music, entertainers, delicious foods, crafts, give-aways, sidewalk sales and more. For the first time, the Harvest Festival will also host a Fall Craft Beer & Wine Tent. 

In mid-August, the Partnership will post a link to register online through the FDP website, www.franklindowntownpartnership.org. Booths are free to 2018 FDP business members and $125 for non-members. The registration deadline for participants is September 20. Downtown business owners need to send in a registration to secure store-front space. A late charge of $35 will be added to registration forms received after September 20, and no registrations will be accepted after September 30. Booth space is expected to sell-out prior to the deadline so businesses are encouraged to sign up during August if they want to secure a booth. 

“Traditionally, the Harvest Festival has been our biggest FDP event,” said FDP Executive Director Lisa Piana. “We expect this year will also be incredibly popular and we’re excited to bring such a vibrant event to downtown Franklin.”

Sponsors are needed to help support the Harvest Festival. Sponsorship forms are posted on the FDP website. Alternatively, business owners can contact the FDP office. Questions about the Harvest Festival should be directed to Scott Martin, chair of the Harvest Festival, at fdpharvestfest@gmail.com.

FDP General Meeting June 14

Join us Thursday for the last FDP general meeting until September. The Campanella Room is located on the first floor of the Dean College Campus Center across from the Dining Center.