Save the Date for the Harvest Festival

The Franklin Downtown Partnership will hold the Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 5 in downtown Franklin. In case of rain, the event will take place on Sunday, October 6. 

Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the event which will feature music, delicious foods, crafts, give-aways, sidewalk sales, and more. For the first time, there will also be beer and wine sold during the Harvest Festival.

On August 15, the Partnership will post a link to register for booth spaces online through the FDP website. Booths are free to Franklin FDP business members and $125 for non-members. Booth spaces are expected to sell-out so businesses are encouraged to sign up in August. Email questions to Event Chair Scott Martin, fdpevent@gmail.com.

“The Harvest Festival is our biggest event of the year,” said FDP Executive Director Lisa Piana. “We are looking forward to another great event that brings people into our beautiful downtown area.”

Strawberry Stroll Wrap Up

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and attended the Strawberry Stroll on Friday night! We had an attendance of more than 4,000 people!

We especially appreciate the following who played a major role in the Strawberry Stroll!

• Dean Bank Branch Manager Jen Hurst and staff for serving thousands of shortcakes
• Dean College for preparing the biscuits and slicing the strawberries
• Dean Bank and Michael Carroll for hosting Dancing on Dean
• Strawberry Stroll Committee Chair Scott Martin
• Strawberry Stroll Committee members Roberta Trahan, Pandora Carlucci, Bryan Taberner, Beth Simon, and Jen Hurst
• All the volunteers that came out to help with set up and clean-up
• Franklin DPW and Police Department
• Laurel Katsaros from Rockland Trust and Michael Mouhanna from Fourzol, LLC Property Management for use of their parking lots

THANK YOU to the following businesses who sponsored the Strawberry Stroll!

• Platinum sponsor: Dean Bank
• Gold sponsor: Dean College
• Silver sponsors: Atria-Franklin, Camford Property Group, Middlesex Savings Bank
• Bronze sponsors: 9 Round 30 Minute Kickbox Fitness, Berry Insurance, Chestnut Dental Associates, DCU, Encore Music Academy & Recording Studios, Fenton Financial Group, Franklin Cultural District Committee, Franklin Ford, Gentle Dental, Glen Meadow Apartments, Keefe Insurance, Mosquito Mary’s, Orangetheory Fitness, Simon's Furniture
• Friends sponsors: Beaux Regards Original Photographic Art, Feet in Motion, Franklin Central Pizza, Franklin Dental Associates, Garelick Farms, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Renewal by Anderson, Rescom Exteriors

🍓SEE MORE STRAWBERRY STROLL PHOTOS HERE 🍓

Strawberry Stroll June 14

The Franklin Downtown Partnership’s annual Strawberry Stroll is scheduled in downtown Franklin on Friday, June 14 and is expected to be the largest Stroll in its 17-year history. Come to the family-fun event and enjoy live bands, sidewalk sales and activities from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Main Street and Dean Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic during the Strawberry Stroll. The rain date is Saturday, June 15.

“The Strawberry Stroll is our opportunity to invite people to come together 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, crafters and entertainment we have for this year’s festival will make this community event special for all ages, while showcasing what shopping and dining downtown offers.”

For the first time, the FDP is inviting residents to wear straw hats to the Stroll to honor Franklin’s straw hat manufacturing history!

For the second year in a row, Dean Bank has organized Dancing on Dean, a fun dance party featuring two local bands: Matt Zajac and The Northeast Groove.

Read all the details of the Strawberry Stroll here and view the performance schedule here.

Strawberry Stroll Performance Schedule

Dean Bank Stage:
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Matt Zajac
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. - The Northeast Groove

Intermission Patio:
4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - FSPA
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. - Jamie Barrett
6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - FSPA
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - The Padula Brothers 

In Front of MyFM Remote Station 
5:15 p.m. - Feet in Motion (for 15 minutes)
6 p.m. - Feet in Motion (for 15 minutes)

Strawberry Stroll Map

Click to enlarge

FDP General Meeting Thursday, June 6

Plan to spend an hour with us tomorrow morning for Franklin Downtown Partnership's general meeting. The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 a.m. in the Campanella Board Room of the Dean College Campus Center. 

Meet Partnership members, network with other business owners, and hear updates about the town, state and FDP. If you're concerned you don't have time, remember the meeting only lasts an hour, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. That hour will be well worth your investment of time if you meet a new client, a new customer, make a connection, or learn something new! 

This month, we will have a panel discussion on economic development. It will feature Town of Franklin Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Taberner, Brad Chaffee of Camford Property Group, and Jay Mello of As Built Brewing.

Bryan will give an update on the town's economic development study that will include a market analysis and market position for Downtown Franklin, The Crossing, and the Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District. He will highlight the potential benefits of this study to the businesses and organizations in Franklin.

Brad will follow with a brief update on his residential condo development and opportunities for collaboration and economic development. 

Jay will introduce As Built Brewing to the Partnership and discuss opportunities for collaboration and economic development with this first brewery to open in Franklin.

Please join us!

General Meeting June 6

The next general meeting of the Franklin Downtown Partnership will be held Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 a.m. Please join us in the Campanella Board Room in the Dean College Campus Center.

Strawberry Stroll Registration Open

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is organizing the 17th annual Strawberry Stroll, set for Friday, June 14, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Franklin with a rain date of Saturday, June 15. The Strawberry Stroll is the largest event of the season with more than 100 vendors, food booths, entertainment and activities. The Partnership is excited to announce that Dean Bank is the Platinum Sponsor of the Strawberry Stroll and will once again host Dancing on Dean, featuring two local bands at the corner of Dean Avenue and Main Street.

Businesses, crafters and community groups are all welcome to participate. Booth spaces are free to Partnership members; fees start at $75 for non-members. The deadline to participate in the event without a $25 late fee is May 24. No registrations will be accepted after May 30. To register for a booth space, go to http://bit.ly/strawberrystroll. For questions, please email Strawberry Stroll Chair Scott Martin.

Register for Strawberry Stroll Booth Space

Registration for the 2019 Strawberry Stroll is now open! Booth space is limited. The Strawberry Stroll will be held in downtown Franklin on June 14 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a rain date of June 15. Booth spaces are free to Partnership members prior to May 24; fees start at $75 for non-members. 

Beautification Day Scheduled for May 18

Volunteers are needed for the Franklin Downtown Partnership and Franklin Garden Club's annual Beautification Day in downtown Franklin and the Town Common on Saturday, May 18. 

Community service hours are available to high school sports teams, scout groups and students needing volunteer opportunities. Dozens of volunteers are needed to help plant flowers and greenery on the downtown bridge and in barrels in front of businesses. Volunteers with trucks are also needed to help pick up a few trays of flowers at 7 a.m. at Fairmount Fruit Farm, 887 Lincoln St., Franklin.

“Every year, we look forward to spring and planting red, white and blue flowers in Franklin,” said Beautification Day Chairperson Eileen Mason. “The flowers extend a warm welcome to the downtown area to both residents and visitors. Please consider helping us plant on May 18 - many hands make light work.”

Anyone who would like to lend a hand can grab their garden gloves and meet at 8 a.m. in the small commuter parking lot on West Central Street near Central Pizza and Hair Mania. Work is expected to wrap up by 11 a.m., or earlier if there are more volunteers. The event will go on rain or shine. If you can volunteer, please notify us by email.

Sponsors are still needed for Beautification Day. Please email downtown.franklin@yahoo.com to be listed as a sponsor on signs.