FRANKLIN
This year’s Franklin Fall Festival will be bigger and better than ever, according to the Downtown Franklin Association’s Executive Director Dan Howe, featuring live music by the Ocean Breeze Band on Saturday, and an expanded geographic area for vendors.

“This year we’re going from South Street all the way down to Fourth Avenue,” Howe said. “We will have the traditional inflatables and pony rides on Middle Street and the east end of Second Avenue. We’ve expanded our types of entertainment that go along with the festival and the number of [vendor] booths.”

Festivities will begin Friday evening with a block party at Barrett’s Landing, 6-11 p.m. featuring live music from Strictly Bizzness from 6-8:30 p.m. and the Deloreans from 8:30-11 p.m.

Fireworks will be launched at 9:15 p.m. There is a $5 admission fee to attend the block party.

Saturday festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with the unveiling of this year’s Downtown Franklin Association Christmas ornament — the “Cotton J” tugboat, which will be available for purchase at $20. After the festival, the ornaments will be for sale at the Franklin visitor center. The “Cotton J” tugboat, originally built for use by the Army Corps of Engineers, was purchased for the River Department of the Camp Manufacturing Company to transport lumber up the Blackwater River from North Carolina to the paper mill.

The Ocean Breeze Band will perform from 11 a.m. To 3 p.m. in Fred’s Restaurant’s parking lot. Additional festivities for Saturday include the Franklin Farmer’s Market, a classic car show at Barrett’s Landing, arts and crafts booths, children’s games and activities, and more. The Farmer’s Market will include a display of antique tractors and live bluegrass music.

We’re hoping mother nature holds off,” Howe said. “It’s a rain-or-shine event.”