Fall Festival refreshes downtown Franklin

The weather cleared by Saturday, Sept. 28, to allow for a highly successful 2024 Franklin Fall Festival that drew an estimated 1,500-plus patrons to downtown Franklin.

Mayor Robert “Bobby” Cutchins said, “I thought it was a great event that has provided nothing but positive feedback from both vendors and patrons.”

Franklin Director of Tourism A’Risha Jones said the festival featured 120 vendors, including food trucks, and she described the overall event as “a wonderful success, showcasing a vibrant blend of local creativity and autumn spirit.”

She noted that the festival featured talented artisans offering an array of handmade crafts, from cozy, knitted scarves to beautiful jewelry.

“Visitors enjoyed a festive atmosphere with delicious fall treats, beverages and entertainment, all while supporting local vendors,” she stated. “The event successfully brought together the community and visitors, celebrating both the artistic talent and the charm of fall.”

The Franklin Farmers Market was open, further expanding the offerings of the festival.

Jones noted that particularly popular features of the festival included the massive American flag hung above Main Street by Franklin Fire and Rescue and the new addition of a stilt walker.

“I’d like to thank all of the vendors and patrons who made (the festival) a complete success,” Cutchins said. “Also a huge ‘thank you’ goes out to all of the city of Franklin workers and volunteers that made this event possible.”

Jones said, “The festival continues to be a highlight in Franklin’s annual calendar, creating a space for community engagement and economic support for local artisans.”

Cutchins noted that the city now also offers an additional festival in the spring that provides patrons with a similar experience in the first half of the year.

“So now we have two big events for the people to enjoy and look forward to,” he said. “We look forward to more successful events next year within the city of Franklin.”

The city and surrounding area were hit with significant rain on Friday, Sept. 27, due to Hurricane Helene. This inclement weather led to the cancellation this year of the city’s annual Food Truck Rodeo that had been set for Friday evening at Barrett’s Landing.

Other states were hit especially hard by the hurricane.

Cutchins said, “I’d like to say that our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected throughout the southeast and western North Carolina, Virginia and into Tennessee from Hurricane Helene. Our city was impacted majorly 25 years ago with the major flooding from Hurricane Floyd, so our hearts go out to all of those impacted by the recent storm. It will take time, but each one of those areas will pull together and come back strong in the future.”

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