For the Locals: Franklin Pumpkinfest!

Franklin, TN, is hosting its annual Pumpkinfest this Saturday, October 29th from 10 am to 9 pm with more than 75 arts and crafts vendors, a children’s activity area on 3rd Ave. S., Five Points stage, Sister Cities’ Great Pumpkin, Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-off and more.

Held in conjunction with Pumpkinfest is the second annual Franklin Battle of the BBQ presented by Heineken. For more information, please see www.franklinsbattleofthebbq.com

And there’s a night-time cemetery tour in Downtown Franklin with the “Grave Matters: The Stories Behind the Stones” tours Saturday night, Oct. 29, at the Old City Cemetery and Rest Haven Cemetery from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, see www.franklinonfoot.com

The street festival of Pumpkinfest is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Franklin’s Main Street from First to Fifth Avenues. The fun continues until 9 p.m. on Main Street from 4th to 5th Avenues, with children’s activities and booths closing at 6 p.m.

Other activities include:

• The Battle of the BBQ Peoples’ Choice tent on 4th Ave. S. invites the public is invited to taste pulled pork (at $5) or ribs ($1 per bone) with Heineken beers in the Heineys and Butts tent. Be sure to vote for your favorites!
• The Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-off on 4th Ave. N. from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Oct. 29. Tickets to taste chili from local organizations and restaurants will be available for $5 at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Main during the event.
• Fall and holiday arts and crafts around the Public Square from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 60 vendors will be displaying hand-crafted items perfect for fall and the holidays.
• Cemetery Tours 7 to 9 p.m. Participants will walk from tombstone to tombstone at the Historic Resthaven cemetery on North Margin Street, hearing from costumed re-enactors about the people who are buried in certain graves. Tickets are $15 per person for adults, $5 for children, but the activity is not recommended for children under 6. Tickets are available from www.franklinonfoot.com and at the Heritage Foundation. Participants should bring a flashlight and wear close-toe shoes.
• Costume Contest starts at 3 p.m. at the Five Points stage. It’s $1 for each entry and categories are pets, children ages 0-5, ages 6-13 and 14+. Enter at the headquarters tent on the Public Square between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Five Points Stage:

10am—Franklin School of Performing Arts

11am—All That Dance

11:30am—Prima Performance

Noon—Waste Management Elvis

12:10—Scott Ellis School of Dance

1pm—Kristin Butke School of Irish Dance

2pm—Tommy Jackson’s Rocky Top Revue

2:50pm-Pull-Tight Players Youth Guild

3pm—Waste Management Elvis

3:10pm—Costume Contest

4pm —O’Brien School of Dance

4:50pm—Waste Management Elvis

5pm—’50s Music—The Fabulous Suedes

6pm—’60s Music—SixtyFour Band

7pm—’70s Music—Emy and Soul Survivors

8pm—’80s Music—SASS

The annual fall event is presented by Bank of America and Waste Management and produced by the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County and its division, the Downtown Franklin Association. Pumpkinfest is co-sponsored by the City of Franklin, Jackson National Life, Publix Super Markets, Fox 17, MY30, CW58, Williamson A.M./The Tennessean, Clear Channel Radio, and Williamson Medical Center. Pumpkinfest is open to the public with free admission except for special activities as noted. For more information please call 615-591-8500 or visit www.historicfranklin.com.