19th Annual Pumpkinfest, Franklin, North Carolina
The world famous pumpkin role, a Halloween parade down main street and a nine foot tall dragon are just a few of the things coming to Franklin for the 19th annual PumpkinFest. Right when the leaves are at their peak and the mountains of western North Carolina are set on fire with rich reds, golden yellows, and lushes oranges, the town of Franklin hosts the biggest annual fall festival in the south!
19 years ago the leaders of Franklin set out to host a family-friendly celebration of the Autumn season along a bustling main street, and nearly two decades later PumpkinFest continues to grow with this year’s event planning to be bigger than ever!
“We have expanded the Pumpkin Roll this year so more pumpkins will be able to roll at a time,” said Franklin Town Manager Summer Woodard. “This will allow more “rollers” to participate and cut down on wait times. One of the best balloon artist’s in the southeast will be thrilling the kids as well as street performers including a roving magician. The magician will also perform a stage show. Be on the lookout too for a knight riding a dragon. There will also be live music from guitarist Ronnie Evans and the classic rock of Tea 4 Three plus a record 90 vendors in attendance featuring everything from arts & crafts to great food.”
For the first time in the festival’s history, there is a waiting list of vendors to set up at PumpkinFest, promising that those in attendance have the best arts, crafts, and fall specials available. From kid friendly games and hand carved wooden toys to locally crafted pottery and deliciously served up food, vendors play a huge part in ensuring PumpkinFest is the perfect kick off to the holiday season.
PumpkinFest is Franklin’s biggest festival and the world famous pumpkin roll down Frogtown, paired with the always entertaining pumpkin pie eating contest on the square, the festival has a little something for everyone. The festival keeps growing each year and to help with some of those growth pains, the town of Franklin is bringing a shuttle option to the table that will expand parking. Macon County Transit will be shuttling people to and from PumpkinFest free of charge this year from Franklin High School.
“We work hard each year to keep the festival fresh,” said Woodard. “Yes we have standard events, but we bring new elements to the festival each year. It also goes back to family. There are activities for all age groups to enjoy in a family-friendly atmosphere.”
Grab your family or grab a friend, throw on your best costume and join Franklin in welcoming Fall as you march down main street in your Halloween best for the 19th annual PumpkinFest. PumpkinFest kicks off downtown Franklin at 9 a.m. and the fun doesn’t stop until 4 p.m.
- Published in Special Events
Pumpkinfest
24th Annual PumpkinFest!
The Town of Franklin presents the 24th Annual PumpkinFest
featuring the World Famous Pumpkin Roll • Saturday, October 17, 2020
Vendor Applications are now available for the 24th Annual PumpkinFest to be held on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Applications maybe be downloaded below and are in PDF format.
– Arts & Crafts Application Download (PDF)
– Food Vendor Application Download (PDF)
– Non-Profit Application Download (PDF)
Get ready to let the good times roll during Franklin, North Carolina’s 24th Annual PumpkinFest! This street festival and celebration of Autumn is pure familiy fun! Children and adults alike will have a blast taking part in traditional and some very non-traditional fall festivities during Western North Carolina’s premier autumn festival.
PumpkinFest rolls into action on Saturday, October 17th and Historic Downtown Franklin, North Carolina is full tilt with everything pumpkin. Bring your pumpkin (or purchase one downtown) and sign up early for the World Famous Pumpkin Roll. The Costume Parade and Contest is another highlight of the day as well as the Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest. And don’t miss out on more than 80 vendors including mountain arts & crafts along with great food! Don’t miss our annual special attractions and more!. PumpkinFest runs from 9am to 4pm and is held rain or shine in Franklin, NC.
More information can be obtained by calling 828-524-2516 or drop us an email at pumpkinfest@franklinnc.com. You can also follow PumpkinFest on Facebook to keep posted on the latest information!
- Published in Festivals
Treasures and Secrets
Calling Franklin, North Carolina the Gem of the Appalachians maybe a bit cliché, as the word play has been used far too many times in reference to her abundant mineral deposits; however, cliché aside, I’m in the camp believing she is the gem of the Appalachians. It’s not solely for her mineral offerings; in fact, those offerings pale in comparison to the true rarities, treasures and secrets that lie and have lain beneath the dark soil of Franklin, adding greatly to Franklin’s mystique and reputation. A fine example of Franklin’s being a vault of secrets occurred in the hot summer months of 1898. Attempting to beat the Southern heat, several teenagers were swimming in the Little Tennessee River, nearest the edge of the ancient Nikwasi Mound. One child called out, after careful examination of something he’d seen sticking out of the earthen bank along the river, “Guys, I think I’ve found a skull!” The other teens, with wide eyes, and having found some sticks to dig with, began digging around the alleged skull. After several hours, and after running home for shovels, the teens placed on display their finds. Three entire, and intact human skeletons. Two of the skeletons were nothing but bone; however, the third was still wrapped in a rotting garment of some type. Not only that, a portion of a leather strap still crossed the chest of the skeleton and a piece of what appeared to be a hat still clung to his boney forehead. More shocking still, upon the strap and the hat were two different pieces of metal, both with a still-visible, carved name.
“His name was Danyl Crayne!” One of the kids called out.
The skeletal remains were carefully locked away until the year 1919, when a collector purchased them. His research and the later research of others identified Crayne as having been a Lieutenant in the British Army during the French and Indian War era. He’d been pronounced missing in action, after telling his men that he alone was going to speak with the Cherokee chief at Nikwasi.
The scenes that played out in the 1760s during and after the bloody French and Indian War were often set in Franklin, and many natives and Europeans lost their lives along Franklin’s winding rivers and deep in her vast wilds.
About the author:
Gregg Clark is a native of Macon County, North Carolina. He holds a BA in Professional Writing and a Master’s Degree in teaching English. He’s currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Executive Leadership at Lincoln Memorial University. He teaches English and History at Macon Middle School and he and his wife, herself a third-grade teacher at Iotla Valley Elementary, own and operate Where Shadows Walk, Historic Ghost Tours of Western North Carolina. They have three wonderful children: Erika, Aaron and Shade. Clark currently operates tours in Franklin, Bryson City and Sylva, North Carolina. 2016 will find tours in Highlands and Waynesville as well.
- Published in About Franklin, Outdoor Activities
Summer in Franklin
Now is the time to visit Franklin
Summers in Franklin are nothing short of extraordinary. From miles of winding hiking trails to conquer, to crisp, refreshing waterfalls to cool down in, the natural wonders of Macon County will never cease to amaze you.
August is a bustling time of year for Franklin, with outdoor adventure waiting to be vanquished and annual festivals full of mountain music and delicious treats just begging to be devoured. There are few things better in life than taking a break for the everyday under a shade tree along the Little Tennessee River. The second week in August is a special time in Franklin because its time for the annual Mountain High BBQ Festival filled with cooking competitions, car shows, and great southern tunes.
Let your senses come alive with a splash of traditional southern bbq specialties while you enjoy some good old fashion bluegrass. The Mountain High BBQ festival is just one of the unique treasures on the calendar for Franklin this summer, proving time and time again that this small western North Carolina town can pack a big punch of entertainment for people of all ages.
Before the bbq even has time to cool down, it will soon be time for the leaves perched atop the trees of Macon County to begin the ultimate color show for fall. Seemingly setting the mountains on fire with rich oranges and deep reds, as the leaves start to change colors in Franklin, you are able to experience the true beauty and unmatched dissipation of the change in seasons.
Whether you want to go off the grid along the Appalachian Trail, or go back to your childhood with some delectable southern cooking, right now is the time to drop what you are doing, and Discover Franklin.
- Published in About Franklin
First Annual Franklin RiverFest set for Aug. 23
The Little Tennessee River Basin boasts an incredible amount of ancient artifacts and spectacular views to coincide with a plethora of wildlife. If you think about it, objectively, it’s one of the prime areas within the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s understandable why the Town of Franklin spawned on the banks of the Little Tennessee River long ago. Civilizations dating back long before Christ were uncovered here, demonstrating the sustenance and beauty that this land provided – and continues to provide for towns like Franklin today.
With various access sites along the Little Tennessee River throughout Franklin and the Macon County area, anglers and water recreationists continue to enjoy one of Franklin’s greatest assets.
Speaking of wildlife and having fun on the water; On Saturday, Aug. 23, the Little Tennessee River will be bombarded with ducks and hand-crafted rafts. The first ever Franklin RiverFest of 2014 is coming to Franklin this Saturday. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Franklin – Daybreak, the festival will feature several activities in an effort to raise money for local humanitarian organizations; such as CareNet, the Franklin High School Interact Club, Community Care Clinic, and many more.
The day will kick off at 9 a.m. with a 5K race on the Little Tennessee River Greenway, at the Tassee Shelter on Ulco Drive. Runners can register online at franklinriverfest.com. A duck derby will get underway at 10:30 a.m., with prizes that include get-a-ways to Myrtle Beach, Lake Chatuge and Hilton Head. The climax is the “Anything that Floats Raft Regatta.” Home-made rafts will trek 1.5 miles down the Little Tennessee, with $1,500 in prize money available to the best raft-builders.
Please come out and support a good cause, and help build what is sure to be an ongoing, fun-filled event for everyone. Visit franklinriverfest.com for more information about the first ever Franklin RiverFest.
- Published in Special Events