Holiday Stroll Press Release

FDP Looking Ahead to 2011 Holiday Stroll

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is making plans for the 2011 Holiday Stroll, to be held downtown on Thursday, December 1, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to the tree lighting and Santa’s annual visit, the Partnership and the charitable community service group Franklin Food Elves will be collecting items for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Organizers expect about 1,000 people will come downtown for an evening of holiday fun.  A holiday tree lighting ceremony at Dean College will kick off the festivities, complete with carolers, cookies and hot chocolate. Visitors can drop off their Food Pantry donations there and then stroll throughout the downtown to enjoy special promotions and entertainment at participating businesses. Santa will be on hand from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to hear children’s wish lists at Simon’s Furniture, and radio station 103.3 WODS-FM will be at the Berry Insurance parking lot handing out prizes. The Historical Museum will be open for tours that evening too.

For more information on the Stroll please contact event co-chairs Cindy Kozil, ckozil@dean.edu, and Roberta Trahan, Roberta_icu1@verizon.net.

This year’s Stroll will be supported by Silver Sponsors D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Dean Bank, DCU, Ferguson Enterprises, Middlesex Savings Bank and NHS Print, and Bronze Sponsors Judith Butler, MA, L.L.C. , Attorney John J. Roche, Laura Lowe, Realtor, Coldwell Banker, and Franklin Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass. Businesses interested in supporting this event should contact FDP Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com for details. Sponsorship forms can also be found here.

As a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors to run this and other events, including the Strawberry Stroll, the Harvest Festival and Beautification. For more information please contact the FDP at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.  

Holiday Stroll Sponsorship Needed

Holiday Stroll

Thursday, December 1

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sponsorships are needed for this exciting event!


If you are interested in being a sponsor please email Lisa at the FDP office, downtown.franklin@yahoo.com, by Tuesday, October 25 so we can list your business on the flyers!


Bronze Sponsor -- $100
Silver Sponsor -- $250
Gold Sponsor -- $500


Your business will be listed on all flyers, posters, website and in all press releases. SUCH A DEAL!


Thank you for your continued support!  We look forward to another exciting Holiday Stroll. Please contact our Holiday Stroll Co-Chairs if you are interested in participating in the Stroll: Cindy Kozil, ckozil@dean.edu, or Roberta Trahan, roberta_icu1@verizon.net.


Click here for a Sponsorship Registration Form.


Click here for a list of Sponsorship Opportunities.


Click here for the Letter to Businesses.

We're looking ahead to the 2011 Holiday Stroll

If you don't have a Facebook account you can download and print the file from here.2011 Holiday Stroll Letter to Businesses

Sunday's 9th Annual Harvest Festival was a big hit! Thousands of visitors enjoyed everything the festival had to offer -- crafts, music and dancing, exhibits, food and fun. The sun even made an appearance! Check out our slideshow (right) to see hundreds of photos of our vendors, entertainers and visitors. 


THANK YOU to our numerous volunteers and our generous Sponsors! All of you made this event a great success. 


Gold Sponsor:  Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation

Gold Sponsor Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation

Silver Sponsors:  DCU, Green Mountain Chocolates, Middlesex Savings Bank

Silver Sponsor DCU and the Mobile Branch

Silver Sponsor Green Mountain Chocolates

Silver Sponsor Middlesex Savings Bank

Bronze Sponsors:  Byrne Financial Freedom, LLC., Chestnut Dental Associates, Dean Bank, NHS Print and Mike Dunsky/Guaranteed Rate

Bronze Sponsor Byrne Financial Freedom, LLC.

Bronze Sponsor Chestnut Dental Associates

Bronze Sponsor Dean Bank manned the food booth

Friends of the Festival Sponsors:  D.G. Ranieri Supply Company, Fenton Financial Group, Ferguson Enterprises, Keefe Insurance, Ten Key, Inc., and Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, Franklin

Friends of the Festival Sponsor Ferguson Enterprises

Friends of the Festival Sponsor Ten Key, Inc.

Thank you also to the Franklin Police Department and the Franklin Department of Public Works for helping to make this a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Passport Draw Winners

Thank you to all our visitors who used our Harvest Festival Passport and entered the drawing for fabulous prizes donated

by our sponsors and vendors.

Congratulations to our Winners! 

Susan Moore of Franklin won the Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center Ballet Princess Basket valued at $200.


Bonnie McGaffigan of Franklin won the Sally's Alley Provenance Woven Wood Shade valued at $550.


Ginny Greenhalgh of Franklin won the Christine Hogan Tupperware Tupperware item valued at $25.


Shane Cataido of Franklin won the Happy Tails Doggy Daycare Dog Treat Basket valued at $75.


Chris McFarlane of Wrentham won the Hockomock Area YMCA Gift Certificate valued at $100.


Meredith Vaughan of Franklin won The Blu Bead & Paw Italian Onyx Bracelet valued at $15.


Jay Crittenden of Franklin won the FSPA Electric Youth CD valued at $15.


Clare Crawford of Franklin won the Hampton Inn of Franklin and Milford One Night Stay valued at $179.


Judy Shumaker of Franklin won the Gems by Jules Reversible Ribbon Belt valued at $25.


Carol Cotoia of Attleboro won the Studio Seventy Five Jewelry Chalcedony Briolette & Necklace valued at $49.


Warren Mayhen of Franklin won the Ten Key, Inc., Wine Basket valued at $70.


Elizabeth Rawlinson of Lunenburg won the Beaux Regards Photographic Art Artistic Tote Bag & Stationary valued at $27.


Heidi Anderson of Medway won the Franklin Art Association 9x12 Oil on Canvas valued at $220.


JoAnn Laliberte of Franklin won the H&R Block Tax Preparations valued at $200.


Debbie Shook of Norfolk won the Amanda Gard Discovery Toys Quibits Set valued at $60.


Phyllis Mueller of Franklin won the SELF One Hour Facial valued at $65.


Terri Donovan of Franklin won the Grandma Jen's Crafts Gift Certificate valued at $15.


Pam McLeod of Franklin won the TruPickles Gift Certificate valued at $70.


Judy Anderson of Franklin won the LiveARTS Two Tickets to a LiveARTS Concert valued at $36.


Kim Smakal of Franklin won the Clarion Farm Half Hour Private Riding Lesson valued at $50.

Prizes can be picked up during regular branch hours at 

Middlesex Savings Bank, Franklin Village Branch, 

1st Floor, 1000 Franklin Village Drive. 

Harvest Festival Chairperson Angie Grant will contact each winner via email with more details.

Harvest Festival Today

Please join us TODAY for the 

Harvest Festival

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rain or Shine!

Downtown Franklin:  East Central Street, 

West Central Street and Main Street

Crafts, Food, Children's Games and Activities, Historical Museum Tours, Live Entertainment, Antique Cars, Fire Station Open House, Farmers Market, Local Businesses' Specials

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Gold Sponsor:  Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation


Silver Sponsors:  Middlesex Savings Bank, DCU and Green Mountain Chocolates


Bronze Sponsors:  Dean Bank,  Chestnut Dental Associates, Byrne Financial Freedom, LLC., Mike Dunsky/Guaranteed Rate and NHS Print


Friends of the Festival Sponsors:  D.G. Ranieri Supply Company, Ferguson Enterprises, Ten Key, Inc., Keefe Insurance, Fenton Financial Group and Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, Franklin

Updated Map

Here is an updated Harvest Festival Map. Please join us on Sunday!

Updated 2011 Harvest Festival Map

If you don't have a Facebook account you can download and print the file here

Harvest Festival Press Release

Franklin’s Harvest Festival to be Largest Ever

Sandy Chaplin has been readying her hand-crafted bracelets and earrings since last spring in anticipation of the Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Harvest Festival. For a fifth year the jewelry artist and owner of Chappy Girls Studios will set up her customary booth on Main Street.

“My customers come to me with an idea in mind and I make their jewelry while they wait,” she says. “They get a really unique piece of jewelry they’ve helped create. My customers inspire me to come up with new designs all the time.” Chaplin, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, recently designed a bracelet she will sell at the upcoming festival with the profits going to the American Cancer Society.

Chaplin will be one of more than 100 crafters participating in this year’s event on Sunday, October 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year the Franklin Downtown Partnership sold out booth space to crafters and community groups who wanted to be part of Franklin’s largest festival.

Organizers expect 5,000 visitors to this year’s ninth annual Harvest Festival, which will feature an expanded entertainment lineup, crafts, kids’ activities and games, food booths, an antique car show, Historical Museum tours, a farmers’ market, a fire station open house, and local businesses’ specials and promotions.

“This year’s festival has surpassed our expectations,” says FDP President Nicole Fortier. “We have more crafters, more entertainers and more businesses involved than ever before. We are excited to show the residents and visitors what a vibrant community we have here.”

Demand for booth space was high, and crafter booths will span all three main streets. Some vendors are participating for the first time this year, such as The Lace Man, who sells every type of lace possible, from doilies to unique, handmade lace pieces. Other crafters have returned year after year because the festival draws so many visitors.

To help everyone navigate the event this year, the Partnership has created the Harvest Festival Passport, which visitors can pick up at the FDP and major sponsors’ booths. Using the passport in combination with the map, visitors will seek out destination booths scattered throughout the festival to get their passport stamped. Once every destination has been validated, the passports will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. Passport drawing winners will be announced on the FDP website.

Jazz combo TKLS Perspective will play their blend of swing, hip hop, funk and bossa nova on the center island all day. The main stage in front of gold sponsor Rockland Trust Bank will feature professional DJ Domenic Cotoia of Music Odyssey Productions, Franklin High School ensemble Sustain, singer/songwriter Jamie Barrett, 2011 “Franklin Idol” winner Kaylee Finley, and 2011 “Franklin’s Got Talent” winner Dominic Salzillo.  Magician Chris Bolter will entertain the crowds with his special brand of magic.

On a separate stage in front of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, FSPA will present an abbreviated version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, accompanied by a professional band.

The Children’s Area in the Depot Street parking lot will feature some old favorite games and activities, and some new ones as well, like the obstacle course. Stop by the Cub Scout Pack 126 booth and drop off nonperishable food items to be donated to the Franklin Food Pantry.  

Food can be found in abundance at the festival. The food tent on Main Street will serve up burgers, sausages and peppers, chicken, lemonade and more. The FDP food tent in front of Dean Bank will have hot dogs, drinks, slushies and snacks. Several downtown restaurants are also serving food outside their establishments. Fresh, local produce can be found at the Farmer’s Market in the Berry Insurance parking lot.

The fire station will host an open house in observance of Fire Safety Week. Kids are invited to “Touch a Truck,” and firefighters will be on hand to answer questions and provide fire safety tips.  Down the street, the Historical Museum will be open for tours and will host the popular antique car show.

Many businesses are offering special promotions during the festival. Vallee Jewelers on Main Street will buy old, broken, outdated or mismatched gold items. Silver sponsor Green Mountain Chocolates will showcase its chocolate-dipped potato chips.

“We have more businesses and vendors involved this year than ever before,” says Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. “Our sponsors have been exceptional and stepped up to make this all possible. We are proud to be associated with these local businesses who take such an active role in making Franklin the livable, viable town that it is.”

The Gold Sponsor for this festival is Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation. Silver Sponsors are DCU,  Green Mountain Chocolates and Middlesex Savings Bank. Bronze Sponsors are Dean Bank,  Chestnut Dental Associates, Byrne Financial Freedom, LLC., Mike Dunsky/Guaranteed Rate and NHS Print.

Friends of the Festival sponsors are D.G. Ranieri Supply Company, Ferguson Enterprises, Ten Key, Inc., Keefe Insurance, Fenton Financial Group and Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, Franklin.  

The event will take place rain or shine and span Main Street and East and West Central Streets. Main Street will be closed at 9 a.m., reopening at 4 p.m. Visitor parking is available at designated lots along West Central Street, Main Street and Summer Street.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization made up of businesses, community leaders and residents working to revitalize downtown Franklin. The Partnership relies on donations and sponsorship to fund events like the Harvest Festival as well as downtown improvement projects like beautification efforts and streetscape design. For more information please contact the Executive Director Lisa Piana at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or visit the FDP website at franklindowntownpartnership.org.           

Harvest Festival Passport Press Release

Your Passport to the Franklin Harvest Festival

The Harvest Festival Passport is your ticket to discovering all the event has to offer. Looking for entertainment? Food? Crafters? The Passport and the Map will help you navigate downtown Franklin and get the most out of the festival.

The Passport lists the entertainment acts, show times and locations. Used hand in hand with the map, it’s also your chance to win prizes.

Pick up your Passport at the Franklin Downtown Partnership booth, major sponsors’ booths or at the Historical Museum. Then locate the “Destination” booths listed and get your Passport validated. Once you have all your stamps, drop the Passport off at the Downtown Partnership booth to be entered into a drawing. Winners will be announced on the FDP website, franklindowntownpartnership.org, on Tuesday, October 4.

There are many prizes to win, including a Coffee, Tea and Chocolate gift basket donated by the Franklin News and valued at $300, a gift basket donated by Happy Tails Doggy Daycare, a $100 gift certificate to the YMCA, items donated by Music Odyssey Productions, and many more, adding up to a total prize value of over $1,000.

Just follow these three simple steps to win:

1. Pick up your Passport at the FDP booth, sponsor booths or Historical Museum
2. Validate your Passport at Destination booths
3. Drop off your completed Passport at the FDP booth