Franklin Downtown Partnership

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:47:00 +0000

THIS FRIDAY, Registration for the 2024 Harvest Festival will be open. Please follow the REGISTRATION link on the website, which will take you to our registration google form. Registration is open to PAID members only. On Aug 20th, any remaining booths will be open to non-members for registration. This event WILL SELL OUT and booth spaces are limited so please do not delay with registering.

Strawberry Stroll 2024 Success

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:38:00 +0000

The Franklin Downtown Partnership would like to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers, and residents who made our 2024 Strawberry Stroll a success. We had a record number of attendees, sold out booths, and sold out strawberry shortcake! We are looking forward to our next flagship event, our Annual Harvest Festival, coming September 28th from 12pm to 5 pm (rain date Sept. 29). Be on the lookout for registration to this well attended event coming this August. Dues must be paid to reserve a booth. If you are interested in sponsoring the Harvest Festival, please fill out a sponsorship form HERE

The Strawberry Stroll MAP is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:40:00 +0000

strawberry stroll 2024 MAP

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Mon, 13 May 2024 18:56:00 +0000

Franklin to Celebrate 2nd Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk April 20th

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:38:00 +0000

Franklin to Celebrate 2^nd Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk April 20th

Come to Downtown Franklin on Saturday, April 20^th when the town kicks off its 2^nd Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk. The town will also celebrate 50 years of the ladybug as the State’s official insect.

Walk the Ladybug Cultural and Historical Trail any time throughout the day and explore downtown Franklin. Rain date is Sun. April 21^st. Best place to start: 9 a.m. at Franklin Historical Museum at 80 West Central Street (Route 140) to get your free trail map. While you’re at the museum, and before you walk, stay for the ladybug presentation and activities.

At 11 a.m. State Rep. Jeff Roy will speak about ladybugs and lawmaking. From 11:30 to 1 a reunion of the 1974 “Ladybug Kids,” the second-graders who went to Boston and successfully lobbied the legislature.

Ladybug keychains and bookmarks will be sold at the museum. Other activities include a short slide show detailing the ladybug story, and live native ladybugs will be released around 3 p.m. in the garden of the Methodist Church, next door.

Why celebrate the 7-spotted ladybug?

This year marks the 50^th anniversary since the ladybug was adopted as the official insect of Massachusetts. And, the town of Franklin is where it started.

How did this happen? In 1974, a group of second-grade students and their teacher, Palma Johnson, at Franklin’s Kennedy School, petitioned a bill to name the ladybug the state’s official insect. The students learned about the law-making process in class and at the State House. In April 1974 then-governor Francis Sargent signed the bill making the ladybug the official state insect of Mass.

The town celebrated this special designation with its Ladybug project on the 40^th anniversary of the accomplishment. The Franklin Cultural Council and the Rotary Club initiated the public art project to honor Mrs. Johnson, her students, and the ladybug. The project invited artists and businesses to create and paint 2-foot tall fiberglass ladybugs.

By 2022 the ladybug sculptures were installed throughout downtown Franklin’s Cultural District – when it officially became known as the Ladybug Cultural and Historical Trail.

The trail uses the ladybug sculptures to tie together approximately 25 historical, cultural and business sites in downtown. Plus the walk is an opportunity to view more than 10 art murals painted by members of the Franklin Art Association located in the alleys and the daffodils that pop up along the trail in spring.

"The fact that this year is the 50th anniversary of a Franklin educator and her students making history with their ladybug legislation makes this year's walk extra special. We are happy to be the starting point for the walk, and for families picking up a map," said Alan Earls, chair of the Franklin Historical Commission. "We are keeping longer hours, too, from 9 to 3, and hope families and individuals will stop in," he added. For more details, visit the Historical Museum website at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Enjoy the shops along the trail

People can walk the Ladybug Trail any time during the day. “The Ladybug Trail Spring Walk is the chance to celebrate spring and walk around downtown Franklin in search of the ladybugs tucked among the storefronts. We invite walkers and visitors to stop at one of the many restaurants along the trail for lunch or dinner,” said Lisa Piana, Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Executive Director.

The free trail map is also available at Escape Into Fiction where kids can get a ladybug surprise. Escape Into Fiction is an independent bookstore at 12 Main Street. They are open Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 4 p.m. The regular hours include Tuesdays through Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Historical Museum regular hours are Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Ladybug Cultural and Historical Trail committee includes: Pandora Carlucci, Jane Curran, Claire Griffin, Melanie Hamblen, Eileen Mason, Mary Olsson, Lisa Piana, Beth Simon, and Roberta Trahan.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501c3 organization made up of more than 350 business owners, residents, and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. Residents can join the Downtown Partnership for only $25. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll, the Harvest Festival, the Ladybug Historical & Cultural Trail, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, greenspace, alley murals, and sculpture projects. For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.

Sponsors Needed for Beautification and Strawberry Stroll

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:05:00 +0000

The Downtown Partnership is seeking Sponsors for Downtown Beautification Day and The Strawberry Stroll. Interested businesses should fill out a sponsorship form and email it downtown.franklin@yahoo.comSPONSORSHIP FORM

The Ladybug Cultural & Historical Trail Returns April 20th

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:47:00 +0000

2024 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 19:59:00 +0000

2024 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Attention members! We are accepting event sponsorship applications for the 2024 Strawberry Stroll, Harvest Festival and Beautification Days. These are wonderful opportunities to showcase your business and get widespread exposure!

Please take a look at the sponsor opportunities and let us know what events and projects you would like to support.

The earlier you can let us know, the sooner we can get you listed on

our website and on social media.

Thanks for your 2024 support!

More info here: info here

Registration here: Registration form

Save the Dates- 2024 Calendar of Events

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:24:00 +0000

FDP General Meeting Scheduled for Feb 1

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:33:00 +0000

The next general meeting of the FDP is Feb. 1 at 8:30 a.m. in the Golder Room at Dean

College's Campus Center. Make plans to join us!

Light Up Downtown Franklin and Beyond

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 19:02:00 +0000

Winter Decorating Day Rescheduled

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 21:23:00 +0000

Based on the weather forecast, Winter Decorating Day has been moved to Sunday, Nov. 19 at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Franklin. Please email Eileen Mason at emason4234@gmail.com if you are able to help install wreaths, bows and greenery that day.

Holiday Stroll

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:14:00 +0000

November General Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 23:33:00 +0000

The next FDP General Meeting will be held on Thurs., Nov. 2 at 8:30 AM at the Dean College Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center.

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:03:00 +0000

Due to the high probability of rainy weather on our Saturday event day, and the consistent forecast for a perfect sunny Fall day on Sunday, the Franklin Downtown Partnership's 20th Harvest Festival will move the event to its planned rain date on Sunday, October 1. The event will take place from 12:00 – 4:00 PM but, other than shortening the event end time by one hour, all other event logistics.

In order for the FDP to have an amazing event this year, please let us know if your organization CANNOT ATTEND the event on Sunday. Please email the Harvest Festival planning committee at fdpevent@gmail.com by 10:00 AM Saturday (or earlier) if you no longer plan to participate. Our event is sold out this year and it will allows to provide space for other organizations.

Any other questions please feel free to contact the FDP’s Vendor Relations Coordinators, Roberta Trahan and Pandora Carlucci, at fdpevent@gmail.com.

Join Us! Harvest Festival September 30, 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:38:00 +0000

Join Us at the Harvest Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 20:55:00 +0000

September General Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 22:19:00 +0000

The next FDP General Meeting will be held on Thurs., Sept. 7. Specific topics of interest are: downtown parking presentation and guest speaker Brad Chaffee from Camford Property Group regarding the company's new downtown project.

Harvest Festival Registration

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Registration for booths at the Sept. 30 Harvest Festival is now open. Register soon as we expect space to sell out.

Register Here

Register soon as we expect spaces to sell out. If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Relations Coordinators at fdpevent@gmail.com.

SPONSORS NEEDED

Be a sponsor of this year's Harvest Festival! Your sponsorship will include:

*Logo listed on all related Promotional Materials, Posters & Signage - (Platinum, Gold and Silver levels)

*Smaller size logo listed on all related Promotional Materials, Posters, & Signage - (Bronze Level)

*Name listed on all related Promotional Materials, Posters & and Signage- (Friends Level)

*Listed in all related Press Releases

*Highlighted on Website: franklindowntownpartnership.org

*Advertised on local radio

*Promoted on social media

*Sponsors get booth at event located on Exclusive Sponsorship Row area of event; *Platinum sponsor get two booths

*On-going announcement of Sponsors by DJ and Band during the Harvest Festival

Just email us the sponsorship form and the level you would like to be listed as (see the levels here) and we'll get you on the sponsorship list!

Harvest Festival Preparations

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:25:00 +0000

The 20th Annual Harvest Festival is set for Sat., Sept. 30, with a rain date of Sun. Oct. 1, from noon to 5 p.m. Look forward to many booths and attractions filling downtown on Main Street, Dean Avenue, West Central Street, Depot Street, and the parking area behind Rockland Bank.

Organized by Franklin Downtown Partnership, more than 160 vendor booths will display their specialties. There will also be music, food, kids’ activities, balloons, special items from local merchants, artwork and crafts.

“The Harvest Festival is Franklin Downtown Partnership’s invitation to people to gather as a community, have fun, and shop local right here in town,” said Scott Martin, president of the Franklin Downtown Partnership and Harvest Festival chair. “The mix of activities and entertainment we have make this community event special for all ages. It showcases the wonderful shopping and dining opportunities in downtown Franklin,” Martin added.

Registration opens Aug. 15. The last day to register for booth space is Sept. 15, but organizers expect to sell out sooner. Booths are assigned on a first-come first-serve basis.

Thank you to Harvest Festival sponsors!

Platinum - Dean Bank, RI Motorsports

Gold - Floor & Décor, Notturno Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Inc, PhysicianOne Urgent Care

Silver - Camford Property Group, Hockomock YMCA.

Bronze - Beaux Regards Photographic Art, Chestnut Dental, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, MyFM

Enjoy the Ladybug Cultural and Historic Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 11:56:00 +0000

The Franklin Downtown Partnership, with support from the Franklin Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council, Town of Franklin, and the Franklin Cultural District, dedicated the Ladybug Cultural and Historical Trail in 2022.

The Ladybugs are installed throughout the downtown area. Some are "scaling" the walls of downtown buildings and others seem to be "nestled" near a tree. Enjoy a Ladybug stroll through the Cultural District in Downtown Franklin.

This map identifies the location of each Ladybug. Ladybug Trail Brochures featuring a photo of each Ladybug are available at: Birchwood Bakery + Kitchen, Dean Bank, Escape into Fiction Bookstore, Franklin Historical Museum, Greco Design, I Have Coins & Collectibles, Intermission, Middlesex Savings Bank, Re/Max Executive Realty, and The Little Shop of Olive Oils. Additionally, the map includes the locations of murals and sculptures located downtown, in the Cultural District. Happy walking and exploring!

Next General Meeting Sept. 7

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:37:00 +0000

The next FDP General Meeting will be held on Thurs., Sept. 7. There are no general meetings in July or August. Have a great summer!

IMPORTANT: Strawberry Stroll Postponed

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 12:39:00 +0000

Due to current weather forecasts for today, Strawberry Stroll will now be held on the Rain Date, Saturday, June 10, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Strawberry Stroll Friday, June 9

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 20:21:00 +0000

The Strawberry Stroll is still on for Friday, June 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Many Activities and Booths set for June 9 Strawberry Stroll

noreply@blogger.com (Marcie DiChiara) — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 19:24:00 +0000

The 19th Annual Strawberry Stroll is ready to go. This town favorite is set for Friday, June 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 pm. The rain date is Saturday, June 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 pm. It will be held in downtown Franklin.

Start the summer at this popular event. Take pleasure in delicious strawberry shortcakes, listen to lively music, and have fun with the activities for your kids. The Fire Department and Historical Museum will welcome visitors to see some interesting items. There will be 95 booths displaying the many treats downtown Franklin has to offer. Main Street will be closed for visitors to easily and safely walk.

Dean Bank’s staff will be serving the signature strawberry shortcakes under tents in front of the bank. Fresh strawberries donated and cut by Dean College will top hundreds of shortcakes and be completed with whipped cream. Proceeds from strawberry shortcake sales are allocated to the Downtown Partnership to help fund the event.

Live music will be provided by Heath Nisbett from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Dom DeBaggis from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Franklin Fire Department will showcase its trucks and equipment on the front ramp, including an antique ladder truck. Sparky will be giving out plastic red helmets to children.

At the Historical Museum, Greenwich Bay Brass will play music on the front porch, fresh popcorn will be served, and vintage wedding dresses will be displayed.

“The Strawberry Stroll always has a ‘special vibe’ to it because it is one of the first events in town to kick off the summer season,” said Kevin Johnson, this year’s Stroll Chairman. “We ask everyone to come downtown and enjoy strawberry shortcake, live music, great food and drink choices from local restaurants and the many interesting vendors offering goods and services.”

Franklin Downtown Partnership, the organizer of this annual tradition, is grateful for the financial support from community businesses. This year’s stroll is made possible by the support of the following sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor: Middlesex Savings Bank

Gold Sponsors: Dean Bank, Dean College, Elizabeth’s Bagels, PhysicianOne Urgent Care

Silver Sponsors: DCU, Elizabeth Grady-Franklin, Fenton Financial Group

Bronze Sponsors: Beaux Regards Photographic Art, Camford Property Group, Inc., Encore Music Academy & Recording Studios, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, The Enclave of Franklin

Many Activities and Booths set for June 9 Strawberry Stroll