What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, October 18, 2026 ???

Sunday, October 18

7:30am All You Can Eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

8:00am Early voting (Town Clerk's Office)

8:00am Scary Scurry 5K (Children’s Museum of Franklin)

9:15am Scary Scurry Fun Run (Children’s Museum of Franklin)

12:00pm 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch (St John's Episcopal Church)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:15pm `How the Democrats Lost America: Making Sense of the 2024 Election and the Future of American Politics’  (Franklin Historical Museum)

1:30pm        Franklin Public Library (open until 5 PM)

2:00pm Disney’s Frozen     (THE BLACK BOX)

2:00pm The Skin of Our Teeth (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

*** NO Town Meetings today ***

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Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Halloween Bash at the Children’s Museum of Franklin October 29!

So excited for this one!!

Franklin Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) is hosting a Halloween Bash at the Children’s Museum of Franklin, October 29! Pizza, trick-or-treating, games, pumpkin decorating, a dance party, and lots of Halloween fun. 

Space is limited, so make sure to RSVP! 

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/zXdKtiiwkJEbDhW5A

Hope to see lots of Franklin families there! 

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1a3fRQCUsv/

FM Journal October 2026 (video)

Watch the October 2026 edition of FM Journal 

video link -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtTH6U6LNc

Community Heroes Day celebrated at the Children's Museum with Free Entry Oct 7, 2026

THIS Wednesday, Oct 7, we’re celebrating the people who help keep our community safe — and museum admission is FREE all day!

🚒 Community Heroes Day — Wednesday, October 7, 9 am–2 pm

Join us for a special day of play, exploration and community connection.

🚓 Touch-a-Truck with Franklin Police & Fire Franklin Police Franklin Fire Department 

🦺 Hands-on safety programming

🎟️ FREE museum admission all day

Community Heroes Day is made possible with support from Dean Bank.

Audio of the Ribbon Cutting for the Outdoor Expansion, Children's Museum of Franklin - 09/23/26 (audio)

FM #1835 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1835 in the series. 

This episode shares the audio recording of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion to include 4,000 sq ft of outdoor space at the Children's Museum of Franklin on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. 

Meg Hagen and Erin Gallagher, founders/co-owners, get the group’s attention. We’re inside the museum as Cottage St is being ground up to repave so being outside for this speaker part of the ceremony would be a problem. They introduce the remaining speakers. After the speakers are complete, we gather outside for the formal ribbon cutting. 

The recording runs about 17 minutes, let’s listen in

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1835-childrens-museum-of-franklin-ribbon-cutting-09-23-26/

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Children’s Museum of Franklin -> https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/ 

Video of the ribbon cutting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2glv6mMDYk 

Photos of the event ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/zx6K5erYHzjrmcULA

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Halloween Bash scheduled by Franklin SEPAC at the Children’s Museum October 29

So excited for this one!!

Franklin Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) is hosting a Halloween Bash at the Children’s Museum of Franklin October 29! 

Pizza, trick-or-treating, games, pumpkin decorating, a dance party, and lots of Halloween fun. 

Space is limited, so make sure to RSVP! 

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/zXdKtiiwkJEbDhW5A

Hope to see lots of Franklin families there! 

Shared from https://www.facebook.com/share/1a3fRQCUsv/

Franklin TV programming guide reports on the Children’s Museum ribbon cutting

The Children's Museum of Franklin celebrated it's first anniversary in 2 ways. One with an adult "Night at the Museum" on Friday, September 18. Two, with a ribbon cutting for the 4,00 sq ft expansion for outdoor space on Wednesday,  September 23.

Download this week's guide  https://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

There’s a LOT happening at the Children's Museum of Franklin this week

There’s a LOT happening at the Children's Museum of Franklin this week. 

Here’s what’s coming up:

🏃 Scary Scurry shirt deadline – Thursday

Planning to run (walk, dance or scurry!) the Scary Scurry 5K on October 18? Register by end of day this Thursday (September 24) to get your free race shirt. Costumes highly encouraged, of course.

Learn more & register for the Scary Scurry here >>   https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Franklin/ScaryScurry

🚂 The America 250 Train is coming — Saturday

Train-loving kids, this one's for you. The MBTA is bringing its America 250 train to the Museum! Come see this incredible train parked on the rails right outside the Museum all day on Saturday, September 26.

Inside the Museum, you're invited to join Operation Lifesaver programming happening throughout the day. Special thanks to our friends at the MBTA for making this possible!

🎉 Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play — Saturday

It’s a day made for us! On Saturday, we're also celebrating Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play with plenty of opportunities to do exactly that: PLAY!

💙 Sensory Sunday — Sunday, 8–9 AM

A quieter, lower-sensory hour designed to make Museum play more comfortable and accessible for children and families who benefit from a calmer environment. 

You can pre-register for Sensory Sunday here >>   https://childrensmuseumoffranklin.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F39754

One week. A 5K deadline. A whole lot of play. An actual train. See you at the Museum!

Children's Museum continues anniversary celebration with ribbon cutting on new outdoor space

The Children’s Museum of Franklin did celebrate the opening of their new ~4,000-square-foot outdoor play and exploration space with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

The expansion comes just days after the Museum marked its first anniversary. Children’s Museum of Franklin first opened its doors on September 18, 2025, and in its first year has welcomed more than 70,000 visitors from 400+ towns and cities across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and beyond.

The new outdoor space extends the Museum experience beyond its walls, creating additional opportunities for children to get messy, experiment, create, gather and learn through play.

Designed with accessibility and open-ended exploration at its core, the approximately 4,000-square-foot space includes:

• Accessible pour-in-place surfacing
• Messy art and creative play
• A hands-on water pump and tubing system
• Giant bubble play
• Picnic tables for gathering, creating and eating
• A signature Farm to Fridge exhibit created in partnership with Garelick Farms

The Farm to Fridge experience introduces children to the journey of milk from the farm to their refrigerator through hands-on, imaginative play.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF FRANKLIN

Children's Museum of Franklin is a nonprofit, hands-on museum on a mission to empower children and families to discover, imagine, and grow together through play and exploration. Through interactive exhibits, engaging programming, and a commitment to accessibility and belonging, the Museum creates opportunities for joyful learning for visitors of all ages.   https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/

Children's Museum of Franklin celebrated 1 year with an adult Color Party on Friday

"A night full of joy, confetti, and color for the

@childrensmuseumfranklin
‘s one year birthday party.

70,000 visitors from as far away as Japan in the first year alone. And they’re just 👏🏻 getting 👏🏻 started!

Congrats Museum Team, always cheering you on!!! "

Additional pictures via KaylaJeanCreative - https://www.instagram.com/p/Dde_zAcCagk/

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, September 18, 2026 ???

Friday, September 18

9:00am Fallen Hero: Levi Pieri (Veterans Walkway, Franklin Town Common)

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

2:00pm Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

3:00pm Critical Mass (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

7:00pm A Night at the Museum (Children’s Museum of Franklin)

For additional details on Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

Franklin Senior Center Calendar for September

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BDUk1yeDL0SMHUNPnqRRZIcMq3Bvyxl2/view?usp=sharing

*** Town Meetings today ***

---------

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Children's Museum schedules A colorful evening just for grown-ups! - September 18

A Night at the Museum is back on September 18.

Bring your friends. Make it a date night. Get a group together.

Most importantly, come have a ridiculously fun night while supporting Children’s Museum of Franklin. As a nonprofit, nights like this help us continue creating joyful, accessible experiences for kids and families throughout our community.

🎨 A Night at the Museum: Color Party

📅 September 18, 7:00–10:00 pm

🥂 Adults only

📍 Children’s Museum of Franklin

 

We’re taking over the Museum for a night of food, drinks, music and plenty of fun!

Our theme this year is a Color Party! 

We invite you to wear your favorite joyful shade – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple – and help us fill the Museum with every color of the rainbow.

Get your tickets - https://childrensmuseumoffranklin.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F51603

Scary Scurry 5K and Fun Run 2026 returns on Oct 18 - register now !!

This. And you at the

Scary Scurry 5K and Fun Run 2026.

🗓️ October 18
👕 Free shirt with 5K registration by Sept 18!

Register - Childrensmuseumfranklin.org/scary-scurry 

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc3N40wEeaX/

Scary Scurry 5K & Kids Fun Run returns October 18, 2026

"A ghoulishly good time for the whole family!

Spooky season will be here before we know it! Our Scary Scurry 5K & Kids Fun Run returns this October 18 with a certified 5K course, costumes, a kids fun run, and private Museum play for race participants and their families."

Register: runsignup.com/Race/MA/Franklin/ScaryScurry

Geometry Geniuses, a drop off program at the Children's Museum - July 27

Summertime fun with drop-off days at the

Children's Museum

"Looking for summer fun for your elementary-aged kiddos? Hands-on drop-off programs are coming up at the Museum, including Geometry Geniuses this week!"

to register - https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/register

For additional drop-off days, check out their webpage

https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/

Save the date for a Night at the Museum - Sept 18

Friends, 

Summer has a way of flying by...

Before vacations end, backpacks come out, and calendars fill up, we have one date we'd love for you to save.

• Friday, September 18
• 7:00–10:00 PM
• Children's Museum of Franklin

This isn't your typical night out.

It's our biggest celebration of the year – a colorful, joy-filled evening of food, drinks, music, surprises, and playful fun, all in support of Children's Museum of Franklin.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now for $100 per person – adults-only, space is limited.

Your evening includes:

🍕 Delicious food from Rail Trail Flatbread Co.

🍹 Beer, wine & signature drinks

🎶 Great music and dancing

🎁 Fun prizes and surprises throughout the night

🌈 A colorful celebration you'll only find at the Museum

Our theme this year is a Color Party! We invite you to wear your favorite joyful shade – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple – and help us fill the Museum with every color of the rainbow.

Tickets are limited, and September has a funny way of sneaking up on all of us. Reserve your spot now, then get back to enjoying your summer – we'll take care of the party.

Want your business to stand out in full color? Sponsorships for A Night at the Museum are available and help support passes, programs, and play through exhibits at the Museum.

We can't wait to celebrate with you! 

New mural at the Children's Museum of Franklin a youthful collaboration

via kaylajeancreative

"Kiddos 🤝🏻 community 🤝🏻 art! 

It all came together in this contest turned collaboration for the @childrensmuseumfranklin. 

Four talented kiddos were picked from over 50 submissions to paint a mural with me. The themes of their submissions along with the museum’s iconic and fun branding guided the creative direction for this fun and highly graphic little mural!

Thanks to the @franklinculturalcouncil02038, @franklinculture and @childrensmuseumfranklin for the opportunity!"

Additional photos can be found on Kayla's Instagram post

https://www.instagram.com/p/DaqB_7dDtdz/

A real, interactive railroad crossing signal now installed at the Children's Museum of Franklin

All aboard for something NEW! 

This week, we officially cut the ribbon on the newest addition to our Transportation Area - a real, interactive railroad crossing signal, generously designed and created by @thembta!

Children can now experience an authentic railroad crossing while learning how these important signals help keep everyone safe around the tracks.

We’re incredibly grateful to the MBTA for partnering with us to create an exhibit that sparks curiosity, encourages imaginative play, and inspires future engineers, conductors, and transportation professionals.

A special thank you as well to our friends at @vendetti_motors, whose generous support made our Transportation Exhibit Area possible.

Since opening less than a year ago, we’ve welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors from more than 600 communities, and partnerships like this continue to make the Museum an exciting place to discover, imagine, and grow together.

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DalWeLrka9R/

Children's Museum of Franklin and MBTA Celebrate New Transportation Exhibit Feature with Ribbon Cutting

Children's Museum of Franklin is excited to welcome the community to a special ribbon-cutting celebration for a brand-new interactive feature in the Museum's Transportation Area, generously designed and created by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, July 8 at 1:00 PM at Children's Museum of Franklin and will feature representatives from the MBTA, local officials, community leaders, Museum supporters, and families.

an early view of the train table
when the Museum opened Sep 2025

“On behalf of the MBTA, I want to thank Children’s Museum of Franklin for partnering with us to bring this customized railroad crossing signal to the Museum,” said MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan. “We hope this hands-on exhibit helps visitors better understand how crossing signals keep people safe and we hope to see it inspire the next generation of train engineers, signal experts, conductors, and other transit professionals.”

"Transportation has always been one of the most beloved themes at the Museum, especially with our incredible view of the MBTA’s commuter rail from the exhibit area" said Erin Gallagher, Executive Director & Co-Founder of Children's Museum of Franklin. "We're incredibly grateful to the MBTA for creating a feature that helps children make meaningful connections to the world around them through play."

Since opening in September 2025, Children's Museum of Franklin has welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors from more than 600 towns across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and beyond. The Museum’s beloved Transportation Area was made possible by the generous support of Vendetti Motors.

About the Children's Museum of Franklin

Children's Museum of Franklin is a nonprofit, hands-on museum on a mission to empower children and families to discover, imagine, and grow together through play and exploration. Through interactive exhibits, engaging programming, and a commitment to accessibility and belonging, the Museum creates opportunities for joyful learning for visitors of all ages.

Visit the Museum online for additional info - https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/

Children's Museum of Franklin celebrates success of their first "Play Fore the Kids" Golf Tournament - June 15

All - what a day! Between the near-perfect weather, enthusiastic golfers, dedicated volunteers, and incredible community spirit, we couldn't have imagined a better way to launch what we hope will become a beloved annual tradition.

Most importantly, because of sponsors like you, Play Fore the Kids was more than a great day on the course - it was an investment in children and families from our greater region. Your support helps advance the Children's Museum of Franklin's mission to empower children and families to discover, imagine, and grow together through play and exploration.

"Play Fore the Kids" Golf Tournament - June 15

Launching a first-year event requires partners who are willing to believe in the vision before the tradition exists. We are deeply grateful that you chose to be one of those partners. Your sponsorship helped create an experience that brought together community leaders, local businesses, families, and supporters, all united around the power of play.

Since opening our doors last September, the Museum has welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors from more than 500 communities across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and beyond. Every day, we see children making new discoveries, families creating meaningful memories, and connections being built. Your support makes these moments possible.

Thank you for helping us make year one such a success. We are honored to have you as part of the Children's Museum of Franklin community, and we hope to welcome you back to Play Fore the Kids next year.

Until then, we hope you'll stop by the Museum to see firsthand the impact of your support. We'd love to show you what you've helped make possible.

Photos: https://gallery.kaylajeancreative.com/cmfplayforekidscharitygolfday/prescramble/ (three galleries - registration, active play, sponsored holes) Keep an eye on Children's Museum of Franklin social channels to see posts that feature your support!

Gratefully,

The Children's Museum of Franklin team