The Franklin Downtown Partnership’s eighth annual Strawberry Festival will be held on
Thursday, June 17, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For the first time the Partnership is combining this popular event with its Third Thursday line-up, and the group’s famous strawberry shortcakes won’t be the only draw this year.
Live music at five locations, games and balloons for kids, a sidewalk sale, museum tours and face painting are just some of the activities designed to give families plenty to do throughout the downtown.
“We want this festival to be all about families,” says Lisa Piana, executive director of the Partnership. “This is our big kick-off to summer and our Third Thursday events. We have more businesses participating this year than ever before, offering something for everyone.”
Some of those offerings include a fitness demonstration by
Team Fitness, chocolate covered strawberries and a “strawberry pedicure” at
Salon Sorella, and food specials at various restaurants.
Emma’s Quilt Shop invites everyone to stop in and participate in the 1 Million Pillowcase charity sewing event.
The Historical Museum will offer tours and old-fashioned lemonade on the porch with entertainment by Jack Murray from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Rick’s Restaurant will sponsor a classic car “Cruise Night” and feature a live R & B band. An artist’s reception at
Jane’s Frames will highlight the Franklin High School 2011 AP Portfolio Class and entertainer Jamie Barrett.
John Kinney will perform at the festival municipal parking lot on West Central Street from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Jamie Barrett will play from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and Dave Navikas will entertain patrons on the
Café Dolce Patio from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Parking is available in the municipal lots downtown. In addition, the “Strawberry Express”
GATRA bus will ferry visitors from the town common on High Street to various event locations downtown.
The festival is made possible through generous donations by Silver sponsors NHS Print, Garelick,
Dean Bank,
Dean College ,
Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation and
Middlesex Savings Bank, as well as Bronze sponsors Ever So Humble, CVS Pharmacy, ReMax/Eileen Mason and Doherty, Ciechanowski, Dugan & Cannon, P.C.
If you would like to volunteer or want more information about the Strawberry Festival, contact Chairperson Nicole Fortier at
nicolefortier@deanbank.com. For more information about the Franklin Downtown Partnership please contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at
downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or call (774) 571-3109.
Photos from last year's Strawberry Festival can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/06/strawberry-festival.html
