Today at the Pumpkinfest!

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Pumpkinfest This Weekend-Over 1,000 lb Pumpkin Arrives From Canada
Lots of Activities planned for Saturday
Posted Date: 10/29/2010 12:00 PM

October 27, 2010

Franklin’s Pumpkinfest Centerpiece Arrives from Canada
Colossal Pumpkin from Franklin’s Sister City Visits Liberty Elementary

Franklin—The giant mascot for Franklin’s Annual Pumpkin Fest is on its way from Canada and will arrive this Friday at 10:00 a.m., making a pit-stop at Liberty Elementary School. For the last several years Franklin’s Sister Cities Group has arranged for the giant pumpkin to come from a farm in our sister city, Carleton Place, Canada, and this year’s specimen promises to be a record breaker weighing from 800 to 1,200 pounds. giant pumpkin

The massive pumpkin has traditionally been provided by Canadian grower Glenn Needham from his farm in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada. At Pumpkinfest, visitors can venture a guess at the pumpkin’s true weight and win a Pigeon Forge Family Fun Package, valued at close to $500.00.

The colossal orange vegetable is now on its 20 hour journey to Franklin where the first stop will be Liberty Elementary School Friday, October 29th at 10:00 a.m. to meet the children. The school kids will get to go outside and see the big pumpkin, up-close. Mayor John Schroer will be there to greet the students along with the delegation from Canada.

After the visit to Liberty Elementary School the Pumpkin will be on prominent display at Pumpkinfest, October 30th in downtown Franklin near the square.

From Heritage Foundation Website @ http://www.historicfranklin.com/events/pumpkinfest

27th Annual Pumpkinfest Fills Franklin’s Main Street Oct. 30
Three stages of continuous entertainment are part of this Saturday’s 27th annual Pumpkinfest event on Franklin’s Historic Main Street. Most activities of the free street festival are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the Battle of the BBQ tent on 3rd Ave. N. continuing until 8 p.m.

In addition to Saturday’s activities, there is a new Memphis BBQ Network-sanctioned contest underway at N. Margin Street and 3rd Ave. N. at the City of Franklin’s future Bicentennial Park location. Near the BBQ site is another popular feature of Pumpkinfest with the “Grave Matters: The Stories Behind the Stones” tours Saturday night, Oct. 30, at the Old City Cemetery and Rest Haven Cemetery from 7 to 9 p.m.

The street festival of Pumpkinfest is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Franklin’s Main Street from Second to Fifth Avenues.
Activities of Pumpkinfest include:
The Third Avenue South Kids’ Area filled with fun activities for young children from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30.

The Battle of the BBQ Peoples’ Choice tent on 3rd Ave. N. from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The public is invited to taste pulled pork (at $5) or ribs ($1 per bone) and vote for favorites.
The Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-off on Fourth Avenue South from 10:30 to 3:30 Oct. 30. Tickets to taste chili from local organizations and restaurants will be available for $5 at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Main during the event.

Fall and holiday arts and crafts around the Public Square from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 60 vendors will be displaying hand-crafted items perfect for fall and the holidays.
Cemetery Tours 7 to 9 p.m. Halloween night. Participants will walk from tombstone to tombstone at the Historic Resthaven cemetery on North Margin Street, hearing from costumed re-enactors about the people who are buried in certain graves. Tickets are $15 per person for adults, $5 for children, but the activity is not recommended for children under 6. Tickets are available from www.franklinonfoot.com and at the Heritage Foundation. Participants should bring a flashlight and wear close-toe shoes.


Costume Contest starts at 3 p.m. at the Five Points stage. It’s $1 for each entry and categories are pets, children ages 0-5, ages 6-13 and 14+. Enter at the headquarters tent on the Public Square between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.


Here’s a schedule of events for the three stages:
Five Points Stage (near Starbucks)
10:00 – 12:00 p.m. John England & The Western Swingers
12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Gary Gibson & The Chicken Chasers
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tommy Jackson’s Rocky Top Revue
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Costume Contest- Sign up at headquarters tent on the Public Square for $1, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Howling Brothers
Waste Management Stage at City Hall
10 a.m. – Ribbon Cutting
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Elvis presented by Waste Management
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Kristin Butke School of Irish Dance
Noon – 1:00 p.m. O’Brien Dance Academy
1:00p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Prima Performance
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Hot Shots Jump Rope Team
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Elvis
3:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Franklin School of Performing Arts
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Elvis
Battle of the BBQ Stage
3rd Avenue North
12:30 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Dan Schafer
2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Leo Stokes
4:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Rafael Vasquez
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. BBQ Team Awards
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Fabulous Suedes


The annual fall event is presented by Waste Management and produced by the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County and its division, the Downtown Franklin Association. Pumpkinfest is co-sponsored by the City of Franklin, Publix Super Markets, Cornerstone Credit Union, Complete Care Choice, GreenBank, Fox 17, MY30, CW58, Williamson A.M./The Tennessean, Clear Channel Radio, Williamson Medical Center, Franklin Tomorrow and the Sister Cities Board of Franklin.
Pumpkinfest is open to the public with free admission except for special activities as noted. For more information please call 615-591-8500 or visit www.historicfranklin.com.
Pumpkinfest, our annual fall festival, attracts a crowd of 50,000 local and out-of-town visitors for a full day of autumn-inspired food, children’s activities, music, storytelling, hayrides, a chili cook-off, a costume contest, All Things Pumpkin! and outstanding arts and crafts from 50 vendors. The family oriented street festival held around the public square runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 30, 2010.

Historic Downtown Franklin goes Whole Hog with Battle of the BBQ - A Memphis Barbecue Network Sanctioned Event
Historic Downtown Franklin hosts its first annual Battle of the BBQ Oct. 29-30, 2010, as part of the 27th annual Pumpkinfest event on Main Street. The Memphis BBQ Network has sanctioned the event, and applications are being accepted for professionals and amateurs alike to compete for an impressive line-up of prizes and bragging rights to the best ‘Q!

The barbecue competition will be held during the association’s 27th annual Pumpkinfest, a free street festival on Franklin’s historic Main Street from the Public Square to Fifth Avenue. Franklin’s Battle of the BBQ will occur simultaneously at the Bicentennial Park location just two blocks from Main Street and on East Main Street between First Avenue and the Public Square. BBQ rigs will be set-up at the park as early as Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, with judging held Saturday, Oct. 30.

The pros can choose to compete in whole hog, shoulder and/or ribs, and they can add on chicken wings, dessert and the always entertaining “anything but” category. Backyard cookers are also invited for their own categories, open to anyone with a charcoal or wood grill, and they’ll be competing for ribs, poultry and/or beef. Entry fees are $350 for professional teams or $100 for amateurs. Pro or amateur, whole hog or chicken wing, it promises to be a good time and $10,000 total will be awarded in prize money!

For more information, please see the website at www.franklinsbattleofthebbq.com.