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Franklin rolls out July 3'5 festival lineup: bands, pickleball tournament, fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Summary
Committee finalized entertainment and programming for the July festival: Thursday, July 3 performances, Independence Day parade and post-parade events on July 4, and a first-annual pickleball tournament plus additional attractions on July 5; fireworks set for 9:30 p.m. July 4. Several acts and vendors remain pending insurance or utility hookups.
The Franklin Civic Celebration Committee finalized the festival's entertainment schedule for July 3'5, confirming bands, community performances, a new pickleball tournament and a fireworks show on July 4 at 9:30 p.m.
Committee member John Bergner reviewed the three-day lineup: July 3 set-up with the Academy of Performing Arts singers from 5 to 6 p.m., a local "Franklin Idol" showcase 6 to 7 p.m., and Kings of Radio from 7 to 11 p.m.; July 4 included the children's parade at 10:30 a.m., an Independence Parade at 11 a.m., free ice cream after the parade, carnival rides and performances through the afternoon and headliners in the main tent with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; July 5 programming includes a pickleball tournament beginning at 8 a.m., carnival wristband day and festival music through the evening.
"And then our fireworks will be at 09:30," Bergner said. He confirmed a $30,000 display budget and said permits and the vendor's insurance paperwork were pending.
The committee added new attractions: camel rides will participate in the parade and offer rides during the festival; an "exotic zoo" vendor is scheduled for July 5; and a mobile golf simulator and wrestling exhibition were discussed. Bruce City Wrestling was listed on the schedule but remained pending because the committee had not yet received a required certificate of insurance.
Organizers invited Payne & Dolan to offer a quarry tour as in prior years; the invitation was sent but the company had not yet confirmed. Performers specifically scheduled in the main tent include Next Step Dance Studio (noon'1 p.m. July 4), 5 Card Studs (2'6 p.m. July 4) and Pat McCurdy at the band shell during the July 5 afternoon. Bella Caine is scheduled for a late Saturday performance.
Committee members noted logistical constraints: the July 4 parade route and ongoing road construction will require earlier line-ups, and the committee recommended starting participant line-ups at about 9 a.m. rather than 10:30 a.m. to avoid detour congestion. A staff member said DPW had installed electrical boxes for vendors but the utility company must connect mains; the company reportedly has a backlog and may take up to two months to complete the hookup, a delay organizers warned could affect food vendors' need for generators.
Next steps include finalizing insurance certificates from scheduled attractions, confirming Payne & Dolan and other vendors, and obtaining the fireworks vendor's permits and insurance before the show can proceed.
