Franklin committee confirms fireworks, entertainment and logistics for July 3–6 celebration

Members of the Franklin Civic Celebration Committee confirmed key arrangements for Franklin’s Independence celebration, scheduled July 3–6, 2025, during a Jan. 20 meeting that finalized a fireworks contract, sketched an entertainment lineup and flagged logistical issues for parade routing and vendor space.

The committee settled the fireworks contract with no price increase and discussed musical headliners, carnival operations, vendor hookups and a proposed pickleball tournament. Committee members also said the Department of Public Works has installed three electrical boxes for food vendors and will add outlets in spring, a change intended to reduce vendors’ reliance on generators.

John Bergner, Franklin Civic Celebration Committee member, told the group, “Fireworks is all set. Got the contract set. The price did not increase.” The committee said the show will run roughly 18–20 minutes, with an extended grand finale planned.

Why it matters: The decisions set core elements of the city’s largest summer event — fireworks, headliners and vendor access — and identified several operational issues the committee must resolve before permits and newsletter announcements are finalized.

The committee outlined a tentative entertainment schedule: a radio band on July 3, Smartmouth on July 4, and a headliner billed in the transcript as Bella Caine on July 5. The afternoon of July 4 will feature 5 Card Studs (a band playing 1950s–60s material), and Pat McCurdy is scheduled to perform in the Saturday afternoon slot; committee members discussed keeping McCurdy at the bandshell to streamline logistics and stage changeovers.

Committee members discussed a proposal to host a one-day pickleball tournament on Saturday afternoon during the festival. The group explored running the event as a noon–6 p.m. single-day tournament with no or minimal entry fees, local trophies or prizes, and asked volunteers and local clubs to help run brackets and divisions for different skill levels (2.0, 3.0, 4.0). Carl Budnik and other members agreed to reach out to nearby operators, including Milwaukee Yard and the Premier Pickleball Club in Oak Creek, to see whether they would run or help facilitate the event. No final commitment to hold the tournament was made; the committee directed follow-up outreach and planned to announce any decision in the June newsletter.

The committee discussed a DryveBox golf simulator as a paid attraction. Bergner said the trailer-based simulator is rented for about $3,000; committee members proposed charging about $6 per use and distributing tickets at the event to manage lines. Bergner described logistical details for the simulator’s trailer and storage and suggested selling time-limited tickets so staff could track use.

On vendors and site logistics, committee members reported seven of 10 food vendors had confirmed they will return; two were pending and one or two vendor spaces remained available. Dennis Fonz and others noted the city’s three new electrical boxes by DPW should allow several vendors to plug in without generators, reducing fuel costs and generator-related problems. The committee also agreed to add porta-potties along the vendor hill after problems with restroom capacity the prior year.

Parade routing and access emerged as a significant operational concern. Committee members said some parade participants and late arrivals were blocked from entering via Forest Hill last year, creating bottlenecks. The committee asked to schedule a meeting with the Department of Public Works and Franklin police by March to clarify access procedures and ensure that designated parade participants, including the grand marshal and veteran contingents, can reach the staging area. The committee emphasized the need for a designated liaison on parade day to confirm permitted entries.

Volunteers, sponsorships and communications: the committee plans a volunteer sign-up in the February newsletter, and discussed minimum and maximum volunteer staffing per shift (examples cited: 8–10 behind the beer tent; 4–5 for the July 4 evening). Sponsorship and donation outreach was deferred to the next meeting; the newsletter schedule remains February (newsletter) and June (final announcements).

What remains: members directed follow-up outreach on pickleball organization, vendor placement and space planning, the site leveling request for the main tent area, and a pre-parade coordination meeting with DPW and police. The committee said they will meet next in March and that organizers will include DPW and police representation for parade coordination.

Bergner closed the meeting after the committee reviewed remaining items and scheduling.