Franklin City festival organizers set July 2–5 dates, finalize entertainment and logistics; fireworks price still pending

Franklin City festival planners confirmed the city’s summer celebration will run July 2–5, 2026, with a carnival-only day on July 6, and moved forward on entertainment, vendors, volunteer staffing and permits while waiting for a final fireworks price. “The festival will be from July 2nd, 2026 to July 5th, 2026,” the meeting chair said at the start of the session.

Committee members outlined the main-tent lineup: Bella Kane is scheduled for Thursday night, the Glam Band for Friday, Five Card Studs for Saturday afternoon and a road/brew band for Saturday evening. The group also discussed a special 250th-anniversary attraction — a large mobile screen from Funflix — and debated whether to run screenings on July 3 (evening, quoted cost about $800) or a full-day showing on July 4 (noon–8 p.m., quoted cost about $2,600). Members said the committee prefers a single screening on July 4 to concentrate family programming and reduce overlap with loud evening music.

Food and nonfood vendor confirmations continued: seven of 10 invited food vendors have committed. Romero’s, a multi-truck operator, agreed to replace one vendor that did not return; Dairy Queen signed on for the food court. Kona Ice indicated it cannot attend all three festival days, and the committee discussed contingency options for snow-cone vendors. Nonfood vendor Catty Shack was listed as a returning nonfood seller. The committee said it will finalize placement and spacing so the movie screen and family areas avoid overlap with the main band tent.

Alcohol sales and vendor selection drew pointed attention after members reviewed last year’s results with an outside wine vendor (identified in discussion as Cloud9). Several members said the third-party wine service reduced bottled-wine sales and complicated operations; the committee agreed to handle wine sales themselves this year to preserve revenue and operational control.

Logistics planning covered rentals, supplies and volunteer staffing. Tents, tables, chairs, bar sections and portable toilets were reported as rented; ice and soda orders were in process. Members outlined volunteer shift plans and ticket-booth staffing: day shifts typically require two ticket sellers, while peak evening bar operations will require larger bartender rosters (committee planning called for 8–12 bartenders during the busiest evening slot). The group plans to launch an online sign-up (Signup Genius) and to send fundraising and donation letters in April.

Safety, permits and public works were also addressed. Permits for liquor service and site use have been applied for, and operator-license applications for bartenders and servers were circulated; the committee reviewed training options and timeline for online classes. Department of Public Works requested ground leveling under the main tent to improve footing and accessibility; public-safety staffing plans will be coordinated as the schedule finalizes.

One outstanding obligation remains the fireworks contract. Committee members said a contract exists but the final invoice and price are still pending because of tariff-driven cost uncertainty; the display is scheduled for the festival’s concluding night (Saturday, July 4). Members said they will match last year’s scale if pricing allows but will not finalize the budget until the fireworks vendor provides a confirmed price.

The committee set a schedule of follow-up meetings through June to finalize newsletter content, vendor placement, volunteer rosters and fundraising. The meeting concluded with routine approvals and adjournment.