All Things Pumpkin! Franklin's Annual Pumpkinfest 2008

10/07/2008

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ALL THINGS PUMPKIN!
Historic Downtown Franklin's annual Pumpkinfest Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008

Pumpkinfest fills Main Street from Second to Fifth Avenues with all things fall-related--pumpkins, costumes, arts and crafts--even competitive cooking and eating! Presented by the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, the Downtown Franklin Association and the City of Franklin, Pumpkinfest activities include The Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-off on Fourth Avenue North, the People's Church children's area on Third Avenue South, arts and crafts area around the Public Square and All Things Pumpkin stage on Main Street near Starbucks and Fifth Avenue.

Pumpkin Carving and Pumpkin Painting Contest
Children are invited to come paint a pumpkin in our pumpkin patch for $1, or adults may bring an already painted or carved pumpkin to the stage by noon to enter the competition. Entries will be judged in three categories: ages 0-6, 7-14 and 14+

All Things Pumpkin Baking Contest
In three categories: 1) Best Pumpkin Pie, 2) Best Pumpkin Bread or Muffins, 3) Best Pumpkin Food of Any Kind (miscellaneous) and 4) Pumpkin Food baskets*. Entries must be brought to the judging area near the Main Street Starbucks by 11 a.m., entries may have the recipe included and be available for reprinting. Entries must be one pie, half dozen muffins, etc. in a ziplock container or wrapped in plastic wrap with contestants names on
bottom. Entries will be judge on General appearance, overall browning, flavor, symmetry, and texture.

Banjo/Fiddle Contest
Come one and all for the first banjo/fiddle contest. If you'd like to see if you have what it takes to be the best banjo/fiddler in the county or would like to just work on your stage presence, then dust off your instruments and
enter our Banjo/Fiddle Contest. For entry forms, please visit the Heritage Foundation website at www.HistoricFranklin.com to download and fill out prior to the event.

Tall Tales & Yarns
We're looking for people that have some stories they'd like to share with us. The stories could be associated with fall, of course pumpkins and possibly anything Halloween (no really scary stories please, I'd be up all
night). Please call Cathy Clarkson with Landmark Booksellers for details at 791-6400.

Art Contest
Children may submit paintings, drawings, or sculptures of pumpkins for the art contest. For each age group there will be a first second and third prize chosen by a panel of two judges. Submissions must be turned in by 11:30 am and all will be put on display for the remainder of the day. Artwork may be retrieved at 5:00 pm at which time winners will be formally announced. An entry fee of $1.00 is requested.

Guess the Weight of the Great Pumpkin
Come guess the weight of our huge pumpkin grown by Franklin's Sister City, Carleton Place, Canada. Entries will be accepted all day from 10 a.m. till a winner is announced at 4 p.m. The prize for a correct guess is $100.

Costume Contests
The costume contest for children starts at 3:30 p.m. To enter, check in at the All Things Pumpkin area during the day and pay a $1 entry fee.
3:30 p.m. -- 0-6 years old
4 p.m. - line-up at stage for 7-13 years old
4:30 p.m. - line-up for 14+ years old
There will be cash prizes and ribbons.

Streets will be lined with fabulous food, hot cider and wonderful holiday and fall crafts and artisans. Merchants on Main will "treat" trick or treaters at their businesses until 3 p.m. The All Things Pumpkin area offers pumpkin coffee, pumpkin donuts and pumpkin cookies for snacks. The People's Church will provide a children's carnival on 3rd Avenue South with lots of fun free activities for kid's and the stage at City Hall will
provide musical entertainment for children of all ages from 10 am until 3:30 pm. Other children's games and activities can be found all along Main Street and the Square. Hayrides and scarecrows and ghosts and goblins will meander down Main at Pumpkinfest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pumpkinfest is brought to you by the Heritage Foundation and the Downtown Franklin Association.
The event is open to the public with free admission.

For more information please call 591-8500 or visit www.historicfranklin.com.

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