Franklin’s Tenth Annual Harvest Moon Fest Is Just Around The Corner!

The tenth annual Franklin Harvest Moon Fest will be held Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 11 am to 9:30 pm. Festivities will take place along Franklin’s Main Street in the downtown historic district.

There is no admission fee. Harvest Moon Fest is a community-based downtown street festival celebrating the sugar cane harvest and the return of fall. Events for this year’s celebration include live entertainment all day long, children’s activities, arts & crafts, a 5k Run/Walk, an Antique, Hot-Rod, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, bass fishing tournament, art show, BBQ cook-off, and more.

As part of the festival, Franklin Downtown Retail Merchants will provide special sales and promotions to open the Christmas shopping season. Concession booths with local foods and crafts will line the downtown area around the music stage and an electric train will be available for rides through Franklin’s historic district.

Live entertainment will be provided by Ricky Lorenzo & Mark Robichaux, Jody and the Zydeco Hot Poppas, the Johnny Firmin Band, and 5th Avenue. All performance will take place at the stage in the center of Main Street in Franklin.

Children’s games and activities will be open to all children ages 12 & under and will include a space walk, bean bag tossing, pick a duck, remote controlled cars, pumpkin bowling, Chinese rickshaws, and much more.

Teche Action Clinic’s Adeline Guienze Breast Cancer Memorial Fund 5K Run/Walk will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, October 24th at the Courthouse Square. Entry fees for the race are $20.00 by October 12th (includes t-shirt), $25.00 after October 12th, $15.00 for Senior Citizens (includes t-shirt), $15.00 for no t-shirt entry, and $5.00 for school teams (per student/ no t-shirt). Late registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Courthouse Square on the day of the race. To register for the race or to find out more information, contact Alfreida Edwards at (337) 828-2550 ext 131 or Florence Beverly at (337) 829-2550 ext 145.

The Antique, Hot-Rod, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show will also take place on Main Street. Registration is $15.00 for those who register before October 24th and late registration is $20.00. The show will begin at 9 am on Main Street in Franklin. Awards will be presented to the top 10 vehicles, Best of Show, Longest Distance, and Club Participation. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day.

The St. Mary Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Adopt a Lamppost Contest. The entry fee to adopt and decorate a lamppost is $20. Decorating begins on Oct. 10th and judging will take place on Oct. 21st. To register, contact the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce at (337)828-5608.

The AGU’s Fine Art Show and Sale will begin Saturday at 11 at 600 Main St. in Downtown Franklin. To register for the show and sale contact Laura Zuniga at (337)828-0811. Artist are invited to paint on site on Saturday.

The Harvest Moon Fest Bass Tournament will take place at safe daylight until 3pm on Oct. 24, 2009. Registration will take place the morning of the tournament at the launch site and weigh in location, the boat landing under Hwy. 90 overpass at Franklin Canal. Entry fees are $100 per boat with a 2 man team, $50 per boat to fish solo. Each boat is allowed to weigh-in five fish, minimum of 12 inches. Winners will be announced at 4 pm at the stage on Main St. in Franklin, LA.

The Harvest Moon Fest is including a BBQ cook-off this year. The entry fee is $25 and must be received by Oct. 19, 2009. The categories for judging are pork spare ribs, chicken (thighs only), and beef brisket. For more information contact Chuck Bourgeois at (337)940-1467. Teams may prepare additional food, if they choose, to be sold for sampling/tasting.

Harvest Moon Fest is a production of the Franklin Office of Development/ Main Street Office and the Franklin Main Street Merchant Board. For more information on Harvest Moon Fest contact Debbie Von Werder at (337)828-3706 or Joan Adams at (337)578-1505 or the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau at (800) 256-2931 or email info@cajuncoast.com.