Actress, author keynote at NAACP banquet
October 1, 2009Oct. 5
October 5, 2009
Franklin celebrates the arrival of fall and the region’s abundant sugar cane harvest with its 10th annual Harvest Moon Festival. The community-based festival – held along Main Street in the Downtown Historic District.
A pre-festival Business After Hours Barbeque Bash, sponsored by the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce, Thursday, Oct. 22, launches the weekend fun.
The bash will be held at the Blevins Building from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $25 per meat and a business card.
On Friday, Franklin holds its first annual Boogie on the Bayou Jam featuring the band Flashback.
It is held outside the Blevins Building. Admission is free.
The Franklin Lions Club will be selling beverages – including alcohol – and Main Street restaurants will be open.
Teams competing in Saturday’s Harvest Moon BBQ Cookoff gather at 5 a.m. A “blind taste test” will be held later in the day, and prizes will be awarded for the best beef brisket, pork spare ribs and chicken.
Across town, the Franklin Merchants Association kicks off its annual Bass Tournament at safe daylight.
Boats will launch at the Fairfax, Foster or Bailey landings under the U.S. Highway 90 overpass at the Franklin Canal.
Prizes for the top five fish (12-inch minimum) will be awarded. The entry fee is $100 per boat for a two-man team or $50 per boat for solo fishermen.
Around 8 a.m., at Willow Street, the Farmers Market gets under way. Square-foot gardening demonstrations are planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The fun downtown begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and includes live music, a variety of food, arts and crafts and electric train rides through Franklin’s historic district. There will also be plenty of games for youngsters, a space walk, pumpkin bowling and Chinese rickshaw rides.
The day’s musical lineup includes Ricky Lorenzo and Mark Robichaux, Jody and the Zydeco Hot Poppas, the Johnny Firmin Band and 5th Avenue.
The annual Car and Motorcycle Show also kicks off at 9 a.m. Dash plaques are awarded to the first 25 entrant and Best of Show, Longest Distance, Club Participation and Top 10 honors will be given.
The Teche Action Clinic hosts its Adeline Guienze 5K Fun Run/Walk beginning at 9 a.m. at courthouse square.
The top male and female racers will receive $200. Trophies will also be awarded in various categories.
“The event is a worthy cause to call awareness to breast cancer – a killer among women,” said Alfreda Edwards, of Teche Action Clinic.
And the Franklin Art Guild Unlimited is hosting a show and sale at the Blevins Building at 11 a.m. Drawings will be held for $100, a 50/50 raffle and other prizes.
Die-hard Louisiana State University football fans will especially enjoy the indoor, open-air tailgate party prior to the LSU/Auburn game, which will be aired at 7 p.m. on a giant TV that evening.
“It is going to be a tailgate party to make sure everyone comes,” said organizer Joan Adams. “We want everyone to come to the festival.”
To learn more about the cookoff, contact Jim Alexander at (337) 940-0988 or jimalex60@wmconnect.com.
For more information on the car show, contact Chuck Autin, (337) 578-2559, or Debbie Von Werder, (337) 828-3706.
For more info about the race, call Edwards at (337) 828-2550, extension 131, or Florence Beverly at (337) 829-2550, extension 145.
Runners make their way down Main Street at the Adeline Guienze 5K Fun Run/Walk at the Harvest Moon Festival.
