Pumpkinfest is everything that is great about a small-town fall festival. From painted faces and fun costumes to great food and entertainment, attendees will leave feeling with a full helping of autumn festiveness.

Pumpkinfest, along with Main Street Festival, was first produced in 1983, by the Heritage Foundation, as an economic revitalization tool for downtown Franklin. At that time downtown Franklin was challenged with competition from urban shopping centers and malls, and small businesses were closing on Main Street across the country. Festivals were a way to bring people to historic downtown Franklin to remember how important preserving the heritage of our community is to this town and this county.

The Downtown Franklin Association, a division of the Heritage Foundation, is an accredited member of the Main Street America program and works to maintain and improve the culture and economic vitality of downtown Franklin. When people think of Franklin today they immediately bring up images of a quaint and lively historic downtown district. We are proud that Pumpkinfest has been an integral component of making it that way.

This year is the 36^th Annual Pumpkinfest, Presented by Jackson. On October 26, we will bring back all your favorite Pumpkinfest activities with a few new additions.

This year’s Pumpkinfest will host the Williamson County High School Battle of the Bands, presented by Dark Horse Institute, a new Leiper’s Fork Distillery Whiskey Lounge and enhanced Costume Parade.

Another exciting addition to Pumpkinfest will be activities at Franklin Grove Estate and Gardens, including a Heritage Classroom pop-up, pumpkin patch, photo opportunity, book talks and more from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Kids Zone, sponsored by Church of the City, is the most popular feature of Pumpkinfest each year. It is open from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., and includes a full block of family friendly rides, activities and programming including carnival rides and petting zoos. All activities in Kids Zone are free of charge.

Crowd favorites such as Extreme Pumpkin Carving, the Sister Cities Great Pumpkin exhibit, Pumpkin Tree Photo Booth, Pet Costume Contest, sponsored by Mars Petcare, People Costume Contest and the Downtown Franklin Rotary Chili Cookoff will also be back this year.

We are always looking for amazing volunteers for Pumpkinfest. If you would like to volunteer or read more about our opportunities, visit http://bit.ly/2mMBSG6.

To register for the people costume contest, visit https://conta.cc/30adYCm. To register for the pet costume contest, visit  https://conta.cc/30a67F3. For more information on the 36^th Annual Pumpkinfest, presented by Jackson, visit https://williamsonheritage.org/pumpkinfest/.

Ever wonder where the Giant Pumpkin Comes From?

Each year at Pumpkinfest, one of the most popular attractions is “The Great Pumpkin”, a giant pumpkin brought to Franklin from more than 2,000 miles away.

Presented by Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County and donated by Franklin’s sister city, Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada; The Great Pumpkin has become a staple of Williamson County’s largest fall festival.

Every year Carleton Place grows a giant pumpkin for their town’s pumpkin fest, similar to our festival, and then a couple representatives from their Sister Cities board takes a road trip down to Franklin with the pumpkin riding safely on a trailer. Each year the pumpkin weighs around 1,000 to 2,000 pounds.