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It is slated to be an active fall season in the city of Franklin.

“We have a number of events coming up,” Franklin City Manager Amanda C. Jarratt noted during the Franklin City Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 25.

Up first on the list of events is the city’s Food Truck Rodeo on Friday, Sept. 29, and Franklin’s Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 30.

FOOD TRUCK RODEO

The rodeo, which features free entry, is scheduled for 6-10 p.m. at Barrett’s Landing Park, located at 100 Barrett St. in Franklin.

“It looks like the weather should be good,” Jarratt said, referring to a key variable that was missing from the area last weekend, due to Tropical Storm Ophelia, and also more than two weeks ago when the Riverfront Soul Festival was held in Franklin.

Food trucks confirmed to be participating in the rodeo as of Tuesday, Sept. 26, were T’Z Fun Foods, The Lighthouse Project, Kona Ice and We Grill It.

A band, The Entertainers, will also be performing live.

FALL FESTIVAL

“And then on Saturday is our traditional, street scene Fall Festival,” Jarratt said. “We have over a hundred vendors, so it should be a great crowd in downtown.”

The festival will be held along North Main Street in downtown Franklin and is set to run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

There will be music, vendors and food, as well as a kids zone featuring pumpkin painting from 9-11:30 a.m.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

The Franklin Police Department will be holding its 2023 National Night Out event on Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 4-7 p.m. at Armory Drive Park, which is located at 910 Armory Drive in Franklin.

“Enjoy fellowship with local police as well as neighbors and local organizations,” FPD officials stated in a social media post, noting that food and fun for all will be included.

To City Council members on Monday, Jarratt said, “I know the City of Franklin Police Department is still soliciting participants for that event, and we will have a council table for you all there as well.”

An FPD post on social media noted that community groups, churches, businesses, etc. that want to participate as a vendor in the NNO event should contact Franklin Police Chief Steve Patterson at 757-562-8579.

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

“The fall is busy,” Jarratt said Monday. “Pretty much every weekend we have some sort of event coming up.”

In her written city manager’s report to the council, she noted that the Franklin Cruise-In Finale will be held Saturday, Oct. 14; the Trick or Trot 5K Run will be held Saturday, Oct. 21, and the Downtown Trick or Treat will be held Thursday, Oct. 26.

“And then we move into the holiday season, so stay tuned for that as well,” Jarratt said.

Franklin’s Holiday Parade is set for Friday, Dec. 1, and the Elf Parade & Holiday Market are set for Saturday, Dec. 2.

For more information on these events, visit www.franklinva.com/news-events/events/.