Tricks and treats will be featured again this year on October 20 at Main Street Franklin’s third annual Franklinstein Frenzy. New events taking place throughout the Village Center include the Great Pumpkin Roll, a pumpkin seed spitting contest, hayrides, and a musical petting zoo.

The Frenzy will also feature the much-anticipated kids and pets costume parade, free portraits at Gorback Photography, and trick or treating with the Village merchants. “We were so pleased with the turnout last year that we’ve added even more activities like the pumpkin roll and seed spitting contest,” shared Maureen Movold, Main Street Franklin promotions chair. “As a Main Street community, we want to focus not only on promoting our great merchants and charming historic downtown, but also create a community event that offer lots of family fun.”

Beginning at 3 p.m., both two-legged and four-legged costumed creatures will march down Franklin Road, between Evelyn Court and the Village Green, showcasing their creative attire. There is no registration required to walk in the parade. Immediately following, merchants will be available for trick or treating.

Festival-goers, young and old, can experience the crazy fun of rolling a pumpkin down Franklin’s famous sledding hill.  Purchase a pumpkin at the event, hike up the hill, line up with all the other contestants, give your pumpkin a push, and the pumpkin that rolls the farthest wins a cash prize! The roll will offer both a kids and an adult division.

And, start honing those seed-spitting skills as Farmhouse Coffee and Ice Cream will host a pumpkin seed-spitting contest in its parking lot. Contestants will vie for a variety of prizes as they try and get one of their seeds over the goal line. The kids line will be set at five feet and the adults line at 10 feet.

To finish the day up, visitors and residents are invited to gather around the a bonfire at the Franklin‘stein’ beer garden to participate in “Skarry”Oake and, of course, enjoy the great beers and food offered at the Franklin Grill. 

“Franklin offers the perfect setting for Halloween,” said Maureen. “Our goal is to make Franklinstein Frenzy the best family-friendly Halloween event in the area.”

Main Street Franklin, MI serves to enhance and revitalize the historic Franklin Village center through strong public/private partnerships as part of the National Trust’s Main Street Four-Point Approach. Its goal is to attract new businesses, promote existing establishments, and build a strong economic base, all while maintaining Franklin’s historic character and rural atmosphere.