Franklin’s beloved PumpkinFest is officially leveling up. The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County is turning the one-day staple into a full weekend, with the festival set for Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25. Organizers say stretching the event over two days should thin out the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds that have packed downtown in recent years and give vendors and shops more breathing room. Fans of the tradition can still expect the usual favorites: costume contests, a KidZone, live stages and an arts-and-crafts marketplace lining Main Street ahead of Halloween.
Heritage Foundation announcement
In a post on the Heritage Foundation events listing, organizers confirmed that the 41st annual PumpkinFest will run October 24–25 on Main Street in downtown Franklin. The listing spells out the scale of the weekend: more than 140 arts-and-crafts booths, about 30 food and beverage vendors, a KidZone, and multiple performance stages. The foundation describes the change as a way to “double the fall fun” while holding on to the festival’s character and its walkable downtown feel.
Why organizers added a second day
Bari Beasley, the foundation’s president and CEO, told WSMV, “PumpkinFest has been a time-honored tradition for over 40 years, and we are thrilled to now offer the community a two-day event.” The station reported that the move follows record-breaking turnout, with more than 135,000 people pouring into downtown in a single day in 2025. Those numbers pushed organizers to take a hard look at safety and capacity on the city’s historic streets and sidewalks. Beasley said adding a second day is meant to balance access and safety with the festival’s small-town character, while still welcoming a broader regional crowd.
Logistics, parking and shuttles
According to the foundation’s event page, visitors will have several transit options to get into the festival footprint. Franklin Transit will run $1 shuttles and park-and-ride service to move people into downtown, which organizers say is key given the limited street parking inside the event area. Attendees are encouraged to lean on shuttles or downtown garages during the busiest hours. First-aid stations, lost-and-found locations, and accessible restrooms are set to be placed around Public Square for the weekend.
Economic lift and what it means for downtown
Festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation pull in roughly 300,000 visitors each year and generate an estimated more than $10 million in local economic impact, according to Vanderbilt News. Local merchants and vendors have been pushing for tweaks that reduce congestion and create more chances to make sales, and many business owners say an extra day should spread purchases out and ease the crush that comes with a single-day rush. Organizers plan to continue working with the City of Franklin and downtown partners on safety and scheduling as more weekend details roll out later this year.
