Exciting Arts & Culture Opportunity! The Town of Franklin (population 34,000) is seeking a dynamic, creative, and collaborative individual to join our team as the Director of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy. The Director of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy plans, develops, implements, and manages a comprehensive arts and culture program strategy for the Town, and serves as a liaison between the Town and the arts, cultural and creative community.   Select Franklin for the complete posting. Note: This posting closes on December 15, 2023.

This Week in the Cultural District and Beyond

December 2023, Third Annual Art Gift-Away begins ...

in Franklin's Cultural District.

Week #2!

Greetings art lovers!

Art gifts beginning on December 10 to 31, on deck! 

For the next 4 weeks, I will leave a piece of art at an undisclosed location for the Franklin community members to find. 

This collection is called "Finding the Light" and it is the third annual gift away for Franklin inspired by the loss of my father. Imagining how many others are coping through pain and loss around the holiday season, sparked my need to share a little "light". In that same spirit, I mean for it to be uplifting, bring hope, joy and giving around the holidays. 

I share clues each week by Wednesday, simple enough for all to join in. I then drop off a gift wrapped piece of art at the location the following Sunday morning. All I ask, is that the finder share a photo of the painting they’ve found. 

Amy Adams, Franklin Artist, "Finding the Light"

Clues for Week 2:

I am near a cross point with worldly foods 

My cottage is closer to the East and has no roof 

Still, my resilient flowers defy the cold and bloom all year

Find me keeping your art gift at my base

Wednesday, December 13, 1:00pm Senior Writing Group, meeting at Franklin Senior Center. Select Senior for information about this and other programs. Senior Center is located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Wednesday December 13, 5:30pm to 6:30pm Teens! Join us at the Franklin Public Library for a Taylor Swift birthday celebration! Snacks, cake, trivia, and sing alongs!

Select Library for more information. Located at 118 Main Street.

Wednesday, December 13, 5:30pm to 7:30pm Pebble Art Workshop at La Cantina Winery. Lacantinawinery.square.site #theorangejellyfish. Located at 357 Union St.

Wednesday, December 13, 7:00pm to 8:30pm Franklin Newcomers and Friends, Monthly Meeting at Escape into Fiction Bookstore. The night will include our Holiday themed trivia contest and our Yankee Swap. Bring a wrapped gift ($20 limit) and get one in return. Prizes are awarded to trivia winners and we’ll be serving refreshments from Birchwood, a lovely cafe/bakeshop located in Franklin. Come early and check out the bookstore to get a jump on Holiday shopping. There is always a wonderful selection for all ages. Escape into Fiction Bookstore is located at 10 Main St.

Lifelong Community Learning's Winter and Spring Registration is now open! January 2024 is packed with a wide variety of classes, such as Watercolor Plus (Jan. 8), American Sign Language (Jan. 8), Kids’ Cooking (Jan. 10), Acrylic Painting (Jan. 10), Yoga for Anyone (Jan. 10), Kids’ Spanish (Jan. 11), Sound Bath Meditation (Jan. 29) and many more. Select Lifelong Community for information and to register. Lifelong Community Learning is located at Franklin High School, 218 Oak Street.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Thursday, December 14, 4:30pm to 7:00 pm Winter Wonderland Community Event at Franklin Senior Center. Come out for an evening of holiday cheer. Select Holiday for more event information. Senior Center is located at 10 Daniel McCahill Street.

Thursday, December 14, 5:00pm to 9:00pm, Local Vendor Holiday Event at Birchwood Bakery+Kitchen. There will be lots of items to buy for your loved ones. Come in an help support our friends and buy some beautiful gifts for your loved ones. There will be a Birchwood Raffle too!! Select Birchwood for more information. Located at 17 East Central Street.

Thursday, December 14, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Annie Sullivan Middle School Concert at Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium, located at 224 Oak Street.

Thursday, December 14, 6:00pm to 7:00pm Forget the Fruitcake! Edible Gift Ideas at Franklin Public Library. Live event with samples for those register!

Most people have too much stuff these days! From homemade seasoning mixes to sauces, pickles, cookies, and more, come learn to make easy and thoughtful edible gifts. There’s something for everyone (even your peskiest in-law). CONTACT: Mitzi Gousie  15085204941  [email protected]

Thursday, December 14, 7:00pm, Franklin Cultural District Committee monthly meeting. Campanella Board Room located in Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center on the Dean College Campus. All welcome. Select Cultural for more information.

Thursday, December 14, Brian Cabral, Live Music at The Raillery Public House. Select Raillery for more information about this restaurant. Located at 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Friday, December 15, 2023

Friday, December 15, 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Fairmount Fruit Farm, Orchard Sl "hay" Ride. Ticketed event.

Select Fairmount for ticketing and information. Fairmount Fruit Farm is located at 887 Lincoln Street.

Friday, December 15, 6:00pm, Backyard Swagger, Live Music in the Taproom at 67 Degrees Brewing. Select 67 Degrees for more information about the brewery. Located at 158 Grove Street.

Thursday, December 15, Box Groove, Live Music at The Raillery Public House. Select Raillery for more information about this restaurant. Located at 280 Franklin Village Drive.

Friday, December 15, 9:00pm, Steven Fritzsche, Live Music, in the bar/lounge 3 Restaurant. Select 3 for more information. Located at 461 West Central St.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Saturday, December 16, 10:00am to 1:00 pm Franklin Historical Museum. Revisit Downtown Franklin circa 1932 Railroad exhibit again this December at the Franklin Historical Museum. Visit the Museum gift shop for Franklin-infused gifts. Select Museum for more information. FREE. Museum is located at 80 West Central Street.

Saturday, Saturday 16, 10:00am to 2:00pm

at Fairmount Fruit Farm

• WinterFest Join us at WinterFest for winter cheer! Activities include gingerbread house decorating, local vendor shopping, s'mores by our fire pits, or beverages (for all ages) by JK Catering. Best of all, The Grinch and Santa here for pics!Free entry, some activities additional.
• Winter Farmers Market, Shop local vendors in our heated greenhouses through the winter. 

Select Fairmount for more information. Located 887 Lincoln Street.

Saturday, December 16, 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Fairmount Fruit Farm, Orchard Sl "hay" Ride. Ticketed event. Select Fairmount for ticketing and information. Fairmount Fruit Farm is located at 887 Lincoln Street.

Saturday, December 16, 6:00pm, Laura May, Live Music in the taproom at 67 Degrees Brewing. Select Brewing for more information. 67 Degrees Brewing is located at 158 Grove Street.

Saturday, December 16, 6:30pm, Special Holiday Dinner and Concert performance by Martin & Kelly at GlenPharma Distillery. A 90-minute holiday concert by acclaimed artists Martin & Kelly with a 4-course prix fixe dinner by Chef Kevin and his team.  Ticketed event. Select GlenPharmer for more information about this distillery. Select tickets for ticketing & performance information. GlenPharma Distillery is located at 850 West Central Street.

Saturday, December 16, 7:30pm Franklin Performing Arts Company presents: Humbug! staged at Franklin High School. Humbug! is an original musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring the script’s writer, Nick Paone, as Ebenezer Scrooge. With musical hits of every genre and live accompaniment by a 10-piece band of professional musicians, Humbug! transports audiences from Dickensian England to contemporary America as the novel’s iconic characters and storyline are cleverly reimagined with modern setting and dialogue. Humbug! delivers a holiday gift of hilarity with a timely – and timeless – message! Select Humbug for ticketing. Franklin High School is located at 218 Oak Street.

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Sunday, December 17, 1:00pm to 4:00 pm Franklin Historical Museum. Revisit Downtown Franklin circa 1932 Railroad exhibit again this December. Select Museum for more information. FREE. Museum is located at 80 West Central Street.Please consider donating a nonperishable item when visiting the Museum this season.

Sunday, December 17, 2:00pm Franklin Performing Arts Company presents: Humbug! staged at Franklin High School. Select Humbug for ticketing. Franklin High School is located at 218 Oak Street.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Monday, December 18, 7:00pm Enjoy the holiday music stylings of The Southeastern MA Community Concert Band, Franklin Senior Center. Select Senior for more information about this and other activities. Located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Partnering with Franklin Matters @https://www.franklinmatters.org sharing information about arts and culture. Visit Franklin Matters for Franklin information.

Franklin Cultural District Committee

Amy Adams, Katherine Botelho,

Pandora Carlucci, Sue Cass, Patrick Conlan,

John LoPresti, Roberta Trahan

Next meeting 7:00pm. December 14 at Dean College. Select FCD for more information.