The calendar has officially turned to fall and last week we had our first bit of cooler weather. We’ll still go through the typical fall days here in the mountains – chilly in the mornings, warm in the afternoon. Days that will get in the low 80s. Days where the thermometer won’t climb out of the 60s.
As the days get cooler and the leaves get prettier, we’ll also see an increase in traffic as the fall leaf-lookers arrive. Sure, it can be aggravating when the traffic on the Georgia Road backs up more than usual. You have to stand in line longer at the store or when going out to eat. It’s hard to find a parking space on Main Street. But those small inconveniences mean business is thriving. After more than a year and a half of dealing with the ups and downs of the pandemic, our businesses need the support of the tourists and us locals.
Rather than grumbling, we can all take the opportunity to be good ambassadors of our town and county and share some southern hospitality with those visiting. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to spread the news about the good things Macon County has to offer. We hope folks will enjoy their time here, come back again, and tell their friends about their vacation to Franklin.
The calendar is already getting full with fall events. The Streets of Franklin and downtown merchants are hosting “Hometown Fall on Main” sidewalk sales each Saturday through October. Check out the deals, stop in for a bite at one of the downtown restaurants, bakeries or coffee shops.
And what would fall be without Pumpkinfest with the highlight of the event being the “Great American Pumpkin Roll.” This event, hosted by the Town of Franklin, brings hundreds of people downtown as children compete to see whose pumpkin will roll the furthest down Frogtown hill. Mark your calendar for Oct. 23.
The downtown merchants will host Monster Mash with trick-or-treating on Oct. 30. For children with food allergies, there will be a Teal Pumpkin offering non-food trinkets and treats.
Pickin’ on the Square continues through mid-October. The Chamber of Commerce’s Mountain High music, craft and car show will be Oct. 9. The Scottish Tartans Museum will host its Museum Haunt on Oct. 23. The breweries have live music on the weekends. The Friends of the Greenway will have their annual arts and crafts fundraiser on Nov. 6. There will be no shortage of things to do in the coming weeks.
Get out, enjoy the fall weather, and have some fun while supporting our local businesses and organizations. The money you spend here stays here and benefits our economy in many ways.