Franklin FIFA Plans Announced

The Town of Franklin Department of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy has announced that the town will host two days of festivities celebrating the international soccer games playing at neighboring Gillette Stadium. These events will take place on June 25 and June 26 on the Franklin Town Common and at one of our community partner locations, Haywood Manor.

The festivities will include live streamed games on a large screen; enabling viewing from the Town Common and the Haywood lawn; as well as community vendors, food trucks and live music. These free, community-centered days are designed to create a welcoming, festive atmosphere for residents and visitors while supporting downtown activity and cultural tourism.

Programming is also part of the broader ‘Franklin Welcomes the World’ marketing campaign, reinforcing Franklin’s role as a regional gathering place during a global event.

Viewing party & Community Engagement
Primary Location:
Franklin Town Common & Hayward Manor
LED screen viewing area with open lawn seating at Haywood Manor;
will host outdoor viewing, including a beer garden component
(pending licensing and approvals).
Watch Party/Festivity Timeline: 3-9pm June 25th+26th
Streamed games:
Thursday, June 25
4pm Ecuador v Germany
7pm Tunisia v Netherlands
10pm USA - Go watch elsewhere!
Friday, June 26
3pm Norway v France
8pm Uruguay v Spain
Community Engagement Elements | Vendors & Community Partners

Presented on the Town Common and Haywood Manor. Note that the beer garden
is at Haywood Manor only, and no alcohol is permitted on the Town Common.
Live music performances before and/or after matches
Community Partners/Vendors on the Town Common
Food trucks
Wayfinding and signage connecting the Common, downtown, and
partner locations + ‘Franklin Welcomes the World’ marketing campaign
Estimated Attendance
Projected total attendance: 1,000–1,500 visitors over two days, Audience
includes: Franklin residents, Regional visitors attending Gillette matches,
Families, young adults, and soccer fans.

Tier 1 – Franklin Welcomes the World Marketing Campaign
Overview
“Franklin Welcomes the World” town-wide marketing campaign,
designed to drive tourism and economic activity into Franklin businesses
and community spaces during the 2026 World Cup at neighboring
Gillette Stadium. This campaign connects businesses, community
organizers, and cultural organizations with a unified platform to promote
events, deals, and activities across the town. Consists of printed guide,
connective wayfinding signage and digital promotion on the Town of
Franklin website, and the Cultural District website (and social media
reposting). Or visit franklinculturaldistrict.org

Campaign Timeline (ongoing, ramped up starting in April) April–July 2026. Focus: June/July
programming. Supports town-wide visibility for all participating businesses, both inside and outside the
Cultural District.
Print: Spring/Summer Cultural District Guide. Printed April, dispersed May. Visit website for further
details, franklinculturaldistrict.org. As well as physical wayfinding signage linking the town common to the
downtown businesses + businesses that will be streaming the games.
Digital engagement: Website presence; Town-wide social media promotion, shareable graphics,
templates, and campaign hashtags to create a unified presence.

Digital Hub & Promotion
Dedicated landing page on the Town of Franklin website (stated above). Resharing of social media posts connected to ‘Franklin Welcomes the World’ campaign; tag @FranklinCulture
Insight Snapshot of @FranklinCulture Instagram | 1.5.26-2.4.26
Views: 14.6K
Interactions: 167
New Followers: 20
Content @FranklinCulture Shared: 221
Even in a ‘non-promotional month’, @FranklinCulture sustained strong visibility, organic follower growth, and consistent engagement, proving Instagram is an essential baseline communication tool that complements, rather than duplicates, email outreach.

FRANKLIN WELCOMES THE WORLD