8,000 Estimated to Have Attended Cultural Festival

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The first time out of the gate and everything seemed to go right for the Franklin Cultural Council's first-ever Franklin Cultural Festival held on Sunday from noon to 6.

Following on the somber note of September 11, organizers focused on the theme of community unity through having a “something for everyone” range of booths, activities, food, and entertainment – and a beer garden across Main Street near Hayward Manor. If there was anyone thing that might have fallen short, it was the relatively small number of food trucks that organizers were able to attract, noted Ted Cormier-Leger, a member of the Franklin Cultural Council. “I think it was because Franklin has had a reputation of being bureaucratic and difficult to work with,” he said.

But those trucks that did show up couldn’t fill orders fast enough and all had long lines of customers waiting to buy product. “I hope the fact that these trucks did well will get around in that community so in the future we will be able to attract more of them,” he added.

Beyond the arts and crafts and food booths, the stage attached to the gazebo hosted a series of acts. Perhaps the most colorful was a group of female dancers performing “Bollywood” dances. According to Wikipedia, “the filmi music and dances in Bollywood films are a synthesis of formal and folk Indian traditional music and dance traditions, in fusion with Middle Eastern techniques.” Bollywood, of course, is the nickname for the huge film industry that has grown in India since the mid-20th century.

Other performers included Eguie Castillo and the Mar del Norte Salsa Orchestra, the Rhode Island Latin Dance School, which provided salsa dance lessons, and the Pamela Means Project, that delivered a full set of jazz music.

The Franklin Cultural Council was able to sponsor the event because they ended up with money available due to programs cancelled because of Covid and then came up with the idea of supporting a special event. Cormier-Leger said the Council is hopeful it will become an annual event.

Cormier-Leger said the Council had hoped to attract 5,000 people and with the good weather helping out, now believe the total was closer 8,000.

With all those people, there were a few medical calls – one for a person in the Hayward Manor area and another for an older man passed out near a food truck.

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Meanwhile, at the Franklin Historical Museum, Franklin Native Paul Faenza was relating his experiences as a New York Police officer during 9/11. Historical commission chair Mary Olsson said, “it went really well, about 60 people were there. The presentation was amazing and very compelling.” Attendees included Town Councilor Bob Dellorco and Fox News reporter Bob Ward. Friend’s of Paul's from elementary school also stopped by for an informal reunion, as well. “It was really nice,” Olsson added.

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