Franklin High Becomes Christmas Village, Students Lead Community Festival

Franklin High School is transforming into a Christmas village this weekend for its annual community Christmas festival, with a full slate of events scheduled from Friday evening through Sunday night. Students planned and will run most activities, drawing sponsors and vendors, managing budgets, and staffing events that range from a Festival of Trees with online bidding to a Polar Express Experience and a community parade.

Organizer Aleece Ford described the scope of student involvement, saying “The students work for months leading up to the festival on planning, organizing, contacting businesses for sponsorships, etc.,” and added “The students are responsible for volunteering to man all events and keep track of budgets, etc.” The festival opens Friday with a sponsors preview of the Festival of Trees at 5 p.m. and online bidding via Facebook beginning at 5:30 p.m. Entries for the gingerbread house competition may be dropped off at 6 p.m. The evening continues in the cafeteria from 6 to 8 p.m. with "Shake It Off, Grinch! A Swiftmas Mom and Me Dance" Admission is five dollars and prizes will be awarded for best dressed Grinch and best dressed Taylor Swift.

Saturday begins with registration for a pre kindergarten through sixth grade three on three basketball tournament at 8:30 a.m., with games starting at 9:30 a.m. A Christmas bazaar runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the small gym while the sophomore class serves lunch in the cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Crafts and activities will be offered in the cafeteria during the same hours. The junior class quarter auction starts with paddle sales at noon and the auction at 1 p.m. Parade line up is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at East Grade School, with judging at 4:45 p.m. and the parade at 5 p.m. The Polar Express Experience begins when high school doors open at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday programming includes Breakfast with Santa from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., pictures with Santa from 8 a.m. to noon, a spelling bee at 10:30 a.m., and kids and adults pinewood derby Elf Races at 11 a.m. A three on three tournament for adults begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and games at 9:30 a.m. A kindergarten through fifth grade Christmas program will close the weekend at 6:30 p.m. in the big gym. Online bidding for the Festival of Trees ends at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, winning bidders may pick up trees starting at 7:30 p.m., and gingerbread house winners will be announced Sunday.

Ford emphasized the festival purpose and continuity, saying “The idea for this festival was created to help get students involved in our community, to (help them) see how much work goes into events like this, in hopes they will continue to be active in the community after graduation,” and noted “ We still have students come back year after year, excited to help with the events,” adding “The best thing now is that many of our students helping to put on these events were once the children attending the festival a few years ago, which makes it extra special to them.” For Morgan County residents, the festival offers family entertainment, local vendor shopping, and direct support for student projects and class fundraising.