Heather Alexander, president of Frankton Heritage Days board and a longtime volunteer, poses with a sign as she helps set up for the 49th annual Frankton Heritage Days. FRANKTON — Budget cuts and a worldwide pandemic haven't stopped Frankton Heritage Days from happening for 49 consecutive years. To keep that impressive streak alive, organizers said they've learned to adapt.
Rising prices have affected the annual festival, including its signature fireworks show, which has been postponed until next year, when Heritage Days will celebrate its golden anniversary. A movie will replace the fireworks on Saturday evening. Natasha Pulley, a member of the Heritage Days board, said Friday before the festival began that organizers hadn't decided on the film.
She said they were torn between "Hocus Pocus," and "The Goonies." Friday's opening included some traditional events, including food vendors and carnival rides. The festival's annual parade was set for Saturday morning.
Christian Brown, 9, whose mother manages the carnival offerings at Frankton Heritage Days, watches a dog named Bailey, who hid from onlookers. Adapting to challenges has been a feature of the festival since its inception, according to Michele Alexander, a longtime volunteer who recently became the president of the board. Alexander has been involved for decades since marrying her husband, Levi, whose grandfather co-founded the festival in 1975.
She said she's seen her shares of challenges since then. "It's something that the Alexanders hold near and dear to our heart," she said. "It gets harder and harder each year.
"We've bled down here (at Heritage Field), we get hurt, we get exhausted beyond comprehension," she added, "but it's a sacrifice we're willing to make for the community." Janet Lyons smiles as she ties down her paintings, which she will sell during Frankton Heritage Days. Alexander recalled an experience centered around a water-related disaster that threatened the 2018 festival.
Alexander said Heritage Field sits near a creek which occasionally floods. Weather conditions resulted in several feet of water covering the festival grounds, forcing organizers to relocate in short order. Relocating the festival, she said, wasn't easy — regulations have to be followed and utilities have to be available for vendors.
Organizers honed in on the town's youth softball field, which was managed by Pulley, who presided over the field's governing board. "We don't own the property, so, we had to go through things with the school board, get approval, show proofs of insurance," Pulley said. Nevertheless, the local community came together to save the festival, which many believe to be a celebration of community.
"(The community) helped us because there's no water lines (at the softball field), there's no electric," Pulley continued. "They troubleshot everything. We had a great, beautiful festival.
" Dogs are not allowed on the festival grounds during Frankton Heritage Days, however, Bella, a dog owned by Jeff and Brenda Alexander, is an exception. Bella made her presence known while volunteers and vendors were preparing for this year's festival..
