The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County expanded its annual PumpkinFest to a two-day weekend for the first time in the festival's 41-year history, scheduling the free event for Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, on Main Street in downtown Franklin.
The move came after the 2025 edition drew more than 135,000 attendees in a single day, according to the Heritage Foundation's announcement in March. That crowd strained the historic streets, sidewalks and access points that define the festival's footprint along Main Street and Public Square.
"PumpkinFest has been a time-honored tradition for more than 40 years, and we are thrilled to now offer the community a two-day event," Bari Beasley, president and CEO of the Heritage Foundation, said in a statement before the festival.
Beasley said the organization heard from guests who wanted more time to enjoy the festival. The Heritage Foundation worked with its board and the City of Franklin to make the change.
The expanded format aimed to spread attendance across two days rather than packing it into one Saturday. Saturday hours ran 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Sunday set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is free to attend.
Organizers planned more than 140 arts and crafts vendors and 30-plus food and beverage vendors, according to the Heritage Foundation. Three live music stages were scheduled: the Main Stage presented by Nissan, the Acoustic Stage presented by Corcoran Reverie and the Road Show Stage presented by Red Bird Real Estate.
The lineup also called for a KidZone with children's games and crafts, pet and people costume contests, a beer garden by Bavarian Bierhaus and fall-themed activities in Autumn Alley, according to the Heritage Foundation. The Franklin Theatre planned to screen cartoons for families.
Franklin Transit offered a Park and Ride shuttle from The Park at Harlinsdale Farm at 239 Franklin Road for $1 per person each way, dropping riders at 1st and Main, according to Williamson Source. Shuttle hours matched the festival schedule.
The Heritage Foundation has not released an official attendance total for the 2026 weekend. The organization's next signature downtown event, Dickens of a Christmas, is typically held in December.
