Franklin Merchants readying for more

The Franklin Merchants Association in collaboration with St. Mary Chapter of Louisiana Landmarks and the Franklin Main Street Design Committee as well as the Teche Theatre for the Performing arts are gearing up for "Dinner Under the Lampposts" April 30, 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
“Actually we conceived this idea four to five years ago,” Wiltz said. “Prior to COVID. We were supposed to mount it, when we first started talking about ‘Dinner Under the Lamposts’, not just euphemistically but literally dinner under the lampposts. That was maybe in 2019, then 2020 was when COVID hit. We had even thought of doing it during Franklin’s bicentennial too. After we did ‘Ada and the Doc’ at the Teche Theatre, and a memorial for the Loustalot man, we just took it off the stove.”
Wiltz said it was considered to do it during the Christmas holidays “Because Franklin’s Main Street was all beautiful and decorated. But we were kinda like, I don’t know, maybe. So we started talking about and we said if we’re going to do it, we’ll need another year. That was in maybe 2019. And that’s when COVID hit and everything went downhill.”
She said if the Franklin Merchants Association truly, and intentionally, intends to revitalize Franklin, Wiltz said, “This is the time. Additionally we had people moving in, we have Chad Boutte and Steven Mora here, doing a lot of touring things, we have more stores opening on Main Street, it’s starting to take a character that we wanted to take. The Teche Theatre is up and running again...it’s now or never.”
A fundraiser was conceived to help raise money. “To do the things that we do,” she said. “We always coordinated with the city and we have a great mayor who allows us to coordinate with him, and supports what we do in every way that we possible can.”
The association puts on Harvest Moon Festivals, the Art Stroll, a ‘Mingle and Jingle’ during the Christmas holidays, Bayou to Main Marketplace.
“So the question arises, ‘Y’all are raising money to have these events to do what?’ Well, if we are doing these kinds of events, and if we are intentionally revitalizing Franklin and making it a tourist destination, there are certain things we have to pay for...Port-A-Lets, music, waste receptacles, insurance, the trolley rides, sometimes we want certain artists to come in like face painters, and balloons. And while it’s free to the public, there are charges, and we need those funds to help us to that.”
Wiltz said socially, Franklinites go to other communities such as Lafayette, Houma, New Orleans and such, “But we want to make sure that we provide that same opportunities right here, where if you want to go to those other places, that’s great, go...but you don’t have to go. You can go to a movie, go to a festival, a tour, shop locally. There will be opportunities right here.”
The tabletops provided seat six persons. In the event of inclement weather, parish government has agreed to allow participants to gather in the Blevin’s Building.
Chefs will be Willie Gaspard, from Mr. Lester’s Steakhouse and Kevin Polito. There will be a seafood option that will be bronzed Louisiana red snapper, topped with muffaletta tomato relish. The meat option will be braised beef short ribs topped with pickled beet, red onion zucchini slaw. The rest of the entree will be fire roasted red pepper and smoked gouda cheese, roasted garlic Parmesan broccolini, spring salad, roasted red pepper gouda soup, and the desert is a lemon tartlet and bread and butter from Mr. Lester’s, one glass of red or white wine. There will be a cash bar.
For more information, residents and visitors can check with any downtown merchant, who will have tickets on hand, or call Wiltz and 337-828-3441. Deadline is March 15.