Nothing to do in St. Mary? Think again!

The City of Franklin will be a flurry of activity for the month of October.
Firstly, Oct. 1 will see National Night Out at the Franklin Recrecation Center from 6 to 8 p.m.
This annual event promotes amity between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, fostering communication and good will.
Music will be provided by DJ Fab, refreshments will be available, and it is free to attend.
Fit Fun & Fabulous Serving St. Mary Parish will take place in downtown Franklin on Oct. 2, 3rd and 5th.
Oct. 2 will be the event’s kick-off party at the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts from 6 to 8 p.m.
Oct. 3 will be the day of luncheons, health screenings, panels, info sessions and the health fair featuring local health agencies; and that will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Franklin.
Oct. 5 will be the close of the event with the Walk for Christ, gospel concert, dodge ball tournament and glow-in-the-dark glow ride, all taking place from 5:30 p.m. until dark in downtown Franklin.
Also on Oct. 5, at 10 a.m., ticketholders for the Fall Ramble Tour of Franklin and St. Mary Parish will meet at Church of the Assumption to begin their tour.
The event is hosted by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation in partnership with the Cajun Coast Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, Franklin Main Street, and the St. Mary Chapter of Louisiana Landmarks Society.
Tickets are being sold at www.lthp.org for $15-$50 each.
Oct. 26 is the official date of the Franklin Merchants Association’s 21st Annual Harvest Moon Festival on Main Street in downtown Franklin.
The festival starts at 8 a.m. with the 19th annual 5K Run/Walk, and will carry on throughout the day until 4 p.m. with food, crafts, live music, car show, the Mutt Strutt, children’s activities and the Bayou Bake Off at the Lamppost on Main Street.
The 2nd Annual Bayou Bake Off is hosted by CCCVB with categories including brownies, candy, cookies, pie, cobbler, custard, cake and cupcakes.
Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. and goes until 10:30 a.m. with judging beginning at 11 a.m.
Winners will be announced at 1 p.m., and winners must be in attendance.
Scoring will be based on presentation, appropriate texture, taste, consistency and overall impression.
Contestants must be amateurs and all ages are encouraged to participate. Entries must be home cooked and not store bought.
More than one entry is acceptable.
Desserts must be prepared in a sanitary manner, completely cooked and no items must need refrigeration.
Six items are needed for cupcakes. Twelve items are needed for brownies, candy and cookies.
Pies, cobblers, custards and cakes must include the entire dessert.
Entries must be clearly marked with the contestant’s name and the name of the dessert in a sealed container with a recipe. Containers should also be labeled.
With permission, recipes may be used for promotions of the Cajun Coast or Harvest Moon Fest. If permission is not granted, it will not affect your opportunity to win.
Contestants may work as a team but only one award will be given to the team.
Desserts may be picked up after the awards. Any leftovers after 2 p.m. become the property of the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau and Harvest Moon Fest.
The bureau reserves the right to use photos, names, images, videos and relevant quotes in promotion of the parish and Harvest Moon Fest.
For a complete list of rules, visit https://www.cajuncoast.com/event/21st-annual-harvest-moon-festival.
Also beginning Oct. 26, is the Franklin Fire Department’s Haunted House at its new location in the warehouse at Hospital Avenue and Haifleigh Street, next to the city’s recreation center, from 6 p.m. “until the last person leaves.”
The haunted house will also be held Oct. 29-31 at the same place at the same times.
Admission is free.
Oct. 31 will also see the City of Franklin’s Boo on the Bayou, a free family friendly event taking place along Teche Drive and in the Center Theatre lot from 6 to 8 p.m.
This event will offer trunk-or-treat opportunities, as well as music and costumes.
The Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau is sponsoring a promotion to get locals and visitors to attend four festivals throughout the parish during the month of October.
Earl the Egret, a piece of yard art, will be hidden at the Berwick Lighthouse Festival on October 3-6, the Chitimacha POW WOW on October 19, the Patterson Main Street and Historic Walking Tour on October 26, and Harvest Moon Fest on October 26 in Franklin.
Attendees are encouraged to take photos with Earl at the event, and send photos to info@cajuncoast.com.
Points will be assessed for each event attended, and photos on Instagram will gain bonus points with the #CajunCoast #FeedYourSoul.
The best spotter will be eligible to win prizes.
The rules are as follows:
—Earl the Egret, yard art, will be placed in a public area at the Berwick Lighthouse Festival, the Patterson Main Street and Historic Walking Tour Festival, the Chitimacha POW WOW and the Harvest Moon Fest in Franklin.
—Guests are encouraged to take photos with Earl when found and send them to the Cajun Coast at:
info@cajuncoast.com
Photos must be emailed to the Cajun Coast by Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. to be considered eligible.
—A form with name, address, cell number and signature must be completed.
—Five points will be assigned for each picture taken at each festival. Five is the maximum amount of points per festival, regardless of the number of photos taken, tagged or sent to the Cajun Coast for one event. A maximum of 20 points may be accumulated.
—Anyone that attends all four events will receive a bonus of 10 points.
—Bonus points for social media will be assigned from Instagram only, but use of hashtags and tagging for Facebook and Twitter are encouraged. One point will be assigned per post on Instagram per festival. Maximum number of points per festival is one.
—No purchase is necessary to win. All events are free except for the Chitimacha POW WOW. Earl will be placed in a public area that does not require an admission fee.
—Points will be tabulated within a week of the end of the contest, and a winner will be contacted and announced. The top five people with the highest number of points will win a prize pack worth over $100.
—Should there be a tie, a random winner will be selected from the highest number of points.
—By signing the form, you’re agreeing to allow Cajun Coast to use your photos in promotion of the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau and the associated festivals.
For more information, contact the Cajun Coast at 985-380-8224 or info@cajuncoast.com.
To close out the year, and ring-in Franklin’s bicentennial, will be the City of Franklin’s 200th Anniversary New Year’s Celebration at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse Square from 6 p.m. to past midnight.
The celebration will feature Johnny Chauvin and the Mojo Band, Cupid and Dance Party Express, and DJ Fab.
This event will mark the beginning of a year-long observance of Franklin’s bicentennial, with various functions throughout 2020.