2023 Independence Celebration
Friday, June 30, 2023
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Sunday, July 2, 2023
Lions Legend Park
(Loomis Road & Drexel Avenue)
Complete Event Schedule and Details
Three days of family fun - Friday, June 30th, through Sunday, July 2nd, in Lions Legend Park. Entertainment for all ages including carnival rides, food vendors, music, fireworks, and a parade!
Parade: Sunday, July 2nd, Children's Parade 12:30 p.m. / Main Parade 1 p.m. Parade route: Parade begins at W. Loomis Road and Forest Hill Avenue, progresses north on Loomis Road to Drexel Avenue, proceeds east down Drexel Avenue to the Fire Station. The Children's Parade is an annual tradition with the kids decorating their bikes, wagons, and strollers in patriotic red, white, and blue colors (no motorized vehicles allowed). No registration is required for the Children's parade. Kids with an adult can be dropped off at the front parking lot of the Franklin Police Department, 9455 W. Loomis Road, by 11:30 a.m. (vehicles are not allowed to park in any area of the Police Department parking lot). Registration is required for the Main Parade by June 15th. Veterans can march in the parade without pre-registering. Scout and youth troops, churches and religious groups, booster clubs, and civic organizations are encouraged to participate and require registration by June 15th. Please request a registration form by calling Ann Adamski at 414-690-7340 or via email. BLEACHERS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THE PARADE.
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT: Saturday, July 1st, 3 p.m. Register by June 22nd/$40 non-refundable registration fee per team. Tournament is limited to the first 32 teams. Prize money awarded to top 4 winning teams: 1st Place 40%, 2nd Place 30%, 3rd Place 20%, 4th Place 10% of total dollars collected from all teams less 10% operating costs. Contact Doug at 414-745-0514 or via email with questions. Cornhole Tournament Sign-Up Form.
Fireworks: Don't miss the spectacular fireworks display beginning promptly at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 1st!
Entertainment for 2023:
Rainbow Rides and Food Vendors will be operating during all open hours of the festival. The carnival rides will continue after the fireworks on July 1st until 11 p.m. No Carry-ins are allowed on the festival grounds area at any time during the festival.
★ Friday, June 30, 2023 ★
Food Court, 5 pm to 11 pm
Carnival, 5 pm to 11 pm
Main Tent Bar, 5 pm to 11 pm
Bella Cain Band, 7:30 pm to 11 pm
★ Saturday, July 1, 2023 ★
Food Court, 3 pm to 11 pm
Carnival, Noon to 11 pm / $25 Wristband Noon-4 pm
Cornhole Tournament, 3 pm (Registration Required)
Main Tent Bar, 2 pm to 11 pm
Doo-Wop Jukebox Band, 3 pm to 6:30 pm
Brew City Wrestling, 7 pm
Mt. Olive Band, 7:30 pm to 11 pm
FIREWORKS, 9:30 pm
★ Sunday, July 2, 2023 ★
Food Court, Noon to 11 pm
Kids Are People Too! Show, Police Dept., 11:45 am
Children's Parade, Police Dept., 12:30 pm
INDEPENDENCE PARADE, 1 pm (Begins at W. Loomis Road & Forest Hill Avenue, progresses north on Loomis Road to Drexel Avenue, proceeds east down Drexel Avenue to the Fire Station.)
Community Ice Cream Social, west lawn, after parade
Real Clowns Face Painting, north lawn, 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Next Step Dance Studio, main tent, after parade
Carnival, 2 pm to 11 pm
Kids Are People Too! Show, north lawn, 2:30 pm
Main Tent Bar, 2 pm to 11 pm
The Jimmys Band, 3 pm to 6:30 pm
Almighty Vinyl Band, 7:30 pm to 11 pm
See Complete Event Schedule and Details
Local Vendors: The Independence Celebration is also an opportunity for local vendors/artists to display and sell their creations. To learn more, contact Ann Adamski at 414-690-7340 or via email.
Volunteers: If interested in volunteering at the Independence Celebration, please fill out the Volunteer Sign-Up Form and mail it to the address on the form or scan/email it, or contact Angela Christie at 414-235-8180 to register. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old to volunteer in the beer/wine tent. Sign up early to get your time slots reserved.
Donations: The Franklin Civic Celebrations Commission welcomes donations of any dollar amount. Any business or individual interested in giving a donation or sponsoring a specific event or entertainer related to the festival, please complete/mail the Donation/Sponsor Form or contact Mira Kresovic at 414-202-7192.
General Festival Questions: Contact John Bergner: 414-881-5863 / e-mail.
We salute our Sponsors of the 2022 Independence Celebration!
CORPORATE SPONSOR
Payne & Dolan, Inc.
DIAMOND SPONSORS
Franklin Noon Lions Club • Irish Cottage • On The Border
EMERALD SPONSORS
Bear Development • Carma Laboratories • FPS Education & Community Service Center • Max A. Sass & Sons • On The Level Inspection Service • Sendik’s Food Market
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Foth Engineering • Hiller Ford, Inc. • Indian Village Restaurant (Greenfield) • Michaelangelo’s Pizza • Sorce Services, LLC • Stu’s Flooring • Victory Creek Accounting
GOLD SPONSORS
American Motel, Inc. • Big Bang, LLC • Holz Motors, Inc. • Mayor Steve & Beverly Olson • Pen & Inc of Milwaukee • State Farm Vicki Kipfmueller Agency • Tewco, Inc.
SILVER SPONSORS
American Building Restoration Products • Bartz’s Floor Covering • Buckhorn Bar & Grill • Dawn’s Tailor Shop • Franklin Overhead Door • Hales Corners-Franklin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10394 • Ken’s Custom Auto • Mathnasium of Franklin • Matus Eyecare • Midtown Mobil (W. Forest Home Ave.) • Wegner’s St. Martins Inn • Willey-Herda American Legion Post 192
BRONZE SPONSORS
Creative Homes, Inc. • Foresthill Highlands Senior Apts. • Franklin Self Storage • Dr. Henry Wengelewski Jr., DDS • Karweik Plumbing Company, Inc. • Klimetz Law Office • Nisenbaum Homes & Realty, Inc. • Nova Salon Suites • Polonia Sport Club, Inc. • Spellman Trailers, Inc.
DONATIONS
• Badger Corn Roasters (Food Court)
• Payne & Dolan (Generators/Light Towers/Buses for Transportation to
The Wall That Heals)
• Tuckaway Country Club (Golf Carts)
Please support those that support our Franklin community.
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”—John F. Kennedy