Franklin County’s miles upon miles of tree-covered hills create a rich tapestry of color and texture each fall. Many visitors enjoy a leisurely drive along back roads or a brisk hike or bike ride on one of the many trails in the county. Other visitors have a little more appetite for adventure and Franklin County does not disappoint. Franklin County’s festival and event season kicks into high gear come October. Enjoy the numerous craft shows and flea markets, apple orchard and pumpkin farm events. Or for those who enjoy investigating the paranormal, or who just like a little bit of a scare, Franklin County’s Halloween events may be just the thing that helps create lasting memories with family and friends.
Everyone in the Whitewater Valley and beyond are familiar with Metamora’s annual Canal Days festival. This gigantic vendor event brings tens of thousands of people to the tiny village of Metamora. For three days, Metamora is transformed from a charming and quiet little canal town to what feels more like a bustling metropolis. In addition to the handcrafters, many who work all year to create enough treasures for this festival, to flea market vendors from all across the country, to dozens of food trucks and tents offering traditional and more adventuresome dishes, the Metamora Canal Days festival has it all. The locals even have a saying, “If you can’t find it at Canal Days, you don’t need it.” On a smaller and more locally crafted scale, several of our businesses and attractions have special vendor events planned during the month of October. Visitors can get a head start on Christmas shopping at all of these events.
And that brings us to Spooky Time in Franklin County. Immediately after Canal Days, the residents and business owners work feverishly day and night to transform Metamora into a Haunted Village. Scary scenes and mild frights await visitors of all ages. The family-friendly experience begins on a hayride through part of the village to a dark street where you’ll walk with a guide through the village. At the same time, the historic Whitewater Valley Railroad hosts The Haunted Train of Metamora. Ride through the dark countryside on a 30-minute excursion listening to spooky tales and local lore. Some shops and restaurants offer late evening hours, so you really can spend an entire afternoon and evening enjoying seasonal treats and unique experiences in Metamora.
Finally, Brookville Main Street presents their first annual Haunted Wine Walk & Tour. On your own, by using a passport you will receive at your first stop, you will visit six historic locations reported to be haunted. Two of the locations offer interactive investigations. All of the tour sites have been investigated by the Get Spooky Society, and you will hear what they discovered about the ethereal inhabitants. While you stroll along Main Street in search of your next destination on the tour, pop into one of the retail shops that are offering late evening hours. The shopkeepers will offer wine tastings for you to enjoy as your browse. Brookville Main Street recently became a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), so in addition to wine tastings, you are welcome to pop into one of the participating restaurants for a cocktail to go. You can identify all of the restaurants and shops participating by the green DORA sticker on their window or door. Be sure to purchase advance tickets to get the best price.
There are so many unique experiences in Franklin County, you may have trouble deciding. In that case, we invite you to book a hotel room or B&B in Franklin County and make it a weekend adventure. Franklin County offers numerous overnight lodging options including campgrounds with electric and water, cozy cabins, spacious homes, and comfortable, up-to-date hotels. Most are listed in the section called Stay on our website. You will experience some of the warm hospitality of the residents of Franklin County, and they love to offer suggestions on other things to see and do while you’re here. The homepage of our website has a section called Highlighted Events Calendar. There are links to the websites or social media pages for all of these events and you can get more information there. We are certain you and your family will have an unforgettable experience in Franklin County!
