This year’s Daily Journal Street Party is all about more.
A larger number of food trucks will be lined up to serve hungry partygoers throughout the evening. The food trucks are bringing a bigger menu, with items such as smoked mac ’n’ cheese. And the event has expanded to include the entire courthouse square in downtown Franklin.
Indianapolis party band Toy Factory will bring more bass, more boogie and more funk.
The Daily Journal Street Party is back for the second straight year Friday. Once again, the Daily Journal is taking over downtown Franklin to thank the community for its support over the years.
Kids will get to play in the bounce houses and enjoy face painting. Parents and adults can enjoy a beer while trying pizza, baked potatoes, ice cream, kettle corn and other local treats from nine food vendors.
And everyone will get down to the rock, R&B and hip-hop sounds of Toy Factory, the headlining band of the night.
The Daily Journal started its celebration last year to recognize its 50th anniversary, as well as the opening of its new office in downtown Franklin.
Being a first-time event, organizers were unsure what to expect. Vendors weren’t positive how much food to bring either.
Crowds packed the square, waiting in lines that stretched throughout East Court Street. Food trucks sold out of items more quickly than they anticipated.
“We completely sold out much earlier than we expected,” said April Roland, owner of Jivy’s BBQ in Franklin. “But it was great. It was one of our favorite festivals that we did last year.”
Roland plans to bring a lot more meat this time around, between 300 to 400 pounds.
The food stand also will feature a handful of new items. Their Jivy’s spicy melt, with pepper jack cheese melted over their famous barbecue pork or chicken, will be paired with the smoked mac ’n’ cheese.
“That’s our newest item, and it’s been a huge hit all season,” Roland said.
Food trucks from Brozinni Pizzeria on the southside, Mrs. Curl ice cream in Greenwood and D&S Kettle Corn will be back for a second year as well.
To help feed the hungry crowds, additional food trucks have been recruited. Italian eatery The Twisted Sicilian, baked-potato mad-scientists Circle City Spuds and The Flying Cupcake also will be in attendance. Greenwood’s Firehouse Subs also will be serving this year.
For adults hoping to relax with a beer, the Elks Club will serve in a special area of the festival. Kids activities, such as bounce houses and face painting, will keep the young ones entertained.
For those taking part, the street party is another chance to connect with the community in a fun, engaging way, Roland said.
“It’s a great family event and a great time for people to come out and have a good time,” she said.
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Daily Journal Street Party
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday
Where: Downtown Franklin
Entertainment
Toy Factory, an Indianapolis based band playing rock, R&B, hip-hop and a little bit of country, will perform from 7 to 10 p.m.
Activities
Bounce houses and face-painting for the kids
Food
- Mrs. Curl: The local ice cream institution takes their show on the road, serving treats from a converted 1959 Mr. Softee truck.
- Brozinni Pizzeria: With a specially built food truck boasting a full pizza oven, this southside pizza joint can bake made-to-order New York-style pizzas on the spot.
- Firehouse Subs: The Greenwood location of the national chain will be serving up subs loaded with deli meat, cheese and toppings.
- The Flying Cupcake: What started as a small Indianapolis bakery has grown to include a fleet of cupcake trucks and five locations, including one in Greenwood.
- Jivy’s BBQ: This barbecue stand has taken traditional slow-cooked pulled pork or chicken and gotten creative with it, offering sandwiches, smoked mac ‘n’ cheese and pulled pork nachos.
- The Twisted Sicilian: Serving traditional Sicilian street food, this food truck brings the authentic taste of Italy on the road.
- Circle City Spuds: Who knew you could do so much with a baked potato? This truck specializes in turning the traditional tuber into items such as the Brickyard BBQ Spud, a large potato filled with spicy cheese sauce, shredded pork or chicken and bacon.
- Ritter’s Frozen Custard: Ritter’s was founded in Franklin in 1989. Since then, the company has taken its smooth, creamy frozen custard all over the country.
- D&S Kettle Corn: The name says it all — this local couple specializes in fresh made kettle corn in sweet and salty, maple and caramel flavors.
Refreshments
The Elks Club will be serving brews in a special beer garden.
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