Franklin, IN This Week: Events & New Businesses (Nov 11)

By Jake Hemrick, REALTOR, Hemrick Real Estate · November 11, 2026

Things to do in Franklin this week

A big weekend downtown, plus a couple of free picks for next week.

• Wed, Nov. 11, 6:30 PM: Traci Brimhall reading. The poet reads at Franklin College's Johnson Center for Fine Arts as part of the Carlson-Stauffer Visiting Writer Series. Free. ↗ details
• Fri, Nov. 13, 6:00 PM: Film, Fact & Fiction: Sergeant York. A free program at the Johnson County Museum of History (135 N. Main St.) on the real World War I soldier behind the film. Registration is required. ↗ register
• Fri, Nov. 13, 2:00 and 7:30 PM: Sergeant York on 35mm. The Historic Artcraft Theatre screens the 1941 classic for Veterans Day weekend. Veterans and active duty military get in free. ↗ schedule
• Sat, Nov. 14, 9 AM to 3 PM: 2nd Saturday Antique & Vintage Market. Two buildings of vendors at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Admission is $4 and parking is free. ↗ details
• Sat, Nov. 14, 10 AM to 1 PM: Franklin Cruisers Cruise-in. Classic cars, coffee and live music in the Dairy Queen lot at 480 N. Morton St. ↗ details
• Sat, Nov. 14, 10 AM to 6 PM: Wild Geese Bookshop turns 10. The downtown bookshop at 40 E. Madison St. celebrates all day, and Dog Man stops by at 11 AM. Bring the kids! ↗ details
• Sat, Nov. 14, 11 AM: Storybook Breakfast. Pancakes and storybook characters at Grace United Methodist Church, hosted by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Johnson County. Every child goes home with a book. Tickets are $10, and one child 4 and under eats free with each paid adult. ↗ tickets
• Sat, Nov. 21, 10 AM to 3 PM: Sports Card Show. More than 40 tables at the Johnson County Shrine Club, 751 W. King St. Admission and parking are free. ↗ details

New businesses and openings

• Pawley's Pet Boutique, 152 E. Jefferson St. Downtown's new pet shop (clothing, a treat bar and a custom collar station) holds its grand opening Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Open Wednesday through Sunday. ↗ Daily Journal
• Malarkey Roofing Products plant. The $200 million shingle plant is expected to bring 200 jobs, and the mayor said in February that a ribbon cutting is planned for late 2026. ↗ Daily Journal
• Wawa, Dutch Bros, Chipotle and Valvoline. All four are reported as coming to Franklin. Site work is moving on the Dutch Bros drive-thru; none has announced an opening date yet. ↗ Mojo 102.9
• Aldi, former Big Lots building. Aldi plans a Franklin store in the old Big Lots space. It was reported in January as expected to open in 2026. ↗ Daily Journal

What's being built

Straight from this month's city agendas. An item on an agenda is up for review, not approved yet.

• Family Aquatic Center, 396 Branigin Blvd. The city's site development plan for the new aquatic center at Scott Park is on the Technical Review Committee agenda for Nov. 19. ↗ TRC agenda
• Wawa car wash, 450 Earlywood Dr. A site development plan for a Wawa car wash (PC-26-28) is on the same Nov. 19 Technical Review Committee agenda. ↗ TRC agenda
• Kingsbridge, Section 2. Release of the $105,576 erosion control performance bond and acceptance of a $21,995 maintenance bond were on the Board of Public Works and Safety's Nov. 2 agenda, a step that usually comes as site work wraps up. ↗ board agenda
• Harmony Group annexation and rezoning, east of 5549 E. State Road 44. Ordinance 2026-12 was on the City Council's Nov. 2 agenda for a public hearing and vote. We'll share the result once the minutes post. ↗ council agenda
• Tax abatement requests: 151 LLC and Innovative 3D. Both requests (EDC 2026-08 and 2026-09) were on the Economic Development Commission's Nov. 10 agenda with staff reports. ↗ EDC agenda
• Franklin Community High School Agricultural Education Center. The school board's calendar listed a ribbon cutting for Nov. 10 at 5 PM. ↗ school board agenda
• Forsythe Street culvert over Hurricane Creek. The city engineer asked for board signatures on the project's plan title sheet at the Nov. 2 Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. ↗ board agenda

On the market with Hemrick Real Estate

• 2875 W 100 S, Franklin. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 3,326 square feet on 5 acres, built in 2019. Listed at $630,000. ↗ see the home
• 35 E King St, Franklin. An 1895 home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 3,359 square feet on East King Street, close to downtown. Listed at $339,400. ↗ see the home

Jake's take

Frequently asked questions

What's happening in Franklin, IN this weekend?

Veterans Day weekend is a busy one. The Artcraft shows Sergeant York on 35mm on Friday, Nov. 13, free for veterans and active duty military. Saturday brings the Wild Geese Bookshop's 10th birthday, the Pawley's Pet Boutique grand opening, the 2nd Saturday Antique & Vintage Market and the Franklin Cruisers cruise-in.

What's being built in Franklin right now?

The city's new Family Aquatic Center at Scott Park and a Wawa car wash on Earlywood Drive both go to the Technical Review Committee on Nov. 19. Malarkey Roofing's $200 million plant is expected to open in late 2026, and Aldi, Wawa, Dutch Bros, Chipotle and Valvoline are all reported as coming to town.

Where can I see homes for sale in Franklin, IN?

Every active Franklin listing is on our Franklin home search, pulled straight from the MLS. Hemrick Real Estate has two Franklin listings right now: a 2019 home on 5 acres at 2875 W 100 S, and an 1895 home at 35 E King St, close to downtown.

Thinking about a move? See every home for sale in Franklin, find out what your home is worth, or read our Franklin guide for neighborhoods, schools and the full picture.

Featured photo: The Johnson County Courthouse on the square in Franklin. Photo by Missvain, CC BY 4.0.

Jake Hemrick, REALTOR
Co-owner of Hemrick Real Estate. 12+ years, 350+ career home sales across Franklin, Brownsburg and Central Indiana.
Call or text (317) 412-5310