Destination Driven
You don’t have to walk far in downtown Franklin to find something unique that Festival Country Indiana helped bring to life.
An alley with nearly 200 colorful, overhead kites floating in midair.
A concert series that gets families singing and dancing to their favorite songs.
Alleys that pay tribute to veterans and Franklin’s sister city, Kuji, Japan.
Even a play space near the courthouse where people can enjoy cornhole, foosball, checkers and other games.
For 10 years, Festival Country has been an integral part of Franklin and the rest of the county.
“We have two goals: build attractions and advertise,” says Executive Director Kenneth Kosky. “If we identify something that residents and visitors will enjoy, then we will be the leader that makes it happen and the storyteller that convinces people to come and experience it firsthand.”
At Festival Country’s visitor center, kids come in to explore the inside of an 11-foot-tall apple, race down the indoor slide or virtually drive a go-kart. Guests commemorate their visit to the area with a series of silly faces in the free photo booth and by smashing a penny in the penny press machine.
Visitors and residents alike come to enjoy everything. Smiling high school seniors pose with their caps and gowns in the colorful alleys and share their photos on social media. Military service members reverently pass through Veterans Alley, awed by the backlit metal vignettes depicting familiar moments caught in time. Exchange students visit Kuji Alley to walk under the swaying lanterns and take selfies by the swimming koi fish mural.
Festival Country is dedicated to enhancing all the surrounding communities with attractions that residents and visitors will enjoy.
In 2025, Festival Country awarded nearly $360,000 in grants to support new festivals and the construction of Trafalgar’s amphitheater, Edinburgh’s downtown plaza, and the Fun Plaza with all the outdoor games. They also spread the word about the more than 2,500 events that happen each year in the county.
“Festival Country showcases everything Johnson County has to offer,” says Festival Country Board President Jason Belk.
Belk, who serves as corporate director of sales for Sprague Hotel Developers, says Festival Country provides hotel staff, visitors and residents the full story about what makes the communities special.
More than 9 million travelers can easily see the bright red billboards on I-65 encouraging them to visit the incredible downtowns. Festival Country’s active social media platforms share the stories of all the businesses and restaurants in the area and repost guests’ candid photos they take while making a bouquet at a U-pick farm or posing for a family portrait in front of an animal mural.
Before the county had an official tourism agency, the economic impact of tourism was declining 0.6% annually. Now, the economic impact has increased 5% to 8% annually, due to targeted marketing, new attractions and vital partnerships with local organizations and county leadership.
“Without our support, there are many events that would never have gotten off the ground,” Kosky says. “Now, they are self-sustaining and will be enjoyed by people for years to come.”
Each year, the summer concert series at all of the local amphitheaters hosts a variety of entertainers, from a class act like The Eagles Project to the ever-popular Absolute Queen, due to Festival Country’s sponsorships and desire to bring fun bands that will get people excited and singing along.
Festival Country also advertises and financially supports Discover Downtown Franklin’s First Fridays, a monthly shopping event when stores are open late and local musicians play around town. Last year, 38,700 people came to walk through the beautiful downtown streets, shop at locally owned stores and experience the homeyness of Franklin, some for the first time.
With Festival Country’s help, the county will continue on the path forward to becoming a renowned destination with inventive and interactive attractions, extraordinary public art and inviting community spaces. It is well on its way to becoming a fun place that people want to experience for a weekend or a full week.
In the last few years, Festival Country has been the recipient of the Franklin Chamber Community Impact Award and the Aspire Business Success Award because of its innovations and contributions.
While savoring a decade of success, Kosky has big plans in the process. He looks forward to Festival Country helping to build more attractions, including a permanent ice-skating rink and other additions.
“In the next 10 years, with Festival Country’s help, we want our destination to be a top place to visit in the Midwest,” Kosky says. “We will continue to bring the fun to all the communities with exciting new attractions.”
Festival Country Indiana’s visitor center is located at 66 S. Water St. in Franklin. For more information, visit festivalcountryindiana.com.
