Newton Main Street to take over Thanks with Franks

The Young Professionals of Jasper County is passing the Thanks with Franks torch.

New event organizer, Newton Main Street, will take over the Thanks with Franks reins at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 on the courthouse lawn. Thanks with Franks began in 2005 as a way for area businesses to “thank” the community for their continued support. Now entering its 13th year, Thanks with Franks is finding itself under a new organization.

“When the event first began, Newton Main Street didn’t exist. We feel that after hosting the event for 12 years, it’s appropriate to turn the reins over to them. The event happens in the middle of the Main Street district and has many of the aspects Main Street looks for when hosting an event,” YPJC’s Treasurer Jeff Holschuh said.

YPJC is not going away from the event entirely. They will continue to run the beverage booth, where they will have pop and water for sale during the event.

As the planning gets fully underway for the next month’s event, Newton Main Street members are ready to pick up where the YPJC left off and make their own mark on the event in the process.

“Newton Main Street is thankful for the opportunity to keep a well-attended and popular event like Thanks with Franks going,” Newton Main Street Director, Graham Sullivan said. “We hope to add our own spin on the event in future years but plan to keep it simple this year and concentrate on what the event is about, area businesses, hot dogs and the people who shop local and support Newton.”

The event will be structured the same as in the past. Area businesses will sign up ahead of time to reserve booth space on the courthouse lawn. The day of the event, hot dogs will be passed out starting at 6 p.m. While 200 hot dogs sounds like a lot, many businesses have passed out all 200 from their booths in under 30 minutes.

“When an event with free food is presented to the public, it’s hard to slow down the momentum of the event,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan hopes to clear up any confusion from past events. Businesses are to stick to the set start time of 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to come to the square early in order to scout out which business’ hot dog they want to sample, giving them the best chance to get one.

“If you’re showing up right at 6 or a few minutes after, you are almost too late. Get there early so you don’t miss out, however with only 200 hot dogs per business and more than 200 people in attendance you’re bound to miss out on sampling a few, even if you are the first one there,” Sullivan said.

To register to participate in Thanks with Franks go to www.newtoniamainstreet.com and click on the Thanks with Franks Tab, or visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NewtonMainStreet/