January 30, 2025

Thanks with Franks canceled

Newton Main Street announces postponement, potential return in 2020

By Newton Daily

Brenda Goodnight, staff assistant at Windstream, shows off a BLT dog at during the 2018 Thanks with Franks event in downtown Newton. Newton Main Street announced Tuesday this year's hot dog appreciation event has been canceled. (File Photo)

The annual Thanks with Franks event, which regularly draws hundreds of people to the town square to eat free customized hot dogs created by dozens of organizations and businesses, has been canceled this year, Newton Main Street announced in a press release Tuesday.

However, the event may still live on next year.

According to the press release, several factors contributed to Newton Main Street’s decision. Jeff Maki, chair of the Newton Main Street Promotions Committee, said in the release that Newton Main Street has postponed this year’s event “to allow further collaboration” with other interested parties, such as Destination Downtown Newton Alliance, to “bring this popular event back in 2020 with a revised, rebranded and refreshed look.”

Vicki Wade, president of Destination Downtown Newton Alliance, said members and affiliates “look forward to collaborating with Main Street on a rebranded community appreciation event in 2020.”

Thanks with Franks began in 2007 as a celebration to thank the community with a free hot dog cookout on the Jasper County Courthouse lawn. Newton Main Street took over ownership of the event from the Young Professionals of Jasper County in 2018.