First Day Franklin Activities Slated for January First

Spectators line up at Trestle View Park to watch the kayakers exit from the cold water after challenging the rapids on the Winnipesaukee River as it flows through Tilton, Northfield, and Franklin. — Spectators line up at Trestle View Park to watch the kayaks exit from the cold water after challenging the rapids on the Winnipesaukee River as it flows through Tilton, Northfield, and Franklin.

Once again, 2017 will start with thrills and chills in Franklin on Sunday, January 1 as we welcome kayakers splashing and slicing through snow and ice-filled class IV rapids. This year marks the 36th Annual New Year’s Day run on the Winnipesaukee. Many downtown businesses will be open to welcome kayakers and spectators, and Outdoor New England will be celebrating their Grand Opening.

Choose Franklin invites all organizations and groups to be a part of the festivities. Reserve an event table in the heated tent, free of charge, by calling 380-0246. Inform spectators of your winter activities, and help welcome the Merrimack Valley Paddlers as they paddle down the Winnipesaukee River through Tilton, Northfield, and into Franklin.

Paddlers will take to the water between 11 AM and 1 PM with novice and intermediate boaters paddling the “Upper” Winnipesaukee from Route 140 to the Train Station in Northfield. Advanced boaters will paddle the “Lower” Winnipesaukee from Cross Mill Road in Northfield to downtown Franklin taking out at Trestle View Park. A summary video of a past year’s event can be enjoyed at: youtu.be/S2J3eIQweGk. A ten-minute video of the 2010 event is available via the following link: youtube.com/watch?v=aOE11pDzQao.

Spectators are encouraged to attend with best viewing at Trestle View Park, which is the take out for paddlers on the lower section. The park will feature a heated tent with coffee, cocoa, chili and “Hoppin’ John”, provided by Choose Franklin, the Franklin Rotary Club, Franklin Savings Bank, and other organizations, along with information about the wealth of activities occurring this winter. Spectators can walk, snowshoe or ski on the Winnipesaukee River Trail to watch paddlers coming down the class III and IV rapids.

Choose Franklin is the main sponsor of the 12th annual First Day Franklin and is seeking co-sponsors for the event. Franklin Savings Bank provides refreshments for the tent set-up crew. Franklin Rotary Club and the Franklin Democratic Committee offer hot food in the warming tent and the Franklin Fire Department, Franklin Recreation Center, Aubuchon Hardware and Franklin Storage Company provide tables, heat and electricity for the event tent.

For more information, to reserve a table for your business or organization, to volunteer to help with the tent or refreshments, to be a sponsoring partner, or be involved in any way, please contact:
Dan Darling at (603) 380-0246, e-mail dand0919@nullyahoo.com;
or Sarah Stanley at Franklin Savings Bank (603) 934-8343.