Courtesy- Festival County Indiana
FRANKLIN, Ind. – Festival Country Indiana has approved $200,000 in grant funding to help bring public plazas with live music to downtown Edinburgh and the Trafalgar Community Center property.
The Festival Country Indiana Board of Directors approved the two new projects at their recent September meeting. The town of Trafalgar received a $100,000 grant to build an amphitheater and community space at 355 Pleasant St. The town of Edinburgh also received a $100,000 grant to build a multi-use plaza space with a music venue at Main and Thompson streets in the downtown area.
“When these projects come to fruition, hopefully as early as spring of 2026, Trafalgar and Edinburgh will join Bargersville, Franklin, and Greenwood as places with outdoor music venues,” said Kenneth Kosky, executive director of Festival Country.
Kosky said adding concert venues to two more communities will help draw more visitors, but will also give residents more reason to stay local rather than leave the area for entertainment. In addition to the $200,000 in grants awarded in September, Festival Country has awarded another $100,000 in grants and sponsorships in 2025. The organization sponsored concert series in Franklin, Bargersville, and Greenwood, plus First Fridays in Franklin and Final Fridays in Greenwood. They also paid to install overhead kites in the Artcraft Alley in Franklin, helped bring a statewide chamber conference to Franklin, and are sponsoring numerous other festivals and events.
Grant funds are still available this year. Grant applicants are required to be a 501(c)(3) or a government entity, and the proposed projects must support new tourism by bringing new festivals, events, projects, and attractions to the county or by significantly improving existing ones. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to present their proposals before the board.
Festival Country Indiana will offer a new grant category in 2026 to organizations planning events aligned with America’s 250th anniversary celebration. Visit festivalcountryindiana.com/grants for details and requirements.
