MILTON — Since 1972, the city has celebrated the founding of the original “Milltown” with the Scratch Ankle Festival. The tradition continued Friday on South Willing Street.
Vendors — including local nonprofits, schools and churches — gathered for the second year at the new event area to educate visitors about their organization and sell food and goods. The festival coincided with the Bands on the Blackwater concert.
The city of Milton was officially incorporated in 1844. Prior to that time, the area was commonly referred to by many names including “Scratch Ankle” for the brambles and briars that grew along the banks of the Blackwater River.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Historic Scratch Ankle Festival returns downtown