The Festival Founders named the event for Colonel John Francisco, the original owner of the property on which Midway now stands. The festival was born in 2004, organized by a committee of the Midway Renaissance.

"The 6th annual Art InThe Park showcases Kentucky's talented artists and craftsmen of all ages. A wide variety of handmade art and craft will be exhibited and available for purchase including paintings, drawings, sculpture, jewelry, pottery and stoneware, photography, glass, wood  and metal items, textiles, mixed-media pieces and consumable art products like candles, soaps and lotions."