Photo/submitted
Submitted by the Northborough Applefest Committee
Northborough – Our Applefest 2014 was our 24th annual fall celebration. This event has become a community celebration that is anticipated with great enthusiasm by Northborough residents of all ages. Inspired by the tradition of celebrating the completion of a successful harvest by area farmers, Applefest has grown to become a time of celebration and thanksgiving for all that is good in our community.
The weekend was filled with many activities beginning on Friday with the Applefest Dessert Bake-off and Luncheon, a favorite event for our Northborough seniors. During the evening our elementary schools PTOs hosted a thrilling magic show for kids of all ages.
Saturday of Applefest weekend is always the big day, beginning with the Applefest 5k Road Race hosted by the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce and the Applefest Street Fair by the Rotary Club of Northborough. The Apple Pie Café, hosted by Northborough Junior Woman’s Club, sold out of their apple crisp and apple pies. The Friends of the Library side-walk book sale was a big hit, selling hundreds of books to support the Northborough Free Library.
At noontime, our annual Applefest Parade, sponsored by the Applefest Committee, had floats, marching bands and walkers traveling down Main Street through the center of town. Our Grand Marshal Arthur Cole, nominated for all his work with Northborough Trails Committee, enjoyed the cheers from the crowd.
This year the Applefest Committee gave awards to the three best floats, as well as an honorable mention award. First place was awarded to the Lions Club of Northborough, for their “Peace Float” which displayed the winners of the Lions International Peace Poster contest. The second place award went to Juniper Hill Golf Course for their golf course float which was driven by Dudley Darling as he handed out golf balls. The third place award went to Bigelow’s Nurseries for their award winning fall-harvest float which was filled with fall mums and plants. Our final award and honorable mention award was given to the “Thomas DeWolfe Float”, a float that was dedicated to the memory of this young man who passed away earlier this year. Tom participated in many of prior Applefest parades by towing many of the floats. It was an honor for the Applefest Committee to present this award.
The Saturday afternoon events continued on with the Historical Society hosting a cookie walk and museum tour. Art & Bloom was presented by Northborough Garden Club and Art Guild. Our veterans from the Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234 hosted a late afternoon chicken barbeque.
The day ended with Applefest Fireworks and Barbeque at Algonquin Regional High School Athletic Fields. This delicious barbeque was hosted by the Knights of Columbus and Northborough Babe Ruth. The event also featured apple desserts by the St. Rose of Lima Women’s Group, moonwalks by the Northborough Scholarship Committee, a robotics show by the ARHS Robotics Team, a hockey game by Starhawks Hockey and other fun events. The fireworks were sponsored by Applefest Committee through donations from Lowe’s Variety and Meat Market, St. Mary’s Credit Union, generous donations from our Northborough residents and the hard work of our Applefest Committee raising funds through our Official Applefest Guide.
Our Applefest weekend concluded with the Applefest Pancake Breakfast hosted by Scout Troop 1, the Applefest Classic Car Show at the Northboro Shopping Plaza and the Applefest Taste of the Boroughs sponsored by the Algonquin Booster Club. The Taste included the following restaurants: Kennedy’s Pub, CoCoBeni Confections, Tougas Farm, Northboro House of Pizza, Yoong Tong Thai and more.
The Applefest Committee has already begun planning our 25th Applefest celebration which is scheduled for Sept. 18-20, 2015. You can donate to 2015 Applefest by visiting our website www.northboroughapplefest.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Applefest Committee is: Michelle Gillespie, chair, and members Pat Griffin, Patti Murphy, Cheryl Scali, Beth Bomarsi, Jennie Neusch and Laura Ziton.
