NORTHBOROUGH – Residents enjoyed the first feel of fall at the 32nd annual Applefest last weekend.
This year, the parade and the Taste of Northborough were back in action.
On Sunday afternoon, residents gathered on the sidewalk from Lincoln Street to West Main Street to watch the Applefest parade. For some of the attendees, this was their first Applefest parade while others have attended it for years.
Cathleen Rivard attended the AppleFest parade for the first time with her daughters, Maggie and Morgan, who she said were “loving it.”
The girls sat on a knitted blanket and collected candy that was tossed to them by those marching in the parade.
“It [the parade] is a lot of fun. It’s a good community activity for everyone to get out and gather together,” Rivard said.
Cheering on the parade with other Applefesters was Jackie Hills-Michaud, who attended with her mother-in-law, Pat Michaud.
“I love it. We have lived in this town since 1988, so we come all the time,” said Jackie Hills-Michaud.
Michaud said, “It was about time. We didn’t have one last year.”
On Saturday, festival-goers headed downtown for the street fair before going to Algonquin Regional High School for a chance to dunk Police Chief William Lyver, Fire Chief David Parenti and Town Administrator John Coderre before watching the fireworks.
This year’s Applefest grand marshal was Jane O’Toole, who is involved in many organizations in Northborough, including Northboro Junior Woman’s Club and Northborough Helping Hands Association. She’s also helping Afghan refugees learn English as a Second Language.
“I can only say that I was shocked and a bit overwhelmed by the thought,” O’Toole told the Community Advocate. “It is such an honor to be recognized, especially when one thinks of one’s self as part of a team working to the betterment of the community.”
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