Northborough’s annual four day Applefest opens next week. The Town is promoting a slew of activities starting a week from today, though most are on the weekend of the 21st-22nd.
I don’t share news of most neighboring town’s activities, but I make an exception for Northborough’s big annual festival. A lot of Algonquin and Boroughs organizations and teams have ties to Applefest events and fundraisers.
Northborough’s three day event combines their version of Southborough’s Summer Nights and Heritage Day, and beyond. Just about every community organization in their town takes part.
Northborough Education Foundation holds its Annual Gala as part of the festival. The fundraiser supports NEF grants for Algonquin Regional High School in addition to Northborough K-8 schools.
The festival website promotes the main attraction as the Saturday night BBQ (5:00 – 9:00 pm) on Algonquin Regional’s athletic fields, with inflatables, music and more – capped off by fireworks. ARHS’ Robotics team will let kids try out some of their fun devices. (Activities are free, but there is a $20 parking fee.)
The other activities with links to Southborough are the Saturday Street Fair where organizations promote themselves or raise funds and the Sunday parade. And this year, the parade has an additional Northborough-Southborough connection. The Grand Marshall is NSBORO Schools’ Nurse Leader/Wellness Coordinator, Mary Ellen Duggan.
Duggan is being honored for her dedication guiding students and families through the pandemic, years of providing community meals and after school snack programs, and other community efforts.
The full Applefest schedule is below with links to more details on each event. Some are free to attend, but many have a fee.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
- Bake-off – (10:00 am) @ Northborough Senior Center: Prizes to the top three recipes with apples as a main ingredient. Sponsored by Friends of the Senior Center. (Read more.)
- Senior Luncheon – (11:30 am – 1:00 pm) @ Northborough Senior Center: Tickets are required. (Read more.)
Friday, September 20, 2024
- Vinny the Bubble Guy – (10:00 am) @ Ellsworth McAfee Park: Free show sponsored by Applefest Committee. (Read more.)
- Friends of the Library Book Sale – (12:00 – 5:00 pm) @ Northborough Free Library Meeting Room: Fundraiser by Friends of the Northborough Free Library. (Read more.)
- NEF’s Applefest Gala – (7:30 pm – 11:30 pm) @ Juniper Hills Pavillian: Dress up for cocktails and dancing to live music sponsored by Education Foundation. (Northborough Education Foundation’s grants support Northborough’s public schools, including Algonquin Regional High School.) (Read more.)
Saturday, September 21, 2024
- 5K Road Race – (Registration 8:00 am for 9:00 am race) @ Zeh Elementary School, 45 Howard Street: Annual race with prizes for top runners by age group and gender. (Read more.)
- Friends of the Library Book Sale – (9:30 am – 3:00 pm) @ Northborough Free Library Meeting Room: Fundraiser by Friends of the Northborough Free Library. (Read more.)
- Home Run Derby – (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) @ Casey Field, 61 East Main St: The derby will also include a throwing station, police cruisers and giving away Child ID kits. Sponsored by Algonquin Northboro-Southborough youth Baseball and Softball and the Northborough Police. (Based on past years, I would expect the 4-6 yr olds to compete in the morning and 7-11 yr olds in the afternoon. But don’t hold me to that!) (Read more.)
- Rotary Club Street Fair? – (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ Blake Street (There are conflicting reports of the event going on despite the rain and of it being postponed to Sunday)
- Farmers Market – (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ Town Common: 25 Vendors (including Northborough Junior Women’s Club) and live music. (Read more.)
- Trinity Church Craft Fair – (10:00 am – 4:00 pm) @ Trinity Church, 23 Main St: Craft Fair, Café, Thrift Shop, and LIve music in the church’s coffeehouse. Sponsored by Trinity Church. (Crafters can apply here.) (Read more.)
- Fire Dept Open House – (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) @ 11 Pierce Street: Stop by for a Fire Hat, to visit and thank the Fire Fighters and EMT’s. Sponsored by Northborough Fire Department. (Read more.)
- St. Rose of Lima Carnival & Roaming Train Rides – (11:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ St. Rose of Lima, 244 West Main: The church is holding a carnival with Roaming Train Rides, face painting, and games. It will also feature a Photo Booth, craft table, thrift shop, and guided stain glass window tour. (Read more.)
- Carnival & Roaming Train Rides – (11:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ St. Rose of Lima parking lot, 244 West Main: St. Rose of Lima is holding a Carnival with train rides, face painting, and games. It will also feature a Photo Booth, craft table, thrift shop, and guided stain glass window tour. (Read more.)
- Soular Jazz Festival – (12:00 – 4:00 pm) @ First Parish Northborough lawn,
40 Church Street: Live Jazz Music and Environmental Friendly Products. (Read more.) - Historical Society’s Museum Tour – (12:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Northborough Historical Building, 52 Main St: Visit the museum to dive into Northborough’s rich history. Explore exhibits and discover the stories that shaped the community. (Read more.)
- Art in Bloom – (12:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Northborough Historical Museum, 52 Main St: Paintings from the Art Guild’s exhibit are complemented by floral arrangements by the Northborough Gardeners, showcasing the creativity of Northborough’s artistic community. (Read more.)
- Northborough Historical Society’s Ice Cream Social – (1:00 – 3:00 pm) @ Northborough Historical Building, 52 Main St: Featuring ice cream sundaes, homemade root beer, and root beer floats. (Read more.)
- Veterans Art Show – (1:00 – 5:00 pm) @ American Legion, 402 West Main St: Two Northborough veterans and artists will display and sell their oil and water color paintings, along with vases and plant artwork. This is a fundraiser to rebuild the American Legion’s kitchen. (Read more.)
- American Legion Chicken BBQ – (4:00 – 6:00 pm) @ American Legion, 402 West Main: Sponsored by American Legion Post 234. (Read more.)
- rescheduled to September 29 — Applefest BBQ, Fireworks, Concert and Family Fun – (5:00 – 9:00 pm) @ Algonquin Regional High School Athletic Fields: $20 per car. Food sales including BBQ & pizza, live music by Hit the Bus, ARHS Robotics Show, Moonwalks, Monkey Bridge, Face Painting, and more. Fireworks after 8:00 pm. Sponsored by Applefest Committee. (Read more.)
Sunday, September 22, 2024*
- Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast – (7:00 am – 11:00 am) @ Lincoln Street School cafeteria, 76 Lincoln St. Sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 1. (Read more.)
- Classic Car Show – (11:00 am – 1:00 pm) @ the Northboro Shopping Plaza, 255 West Main St: Classic cars, food truck, music, and raffle. Sponsored by Applefest Committee. (Read more.)
Rotary Club Street Fair – (There are conflicting reports of the event taking place as originally scheduled on Saturday (10-3) and of it being postponed to Sunday) (11:00 am – 2:00 pm) @ Blake Street: Booths are used to sell food and goods or raise awareness. Features crafters, vendors, local businesses and community groups. Organized by the Rotary Club of Northborough. This year they are asking attendees to Bring Your Own Water Bottles and use their refill stations, plus to recycle, compost, and minimize trash at “Transfer Stations”. (To apply for a table, email rotaryclubofnorthborough@gmail.com.) (Read more.)- Historical Society’s Museum Tour – (12:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Northborough Historical Building, 52 Main St: Visit the museum to dive into Northborough’s rich history. Explore exhibits and discover the stories that shaped the community. (Read more.)
- Northborough Historical Society’s Ice Cream Social – (1:00 – 3:00 pm) @ Northborough Historical Building, 52 Main St: Featuring ice cream sundaes, homemade root beer, and root beer floats. (Read more.)
- Art in Bloom – (12:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Northborough Historical Museum, 52 Main St: Paintings from the Art Guild’s exhibit are complemented by floral arrangements by the Northborough Gardeners, showcasing the creativity of Northborough’s artistic community. (Read more.)
- Applefest Parade – (1:00 – 3:00 pm) @ Lincoln Street to downtown West Main Street: Annual town parade featuring community groups. This year, they are actively seeking groups to march or drive floats/classic cars. (It appears that participation has declined since the parade shifted years ago from Saturday to Sunday. But organizers made the change because the parade was too disruptive to businesses on the route that usually have their busiest days on Saturday.) (Read more.)
Sunday, September 29, 2024*
- Rescheduled from September 21st — Applefest BBQ, Fireworks, Concert and Family Fun – (5:00 – 9:00 pm) @ Algonquin Regional High School Athletic Fields: $20 per car. Food sales including BBQ & pizza, live music by Hit the Bus, ARHS Robotics Show, Moonwalks, Monkey Bridge, Face Painting, and more. Fireworks after 8:00 pm. Sponsored by Applefest Committee. (Read more.)
*Note: The Applefest website shows Trinity Church as hosting an event on Sunday, but their only events are on Saturday.
Updated (9/21/24 9:23 am): I learned this morning that the Rotary Club Street Fair was suddenly postponed from Saturday to Sunday with new hours, due to the rainy forecast.
Updated (9/21/24 10:19 am): I have since been told that there are booths set up and open at Applefest today (Saturday). Read more here.
Updated (9/26/24 10:11 am): Hours before the Family fun and Fireworks event was set to take place on Saturday the 21st, the committee announced on Facebook that was cancelled and wouldn’t be rescheduled. Then on Tuesday, they announced it was successfully rescheduled for the evening of Sunday, September 29th. The good news is there is no rain in the forecast (as of this morning).
