By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
The 12th annual Westborough Spring Festival will include lots of fun and games for the kids, hosted by the Westborough High School Student Council.
Westborough – After a long, cold winter, it’s time to celebrate spring. And the Rotary Club of Westborough has the perfect occasion to do so – its 12th annual Westborough Spring Festival, which will be held Friday, May 2, through Sunday, May 4.
“The Westborough Rotarians are excited about this year’s Spring Festival. The event has grown from a Sunday morning event to a full weekend of activities that appeal to all ages. From fishing and running to enjoying a dog show and tasting food from a variety of restaurants – the weekend has something for everyone,” said festival Chair Betsy Moquin.
“Although the festival attracts hundreds of people throughout the course of the weekend, one of the nicest parts of the event is its ‘small, hometown’ feel – as if you stepped right into a Norman Rockwell painting,” she added. “We are fortunate to collaborate with a variety of organizations including the Westborough Civic Club, the Lions Club, various scout troops and others to make the weekend fun for all.”
The weekend will start Friday evening with “Dos de Mayo,” a Mexican wine, beer and tequila tasting event to be held at Julio’s Liquors Metro Station, 140 Turnpike Road.
Saturday morning, the Westborough Civic Club will once again be holding its popular Fishing Challenge at Minuteman Park.
The day’s other events will be held at the Bay State Commons. The Westborough High School (WHS) Student Council will host a spring carnival, featuring games for kids, bounce houses, face painting and snacks. The “roaming railroad,” which will take kids and their families for a ride around the perimeter of the festival area, will also be returning.
The Discover Westborough Expo will allow attendees to meet with representatives from a number of local businesses and nonprofits, while the Westborough Food Expo will offer the chance to try samples of cuisines from many of the town’s restaurants and shops.
One of the most popular events of the weekend is the Music Fest, which will be going on all day Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. at the Bay State Green Stage. Featured will be performances by Travis & Rosa, Vintage Party, Tom Potosnak, Luanne Crosby, The Worcester Men of Song and Reinvent.
The 12th annual Rotary 5K Road Race will start at Westborough High School (WHS) Sunday, May 4, at 8:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m. kids will get their chance to have their own event in a special “dash” around the WHS track.
Sunday, the event “goes to the dogs,” or at least a portion of it, with a doggie dash, dog spa and amateur dog show all on the slate at the Bay State Common.
Other Sunday features include hot air balloon stationary rides (weather permitting), and a “walk through” balloon. The “Rainbow Walker” is a real fabric balloon that stays tied down and inflated on its side, providing hours of fun for kids to play in.
Off-site, a car and truck show will be held in the East Main Street parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A wide variety of antique and new automobiles, as well as military and emergency vehicles will be on display.
Moquin noted that the Spring Festival is the Rotary’s largest fundraiser.
“It allows us to positively impact the community in a variety of ways including offering scholarships to Westborough High School seniors. We also work with Westborough Youth and Family Services on their holiday store, light the trees downtown for the holidays, and provide support for fuel assistance and other local giving grants,” she said.
“We are fortunate to have many generous sponsors who make this event possible,” she added.
Sponsors are: Roche Bros. (Presenting), Ball Financial Services (Music Fest Sponsor), Avidia Bank (Family Fun Sponsor), Central One Federal Credit Union (Car Show); and Westboro Tennis & Swim Club (5K).
Other major sponsors include Commerce Bank, Marlborough Savings Bank, Carruth Capital, LLC, the Boroughs Family Branch YMCA, Grafton Suburban Credit Union, Curry Printing and St. Mary’s Credit Union.
For more information and a full schedule of events, look for the Spring Festival Guide now available at local newsstands or go to www.westboroughrotary.org.