Organizers 'Jazzed' for 10th Spring Festival

The began as a pancake breakfast fundraiser put on by the Westborough Rotary Club. When a was added, and then a , organizers at the club saw an opportunity to create a town-wide event. 

A decade later,  this year's Spring Festival promises to be the largest and most diverse yet, with events spanning the entire weekend of May 4 through 6. 

"Everybody is quite jazzed about this year," said Carol Burtt Borglund, vice president of the Rotary Club and festival chairperson. "We tried not to just add too many events this year and focused on making the ones we have better and doing them bigger." 

Peaking on the first weekend in May, the festival actually had its kickoff in March, when the took place.   

This year will mark the second time that has served as the main venue for the festival. "That's very exciting for us because it's just such a great central location," Borglund said. 

It also puts the event close to major food sponsor, supermarket. 

The vehicle fair takes over the green on Sunday. "That has become an event of its own," said Borglund, with police, fire and military joined by antique, muscle and drag-racing cars.

Other events at Bay State Commons include Saturday's Discover Westborough booth expo and food expo, featuring booths from dozens of local businesses and organizations and samples from 13 local restaurants.  

On Sunday morning, hot air  balloon rides--weather permitting--and the Friends of the Library Book sale and the Rotary Club's own ABC--attic, basement and closets--sale take over the green. 

Borglund said many events have been "bundled" based on interest. 

For instance, the doggie dash, the dog agility demonstration and the 10th annual amateur dog show hosted by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, are all on Sunday.  

The 5K road race--the 2011 edition was finished by more than 150 runners and won by Steve Levandosky of Hopkinton in 17:28-- will again by held Sunday, which means runners can load up on carbohydrates at the on Saturday evening. 

Likewise, residents who come to the expo and food event on Saturday will also be able to enjoy the Westborough High School Student Council's Spring Carnival and the day-long music festival on the Bay State Green stage. 

Borglund said this year's event has been at least nine months in the making and is still being finalized. One recent weekday, Borglund heard from a half-dozen local businesses and groups hoping to add booths to the expo.

"We're making as much space as we can to accommodate all the great ideas people bring to the table," she said. "We put things together so people would want to come and spend the entire day with us."

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