300th Anniversary Year-Long Events and Sponsorships Planned
Southborough, MA — August 12, 2024— Recently the Southborough MA Select Board announced plans for a series of celebratory events to mark the 300th anniversary of the Town’s founding on July 6, 1727. The 2027 anniversary year will be marked with a series of town commemorations and family-oriented events, and the organizing and planning is underway now.
A Tricentennial Committee was formed by the Select Board in November 2023 and began with a canvas of similar town celebrations. The Committee has also conducted a resident and local business survey to highlight the most popular and potential celebration events, such as parades, historic home tours, golf tournaments, family BBQ picnics, concerts and the like.
“2027 represents three hundred years of Southborough’s community presence in New England,” said Andrew Dennington, Vice-Chair of the Southborough Select Board and member of the Committee. “The Tricentennial celebration will not only mark this historic occasion, but also bring our town community together once again in family-oriented activities and events.”
The annual Southborough Heritage Day celebration [which takes place on Monday October 14, 2024] is planned as the kickoff for town awareness of this program, with a Tricentennial Committee presence in a community outreach booth at that day’s festivities.
Fundraising is Underway
To jump-start the organizing and fundraising for the 2027 celebrations, a 501(3)(c) non-profit entity has been created named the “Friends of Southborough 300, Inc” to provide a nonprofit vehicle for business and resident donations and sponsorships. Various levels of participation are planned, with commensurate recognition and benefits.
“We are already very enthusiastic about our community’s response to our survey and initial outreach,” said Don Morris, Chair of the Tricentennial Committee. “Under Ginny Martins, the fundraising subcommittee has assembled a volunteer team and plans for significant business and resident participation at all levels, including donations that are recognized with engraved bricks to be placed in Heritage Park.” The Committee also has established subcommittees to organize the large parade as well as media outreach.
Volunteers Welcomed
The Southborough Tricentennial Committee is actively seeking community volunteers to help assist with organizing, awareness, fundraising, event planning and implementation. In particular, we are seeking a resident who is a veteran, which is specified in the committee charge. Those interested in assisting Southborough 300 should contact Assistant Town Administrator Vanessa Hale in the Select Board office or at vhale@southboroughma.com.
For more information on the Southborough 300 Tricentennial planning and events:
Website: https://www.southboroughma.gov/781/Tricentennial-Committee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Southborough300
Instagram: @Southborough300