Here's What's Planned For Westborough's 250th American Revolution Anniversary

WESTBOROUGH, MA — This summer, the town will celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

Fireworks, reenactments and horse-drawn carriages are just some of the special things that will go on at Bay State Commons in Westborough on Jun. 26. It's all part of celebrations across the country to honor the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

The fireworks are part of a longtime goal for Roberta Brown, a lifelong Westborough resident and the 250th American Revolution Anniversary Committee Chair. She told Patch that the committee signed a contract for the fireworks on Monday.

"This is my passion," Brown told Patch. "Having a party, and having fireworks, it was my dream come true, and sharing it with the whole community is just the cherry on the cake."

Back in 2017, a similar committee was established to plan Westborough's 300th-anniversary celebration. That year, there was a parade, fireworks, a fun day and a gala, Brown said.

The committee raised funding for those events, and after it was said and done, there was about $30,000 left over. Brown said she hoped to put that money toward a firework display a few years ago.

“We were gonna do the fireworks back in 2023, and it didn’t pan out," Brown said, adding that she was asked to then use the money for the 250th celebrations this year.

Now, the leftover funding has been put toward the first 15 minutes of fireworks, police detail and porta-potties.

To add another ten minutes to the fireworks display, Westborough VFW 9013, John Gallinagh, Quartermaster, and Tony Pittman, Senior Commander, donated an additional $7,000.

Other supporters include Chris Egan of Carruth Capital, who donated $5,000; Deboard Penta, who donated $1,000; Gary Kelley, who donated $260; and David Wong, who donated $260.

250th American Revolution Anniversary Committee

The 250th American Revolution Anniversary Committee is made up of six members, including Brown, Gary Kelley, Lydia Goldblatt, Casey Cullen, Pj Maloney and Carla Cook.

Kelley, who is also a longtime Westborough resident, told Patch that a Ben Franklin reenactor will be at the event. He said having a fireworks display was especially important to him as well.

"The towns around here all have fireworks, and Westborough doesn't," Kelley said. "I remember standing out and watching the fireworks with my kids."

Tentative Event Schedule

The 250th American Revolution Anniversary Celebration in Westborough will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Jun. 26. The event will coincide with the town's annual Fourth of July Block Party.

The programming will begin when veterans march into Bay State Commons, followed by a reading of the Declaration of Independence from Town Moderator John Arnold.

At 6 p.m., the block party will kick off with live music from The Reminisants, food trucks, a bounce house, face painting, hayrides and pony rides.

Later on, at 9 p.m., the fireworks display will kick off.

The exact location from which the fireworks will launch is still being finalized. Committee members told Patch they will likely launch from Rogers Field, at 4 Rogers Rd.

“We are going to meet there and at other potential sites to see where they are going to set off the fireworks," Brown told Patch.

She said that the Westborough High School grounds are also a potential viewing location.

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