Concerns Raised About Applefest Street Fair's Location

Applefest organizers should consider whether the street fair should be held again at Algonquin Regional High School, or return to downtown, selectmen said Monday night.

Selectmen Chairman Leslie Rutan and Selectman Bill Pantazis said they've heard concerns about the street fair being at Algonquin this fall for the second straight year.

Selectmen will send the Applefest Committee a letter thanking the members for their hard work, while sharing the concerns.

"I actually myself see the pros and cons of the situation," Rutan said.

"I feel that it's certainly more spread out when it's up at the high school."

Road work moved the street fair to Algonquin in 2012, Rutan said.

However, downtown business owners "were hoping all sorts of people would come in and do business there" during the parade, she said. "But that just didn't happen."

"Part of the attraction of Applefest is to draw people to the businesses in downtown," Rutan said.

Pantazis said he's heard only criticism about the street fair being at Algonquin.

"We're not celebrating the high school," he said.

"We're celebrating the town of Northborough, and apples, and the fall."

Town Administrator John Coderre said the street fair returned to Algonquin because of comments about "how nice it was up at the high school, and how much better it was."