The Westford Kiwanis club is a community run organization that has sponsored the Apple Blossom parade since 1968. With the funds raised from this event, we help the community of Westford through scholarships, financial support for student programs, senior summer cookouts, and assistance to our neighbors in need. History of The Apple Blossom Festival
I would like to take you back to May 19, 1935, t
he birth of the first Apple Blossom Festival in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was made possible through the efforts of a small group of apple growers here in Westford. The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, the State College and County Extension Services contributed to the support of their facilities. Curley, was in attendance, addressed the crowd and crowned the Queen. The Queen being Miss Phyllis Wright, a student at Emerson College of Oratory, and daughter of William E. After the ceremony, Governor Curley was invited to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Prescott, which was the Old Colonial Tavern at the head of Westford Common. The following year, 1936, the festival idea was expanded to include the thirty eight towns comprising the Nashoba Apple Belt. Ten towns actively cooperated in celebrating; each choosing a princess as their representative at the Royal Court. The Queen and her maids of honor were chosen from Westford where the festivities were held. The Governor again showed his interest by crowing Mary Elizabeth Perrins, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Perrins the second Nashoba Queen. Tours were outlined through the orchard districts and the idea took such a hold on the public that nearly 50,000 people passed through Westford on Apple Blossom Sunday. The 1937 Festival had for its Queen Miss Portia Prescott the daughter of Mr. Robert Prescott. At that time Portia was a junior at Rogers Hall in Lowell, Massachusetts. Queen Portia was crowned by Governor Bradford. Portia was one of the tenth generations of Prescott's, who settled in Nashoba district nearly 300 years ago. The following girls were chosen to be the maids of honor to the Queen. They were Barbara Chandler, Ellen Keizer, Ellen Dudevoir and Leslie Swanson. This was the last year that the town of Westford was active in the Apple Blossom Festival. It was not until 1968 that the rebirth of the festival was realized. The festival was brought back by the efforts of the Westford Kiwanis and have been an annual event since that time. The main event of the 1968 festival was a fish fry. Hundreds of pounds of fish were served to the public under a forty by one hundred foot tent erected on the Abbot School athletic field. Each festival starts off with a lengthy parade consisting of two or more bands, floats, any town group who wish to participate, and most colorful of all is the Apple Blossom Queen and her maids of honor who ride in open convertibles furnished by town residents. There are rides for the children food and soda and other town clubs and organizations are invited to participate. Research provided by Leo J. Connell (Past Historian Westford Kiwanis)
