After taking into account the facts as they currently exist, and the unknowns yet before us, the Boxford Historical Society Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to cancel this year’s Boxford Apple Festival.
The Apple Festival is the only fundraiser for the Boxford Historical Society which maintains the historic Holyoke-French property on the corner of Elm Street and Topsfield Road. The absence of Apple Festival revenue will create a financial hurdle that the Historical Society will need to address through additional fundraising efforts.
Although the financial impact hits hard at one level, the board also considered the level of social impact which the absence of an Apple Festival has on the local community and the entire North Shore. Attendees from within a 30 mile radius look forward to the festival as an annual small town New England rite of Autumn. The overriding concern of the Board, however, was the ability to enforce and regulate compliance with pandemic protocol, and how to safely and economically provide food services like the traditional apple pie and ice cream to thousands of customers.
While we will have to interrupt the 54 consecutive years of operation, we look forward to holding Apple Festival number 55 in 2021, and hope to see you there!
“The Boxford Apple Festival – it’s New England to the core!”
Brian F. Gregory
Secretary
Boxford Historical Society