Select Board approves Revolution 250 beer garden license and greenlights cultural installations

The Northborough Select Board voted May 18 to approve a special one-day alcohol license for the Revolution 250 colonial fair and to authorize two ARPA-funded cultural projects.

For the Revolution 250 event, vendor representatives said the beer garden will be roped off on the basketball court area near the gazebo, staffed by uniformed officers and limited to a contained area; the town required final sign-offs from the interim fire chief and police chief, a copy of the vendor’s 12C catering license from the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, and a detailed site plan before issuance. The motion to approve the license — with hours including setup from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026 and a rain date on May 31 — passed on roll call.

During public comment and the vendor presentation, board members emphasized requirements that alcohol be consumed only inside a clearly marked and roped area and that signage and server training (Serve Safe certificate) be in place. Vendor Jason told the board: "I should have all that stuff by tomorrow" about outstanding paperwork.

Separately, Karen Clark, chair of the Northboro Cultural Council, presented two ARPA-funded projects that the council was authorized to install: a four-panel "Seasons" mural to be mounted in a removable frame on the side of town hall, and a program of ten two-foot fiberglass "apple" sculptures to be sited at town-owned buildings and grounds. Clark said the panels will be "installed in a frame so that they can be moved out should need be," and the board approved installation as presented.

What’s next: Staff will confirm final safety sign-offs for the one-day liquor license and receive the vendor’s 12C documentation and site plan. The Cultural Council and Public Works will coordinate installation details, plaques and maintenance expectations for the panels and apples.