Foxborough Founders Day 2021 Canceled

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Organizers canceled Foxborough Founders Day, the town's largest summer celebration, for a second straight year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Up until last year, it's been tradition to gather in-person during early June to celebrate Founders Day in honor of Foxborough’s birthday. Organizers said they postponed the event until summer 2022, including the parade, activities at the Booth Playground and the fireworks.

Scott O'Donnell, the chair of the Founders Day Committee, said the decision wasn't made lightly. He said the committee spent several months monitoring the pandemic and state health and safety regulations before canceling.

"It takes a small army of dedicated volunteers, a full calendar year to plan, organize, and fundraise for Founders Day," O'Donnell said in a statement. "We love gathering with friends and family just as much as everyone else. But the reality is, we have a lot to consider when it comes to hosting the parade, field activities and fireworks. The state is just beginning to really reopen. It would have been logistically challenging to try to hold a large-scale event that met the state’s current health and safety guidelines. And more importantly, we’re still in a pandemic. Everyone’s safety is of our utmost concern."

O'Donnell said the committee will still host a virtual wage and doll carriage parade, just like last year. Participants submitted short videos or photos of their child's decorated wagon or doll carriage, which were compiled into a video montage. O'Donnell said more details will come on Founders Day's website and Facebook page soon.