September 26, 2005
For Immediate Release

It's All About Getting Visitors Into The Blackstone Valley!
Heritage Homecoming Volunteers and Sponsors Join Together to Attract Out Of Region Visitors to the Blackstone Valley for September 30th through October 2nd Weekend Events

BLACKSTONE VALLEY - The Directors and Officers of 2005 Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming want to take this opportunity to thank all the Sponsors and Boosters of our 2005 Heritage Homecoming Weekend!

This year all our efforts are directed towards bringing our friends, relatives, visitors and tourists who live OUTSIDE the Blackstone Valley INTO the Blackstone Valley for the 20th Anniversary of Heritage Homecoming. In honor of this significant milestone, we're pleased to present a schedule of twenty spe cially designated Heritage Homecoming Weekend Events starting on Friday, September 30th and continuing to Sunday, October 2nd!

As is the tradition of Heritage Homecoming Weekend, the annual Reverend William Blackstone Ecumenical Breakfast is the first Heritage Homecoming event. This year the breakfast will be held at St. [UTF-8?]Theresa's Church in the historic town of Blackstone. Breakfast speakers include Veronica Cadoppi and National Park Service Ranger Dan Wegner. A special appearance by the Reverend Blackstone himself is also expected. Tickets are $6.00 and can be obtained by calling Heritage Homecoming Treasurer Joanne Moore at 508-234-9555.

For twenty years, our dedicated Heritage Homecoming Directors, Officers, Sponsors and Boosters have joined together to promote tourism and economic development in the Blackstone Valley. This year, for the very first time, our sponsors and boosters are listed on our new Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming website:

http://www.bv-heritage-homecoming.org/2005sponsors.htm

The Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming Committee, all volunteers, have worked hard to distribute 5,000 copies of our 2005 printed events calendar. Heritage Homecoming event calendars are available at 47 locations throughout the Blackstone Valley, at the Central Massachusetts Convention & Visitor's Center in downtown Worcester, and at all of the 85 Heritage Corridor visitor information kiosks found throughout the 24 communities of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor.

http://www.bv-heritage-homecoming.org/valley_towns.htm#Event%20Schedule%20Locations

Not satisfied with just attracting residents who live in the 11 Blackstone Valley towns of Massachusetts and who attend these popular area events, our Heritage Homecoming Committee members are also sending personal e-mails to their family, friends and business contacts, that include the Heritage Homecoming Schedule web site address and Heritage Homecoming PDF events schedule in the e-mail.

This year the entire focus of Heritage Homecoming is to drive economic development and tourism in the Blackstone Valley by inviting people who live OUTSIDE THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY to join us INSIDE THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY for Heritage Homecoming weekend.

Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming celebrates the eleven historic Blackstone River Valley communities of Massachusetts and features twenty-five specially designated tourism and cultural events over the two weekends. Additional information on all of the 2005 Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming events can be found at the Heritage Homecoming Committees new website, at a special link on Blackstonedaily.com and at the Massachusetts Turnpike's Tourism Website - Take A Hike On The Pike.

http://www.bv-heritage-homecoming.org/

http://www.blackstonedaily.com/bdindex.htm

http://www.massturnpike.com/tt/user-cgi/events.cgi?RegionID=3

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The following 2005 Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming events are scheduled for the weekend of September 30th through October 2nd.

2005 Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming Weekend Events

FRIDAY, September 30th

8:30AM BLACKSTONE - 19th Annual Rev. William Blackstone Ecumenical Breakfast, held this year at St. ]Theresa's Church, Rathbun Street will feature a presentation on Preserve [UTF-8?]America's Footsteps in History. Sponsored by the Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming Committee and the Massachusetts Electric Company. Tickets are $6.00, call Joanne Moore at 508-234-9555 for a reservation.

10:00AM UPTON — 19th Annual Constitution Day program at the new Memorial Elementary School. Guest speakers and Patriotic songs by the school chorus & band. Followed by a rededication of the Howard F. Leland Field. Rain or Shine. 508-529-6579

SATURDAY, October 1st

9:00 AM- 2:00 PM UPTON Heritage Day at VFW begins with Breakfast with Friends of Upton Elders at the Senior Center. Book Sale on the Upton Library Lawn. Yard Sale by the Historical Society on Town common. At 10:00AM there will be the 4th Annual Softball game between Police, Fire, Men's Club & Youth Club. At 5:30 PM a Ham & Bean Supper at United Parish Hall. (tickets in advance) Bloomer Girls Talent Show at 7:30 PM with tickets available at door, VFW, Milford Street 508-529-6600, 508-529-2460

9:00AM - 4:00PM DOUGLAS — OCTOBERFEST along downtown Main Street featuring parade, entertainment and vendors. The E.N. Jenckes Store Museum and Gift Shop depicting a 19th century general store located in a rural community will be open as well. 508-476-1211

9:00AM - 1:00PM UXBRIDGE - Book & Bake sale by Friends of the Uxbridge Free Public Library. 508-278-8624

8:30AM-12:30 PM - GRAFTON - 4th Annual Hunter Pace Equestrian Trials, a timed event involving over 100 riders covering 10 miles of field & forest in the Brigham and Potter Hills area sponsored by the Grafton Land Trust.. Start/finish Brigham Hill Community Barn, 37 Wheeler Rd. 508-873-7180 Contact Information: Karen Fleming-Brooks 774-248-0587 or email: irideprom@yahoo.com

10:00 AM — 4:00 PM GRAFTON - A Day in the Country Artisans' sale of crafts on the Common plus a Tour of 10 Private Homes sponsored by Preservation Worcester in collaboration with the Grafton Historical Society. Fee for tour is $25 with advance reservation or $30 on day, tickets available at Grafton Country Store, 2 Central Square. Luncheon buffet at historic Grafton Inn also available for $10. 508-839-4898

10:00 AM — 4:00 PM BLACKSTONE - Historical Museum open house and tours with Hat Show by Margo Bik at 11 AM. Coffee/tea and light refreshments, sponsored by Town Historical Commission at 23 Main Street. 508-883-4821

12:00 Noon NORTHBRIDGE - Annual Homecoming Day Food, Fun and Football at Lasall Memorial Field Linwood Ave., Whitinsville. Northbridge High School versus Shepard Hill, fee for entrance to game.

1:00 PM — 3:00 PM MILLVILLE - Historical Society sponsors narrated tours of the 1850 St. John's Episcopal Church and the 1892 St. Mark's Lutheran, now New Hope Baptist Church. Parking between 49 and 63 Central Street. 508-883-7079 (Raindate Sunday 10/2)

SATURDAY and SUNDAY, October 1st & 2nd

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM SUTTON Annual Waters Farm Days, Waters Road, West Sutton. A family event featuring antique farm implements, machinery and tools; animal demonstrations and displays; many exhibits, activities and food. Experience the sights, sounds, and lifestyle of 19th century America. Enjoy the relax ing country atmosphere and breathtaking views. Parking/Admission charged. 1756 house tour given for $2 donation. Sponsored by Waters Farm Preservation, Inc. Contact 508-865-0101 (Directions: Take Central Turnpike west from Route 146 for 4.7 miles, left on Douglas Rd, and left on Waters Rd)

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM SUTTON - Heritage Homecoming and Farm Day at Keown Orchards, 9 McClellan Road off Central Turnpike east of 146 Celebrate the history of agriculture in the Blackstone Valley, free tours of apple orchard. Pick your own pumpkin.Contact508-865-6706

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM UXBRIDGE - Civil War Encampment and Living History Camp Life at the Heritage State Park, River Bend Farm Visitor Center, 287 Oak Street. Ongoing demonstrations related to life in the 1860's. Battles on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Rain/shine. Free admission. 508-278-7604

9:30 AM — 2:30 PM Saturday;1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sunday UXBRIDGE - Cornet John Farnum House, site of first town meeting, open for tours to public courtesy of Uxbridge Historical Society, refreshments. 44 Mendon St (Rt 16) 508-278-2609

Saturday 11:00 AM-4:00 PM; Sunday Noon — 4:00 PM UPTON - Sweetwilliam Farm Country Store offering hourly hay wagon rides and on the [UTF-8?]1⁄2 hour old fashioned games. Display of antique farm equipment and vintage clothing plus so much more including a Pumpkin Decorating contest (1pm) and Pie Eating Contest (3pm). 153 North St. Upton 508-529-2000

Saturday 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM DOUGLAS - Bosma Farm, Antique and Collectible Flea Market, 436 North East Main Street 508-476-3298 w/e or 508 278-6027 w/d www.douglasfleamarket.com

SUNDAY, October 2nd

8, 9 or 10 AM BLACKSTONE VALLEY - 10th Gear Christian Youth Cyclists and the Seven Hills Wheelmen team up to offer the Major Taylor Bicycle Tour of 100 or 62 or 25 miles along the scenic roads of the Blackstone Valley with routes including several of the Heritage Homecoming events. Staggered start at the Whitin Community Center, Hill Street, Whitinsville. $15 registration for members and early entrants, $20 after 9/27. Contact Arlen or Rose Hall at 508-234-9945

11:00 AM — 3:00 PM GRAFTON — Farnumsville Blackstone Engine House No.3 open to public, restored circa 1853 firehouse featuring display of the [UTF-8?]“Emperor” original hand tub fire engine as well as other antique fire fighting apparatus and memorabilia. Junction 122/122A, So Grafton, 508-839-9345

1:30 PM — 4:30 PM UXBRIDGE - Lydia Taft House Fall Fun Fest where families, staff and community join together for day of activities including hay rides, [UTF-8?]children's games, food and music by Durango Mango and a former singer with the Platters. 60 Quaker Highway. If raining, some festivities will be inside. 508-278-9500

About Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming

Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming 2005, our 20th Anniversary Celebration, will be held on two consecutive weekends, September 23rd to 25th and September 30th to October 2nd. Heritage Homecoming celebrates the eleven historic Blackstone River Valley communities of Massachusetts and features twenty-five specially designated tourism and cultural events.

Additional information on all of the 2005 Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming events can be found at the Heritage Homecoming Committees new website, on Blackstonedaily.com, or at the Massachusetts Turnpike's Tourism Website - Take A Hike On The Pike:

http://www.bv-heritage-homecoming.org/

http://www.blackstonedaily.com/bdindex.htm

http://www.massturnpike.com/tt/user-cgi/events.cgi?RegionID=3