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West Brookfield Celebrates the Asparagus & Flower Heritage Festival May 17

(Sturbridge, Mass.) - Asparagus chowder, grilled asparagus, and asparagus wraps are only a few items on the menu at the 6th Annual Asparagus & Flower Heritage Festival being held on the West Brookfield Town Common on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

"The festival embodies the spirit of spring," says Alexandra McNitt, executive director of the Sturbridge Area Tourist Association. "It is a celebration of history and new growth among community members, artisans, and businesses who will join together to showcase their goods in a fun, festive and delicious environment."

As we all know, cookbooks hold many words of wisdom, and one such old New England cookbook reveals a reference to the first importation of the asparagus plant in New England. The reference notes that Diederik Leertouwer, Dutch Consul to the new states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire during the 1790's, settled in what is now known as West Brookfield. According to tradition, Leertouwer imported asparagus from his homeland of the Netherlands and planted the first of the region in West Brookfield. The town has embraced this legend and now holds an annual festival to celebrate the vitality of spring with delicious asparagus dishes, activities for children, and goods from local growers and crafters.

On Saturday, May 17, meet local plant and asparagus growers, enjoy live music by Dick Chase, Samantha Gillogly and others, and have lunch in Asparagus Alley. It's a day for children to enjoy animals and games and everything else that nature has to offer, while adults entertain their taste buds with a unique variety of asparagus dishes. The event is sponsored by the Quaboag Historical Society and the West Brookfield Historical Commission and is free to the public. West Brookfield and the Sturbridge area are less than an hour's drive from Boston, Hartford and Providence and just 20 minutes from Worcester and Springfield: www.sturbridge.org.

For more information about the Asparagus & Flower Heritage Festival, contact Amy Dugas at 508-867-5428 or Ruth Lyon at 508- 867-7316. The rain date for this event is Sunday, May 18, 2008.