BURRILLVILLE – A growing bi-annual event will feature additional vendors and participants when it takes place this Saturday, with new vendors and businesses opening in Pascoag joining in the fun.
The Fountain Square Fall Splash will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 4 to 9 p.m. along Pascoag Main Street, with live entertainment, activities, and area establishments moving their operations out into the closed down roadway.
The popular ‘splash’ events – named in reference to the small park at the center of the action – began in 2023 as a way to draw attention to the village businesses, and the progress the Burrillville Redevelopment Agency has made in improving the area. The first “Spring Splash” included the official opening of Fountain Square Park, a small area on the road with a bandstand that features a replica of the water fountain that once served horses traveling through the village.
Participants this Saturday will include many now established businesses and neighborhood staples such as George’s Pizza, Cow’s Tail Deli, Bravo Brewing Company, Thai Wok Street Food and Elayna’s, which will offer food and drink specials outside for the occasion. Joining them this time will be the recently opened New Leaf Coffee Bar and another business that just relocated to Pascoag: Small Town Craft Shack.
Another business currently looking for space in the village, K&N Small Town Shop, will also join the lineup, according to BRA Chairman Jim Langlois.
“We are going to try and help her,” said Langlois of the owner’s effort to find space.
Organizations in or near the village will also take part as they have in the past including the Pascoag Hose Company, offering doughboys and touch-a-truck from the fire station; Well One; and Clear River Electric & Water.
And many other participants will once again make their way to Pascoag to join in the fun, including some newcomers for fall, with Liberty Farm offering carriage rides, and and Tree of Life Carving giving chainsaw demonstrations. Food trucks Dinolicious and Not Your Average Popcorn will be on site, and returning activities and entertainment will include Sandtastic Art, Mike’s Mega Bubbles, Alakazam Entertainment, and Big Nazo, with their creative, larger-than-life puppets.
“Everybody likes when they come down the street in their crazy getups,” said Langlois of Big Nazo. “It’s a lot of fun. They can’t wait to come back. They were so happy when I called them.”
At Saturday’s splash, the Burrillville 250 Commission will have commemorative coins for sale, and Santa Thom and Mrs. Clause will make an appearance with goodies for the kids to get people excited for the coming holidays. Langlois said the jolly pair plans to return to Pascoag for a night or two, in the giant light up gift box purchased by the agency in 2023, once the holiday season arrives.
“He”s looking forward to it,” Langlois said of Mr. Kringle.
The event also features live music, and Langlois’s own Live Music Band will perform on Saturday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Fountain Square Park. DJ Roger will keep the party going at the other end of the street at Gonyea Park, and DJ Bats will spin tunes on the deck of Bravo Brewing from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and during the band’s break.
“We will have a few other things going on with entertainment,” said Langlois.
What started out as a way to promote the local businesses, he noted, has grown into a street fair with too many vendors to list, including jewelry makers, those creating products from wood and leather, baked goods, face painters and more. There will be local artists on display, and new organizations there to interact with guests including the Burrillville Girls Softball League. “Pookie’s Lemonade,” a food stand started by a young man from Worcester to raise funds for local causes, will also be among those serving treats along Pascoag Main Street, which will be closed from Nahant Place to George’s Pizza, with open carry allowed.
“That is the area where you can walk freely with your beer, wine or whatever they’re cooking up,” said Langlois.
The BRA chairman noted that with increasing frequency, people contact him with requests to be involved.
“Everybody in town that I’ve run into is looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s just a really good time. All we need is good weather, and it’s going to be great.”
The rain date for the event is Saturday, Oct. 4.
