Wellesley Gears Up for a Wonderful Weekend [Updated]

[Update 2:45 p.m.]

Wellesley Police sent an e-mail with the following warning about tomorrow's festivities: 

WELLESLEY RESIDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THERE WILL BE A CANNON FIRING EACH HOUR ON THE TOWN HALL GREEN (WASHINGTON STREET IN WELLESLEY SQUARE) DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY. THE CANNON MAY SOUND SIMILAR TO AN EXPLOSION BUT IT IS PART OF THE ANNUAL EVENTS AND THERE IS NO NEED FOR CONCERN.

They add that the open house at the Police Station will be a must-see event.

--Original Story--

Over the weekend, a helicopter is set to fly over Wellesley--one which was used to locate the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, but this weekend it will be part of something more, well, wonderful.

Wellesley Wonderful Weekend, the annual parade and celebration around town, starts tonight. It starts with the annual Hunnewell Fun Fair from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the field at Hunnewell School.

According to Roy Switzler, a Celebrations Committee member, organizers expect the Watertown Police Department, and the helicopter which located the boat containing Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to fly over the parade and land in Hunnewell Field afterward.

This year's theme is the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War's end. To that end, the Wellesley Free Library is hosting a display of Korean War memorials on-site all weekend. The 45th Annual Wellesley Veterans’ Parade will also follow that theme (Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m.). 

The parade begins in Wellesley Hills Square, and moves westward to Wellesley Square along Washington Street, ending at Central and Crest Road.

According to an announcement on the Wellesley Police website, Washington Street will be closed to traffic and parking from 11:45 p.m. The rest of the route will be closed starting at 2:30 p.m. Police expect to reopen the roads around 3 p.m.

From 5 p.m. until after dark on Sunday, Hunnewell Field will host a picnic in the park, followed by a concert and fireworks. 

There are more activities around town: you can pick up some pancakes at Wellesley Middle School, courtesy of the Rotary Club between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. tomorrow. At the same time, the Lion Club Eye Mobile will be parked outside, offering free eye exams.

If you have wondered how many of the Wellesley Municipal services function, you may be intrigued to check out their open houses. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Wellesley Police Department, Wellesley Historical Society, Main Fire Station #2, Municipal Light Plant and the Department of Public Works.

See the full schedule on the Wonderful Weekend website. 

The Celebrations Committee recently launched the Wonderful Weekend Facebook page. Which promises to be a source of information for the upcoming parade and celebration.