Activities in honor of the city's anniversary will continue throughout the spring, including more events this month and next.
Activities coinciding with Springfield's 375th anniversary continue Sunday.SPRINGFIELD -- The organizers behind festivities marking the city's 375th anniversary estimated that up to 25,000 people packed downtown Springfield on Saturday for the big pancake breakfast and birthday parade, which went off without a hitch.
"Everything went very smoothly," Springfield Police Lt. John K. Slepchuk said Sunday.
Officials said the crowd was in good spirits and the weather, which had threatened rain, turned out to be better than expected with a light breeze, patchy skies and temperatures reaching around 70 degrees.
Extra police were assigned to the downtown detail to handle crowds and reopen roads after the parade ended early Saturday afternoon.
Braydon Taylor, 3, of Springfield, eats pancakes during the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast on Saturday."There was a quantitative police presence," Slepchuk said.
National Guardsmen also were on hand to help out; several military jeeps were seen throughout the downtown area.
Judith A. Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield -- the group that threw the city a birthday bash -- said between 20,000 to 25,0000 people attended the breakfast and parade. She said another 2,000 or so marched in the parade, including Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Massachusetts Army National Guard Assistant Adjutant General Paul Smith.
Members of the Mary M. Lynch Elementary Dance Team march down State Street on Saturday.More activities are scheduled for Sunday including the Keep Springfield Beautiful Road Race, a 10K race that begins at 9 a.m. outside the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Howard Drew Mayor's Cup, a track-and-field event that starts at 10 a.m. at Central High School.
At 2 p.m., the 22nd Annual Suzuki String Serenade will take place at Faith United Church, 52 Sumner Avenue.
On May 20 and 21, respectively, the Deep River Choral Classics will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Old First Church and the Musical Roots & Traditions festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at Community Music School of Springfield.
A complete list of activities is available at www.springfield375.org.