Raspberry Festival Grand Marshal Recalls Best Raspberry Memories

Barb Westmoreland is best known for helping other people.

She’s a family partnership and volunteer coordinator in Hopkins Community Education Department who provides leadership for events such as .

But this Raspberry Festival, Westmoreland, herself, is the center of attention. Organizers chose her to be the grand marshal for Sunday’s Grande Day Parade.

Hopkins Patch caught up with Westmoreland at the Raspberry Festival’s Family Day to discuss what makes the festival and the community so great.

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Hopkins Patch: So first of all tell me how long you’ve lived in Hopkins.

Barb Westmoreland: Well, I was born and raised right here. My family first lived at 15th Avenue North, just one block off the parade route, so we always came to the parades.

Hopkins Patch: How many parades have you missed?

Westmoreland: I think I’ve only missed five over the whole course of my life.

Hopkins Patch: What’s your favorite Raspberry Festival memory that you have?

Westmoreland: Well, absolutely, as of right now, my favorite memory was when our oldest daughter, Jen, was crowned the junior princess in ’85 (when Jen was in Kindergarten). So we had an amazing year going around the whole state of Minnesota to all the festivals with our senior king and queen and the queen and the princesses. It was an amazing year, and it just locked in for me how important our Hopkins community is and just how special our community is.

Hopkins Patch: What do you think is your favorite part of the Raspberry Festival?

Westmoreland: To me, it’s all about hometown spirit and the people here. Even though I run into people all year long, during this one week of raspberry events, you just run into everybody you know. I mean, everybody is here, everybody. That’s the fun part. It’s just kind of celebrating community together, and everybody’s all in the same place having a good time.

Hopkins Patch: For people who don’t live in Hopkins, why should they come check out the Raspberry Festival?

Westmoreland: There’s really so many different things. If you’re into sports, there’s a lot of different tournaments. If you’re into shopping and you love to see vendors, we had a beautiful art festival on the first weekend. There’s also lots of great food, great music. So there’s something for everybody. Everybody can have a good time at the Raspberry Festival.

Hopkins Patch: What makes this year’s Raspberry Festival unique?

Westmoreland: I have to say that being asked to be the grand marshal is truly, truly an honor that I never expected, and I just am thrilled to be asked. I’m very happy that they’re going to give us the biggest convertible they have for the parade so my whole family can be in the convertible with me. I’ve always been a volunteer in the community. And (The) Raspberry (Festival) and the whole Hopkins scene have lots of opportunities for people to volunteer and have a really good time. I just encourage people to think through what they’re passionate about, what they really love about the community they live in and what they can use their skills and talents to volunteer in, make it an even better place—because once you start volunteering, your life will never be the same. It enriches your life, and it makes the community such a great place for everyone.