WATERVILLE – City firefighters are hosting several special events commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks during their annual convention this week.

A memorial service, parade, banquet, entertainment, vendors and firefighters muster will be part of the 48th state Federation of Firefighters Convention Friday through Sunday.

Fire Lt. Scott Holst, convention chairman, said the event is for the public as well as firefighters, police, sheriff’s officials and emergency workers, because all were affected by attacks.

“Yes, it’s a firefighters’ convention, but this year we wanted to go beyond that to include not just firefighters, but everyone else,” said Holst, who is president of the Consolidated Firefighters of Waterville, which is hosting the convention.

Up to 1,000 people are expected to converge on the city from across the state and New Hampshire.

Speakers at Saturday’s memorial service will include U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine; Waterville-Winslow Fire Chief David LaFountain; state Emergency Medical Services Director Jay Bradshaw, and Maine State Police Maj. Gary Wright. The 1 p.m. service will be held at Champions Fitness Center.

Eddie Buchanan, a motivational speaker and division chief of operations for the Hanover Fire Department and EMS in Virginia, also will speak.

The parade, to include a military flyover, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Industrial Drive and continue to Armory Road and Main Street. It will end at the former Levine’s store on Main Street.

“Any organization can put a float or a marching unit in the parade, but it has to be fire, EMS, police or military, or 9/11-themed,” Holst said.

Prizes and trophies will be awarded for best float and marching unit.

Stand-up comedian and actor Adam Ferrara, a regular on the Emmy-nominated hit show “Rescue Me,” will perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday after the 5 p.m. banquet. Tickets to the banquet are $25 and tickets to Ferrara’s performance, with music by Fallen Angel, are $25. Both events are at Champions.

Tickets may be purchased at the fire department, online at www.watervillefire.com, or at Champions that evening. Holst asked that people buy banquet tickets in advance so the caterer, Eric’s Restaurant, will know how much food to prepare.

The Alfond Youth Center on North Street will have vendors inside and fire and emergency equipment outside from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

The firefighters muster will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in a field by the Alfond Center, with four events: dry hose run, wet hose run, water ball and a mystery event. About 15 teams of six firefighters will compete.

Holst said more than 200 firefighters have registered for the convention and he expects many more to do so.

The convention, which organizers have been working on for three years, will cost about $48,000, Holst said. He and a handful of others have raised about $32,000 during that time through a variety of fundraisers.

The convention was last held in Waterville in 1998, Holst said. The city has hosted the convention five times, starting in 1966, he said.

Morning Sentinel Staff Writer Amy Calder can be contacted at 861-9247 or at:

acalder@centralmaine.com