WINDHAM – Windham Summerfest, which annually transforms the grounds of Windham High School into a fairground, is back.

The summer festival will take place all day Saturday, June 21, featuring fair-style food and fun.

“It’s a standard event this year,” said lead organizer Kelly Mank. “It’s going to be awesome.”

Last year, about 6,500 people attended the event, which is held to support local nonprofit groups and youth sports teams. With more than 30 nonprofits participating this year, Mank said she expects a similar level of attendance this year.

Summerfest features a variety of programs and activities, including helicopter rides, a magic show, a performance of “Grease,” live music, a car show, and a frog-jumping contest.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Windham Historical Society will hold an Artisans Fair, highlighting 19th century handicraft production, according to the society’s secretary, Sue Simonson.

“We’re having demonstrators coming in that demonstrate mid-1800s to late-1800s crafts,” Simonson said. “We have a potter coming in, a blacksmith, we have someone who’s going to be a seamstress who’s going to be sewing on a treadle sewing machine.”

“Things were done at a slower place, and it took longer to make things,” Simonson said. “We’re going to churn butter to show what the process was.”

Robin Mullins, who is helping to organize the noontime parade for the Summerfest committee, said that about 50 groups are scheduled to participate in the parade. Mullins said that the Lady Eagles championship soccer team will be the grand marshal. The Windham Center Stage Theater will also perform parts of “Grease” in a vintage 1950s automobile, Mullins said.

The volunteer Summerfest Committee, led by Mank, has organized the festival since 2013, when the town of Windham relinquished control in the face of dwindling volunteer support, according to Windham Parks and Recreation Director Brian Ross. Yet the town still plays an active role in the events, he said.

“We decided two years ago that we weren’t going to have Summerfest, so Kelly and a few others stepped up,” Ross said. “The town is still helping with the public safety aspects and the police and fire. We’re helping set up the area with parking and barricades.”

Mank said she hopes to involve an increasing number of nonprofit groups in future years. Eventually, Mank said, she hopes that a majority of nonprofits in Windham and Raymond get involved.

“I definitely don’t think we have a majority yet, I’d like to see that happen over the next couple of years,” Mank said.

“It’s one of Windham’s only community events that we can showcase our community spirit,” Mank added. “I think it’s incredibly important to have youth sports involved and all the nonprofits that people don’t necessarily know about.”

---

SUMMERFEST SCHEDULE

7:30 a.m.: Car Show registration

9 a.m.: Summerfest 5K

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Historical Society, Artisan on the Green & Maine Antique Engine Group

10 a.m.: Helicopter rides start

10 a.m.: Carnival starts

10 a.m.: Car show

11 a.m.: Food and game booths open

Noon: Parade along Route 202 (Hall Road to High School)

1:30-2:30 p.m.: Flamin’ Raymond/Sizzlin’ Susan

2:30-3 p.m.: Abracadabra Magic Show

3-6 p.m.: Party Palooga, balloon twisters

3-3:15 p.m.: Grease Performance

3:15-4:15 p.m.: Main Stage Kids

4:15 p.m.: Frog Jumping Contest

4:15-5:15 p.m.: Gloria Jean

5 p.m.: K9 Demo by Sgt. Bill Andrews

5:25-6:25 p.m.: Veayo Twins

6:30-7:45 p.m.: Montgomery Road

7:55-9:15 p.m.: The Band Apollo

9:20 p.m.: Fireworks

---

Blacksmith Sam Simonson of Westbrook will demonstrate old-time skills to visitors at the Windham Historical Society during the second annual Artisans Fair on Saturday.