Heart of Biddeford Director Delilah Poupore said Friday that the event – called the Two Cities, One River Bridge Dedication and Celebration, which will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Saco Island Saturday – is not only about the bridge opening but also all the positive things that are happening in the two communities.
“It’s an event that will be great for people that live in these two communities as well as to introduce people who live outside of Biddeford and Saco to all the cultural assets and development going on here,” said Poupore, adding that she hopes several hundred people will attend the bridge dedication. “The Two Cities, One River event is about uniting our two cities.”
Poupore said the bridge dedication will feature guest speakers, including a few notable Maine politicians, a ribbon cutting with Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant and Saco Mayor Don Pilon, music and dance performances, children’s activities, a pie-baking contest and community booths.
“The setting will be beautiful along the river and it will be a chance for people to actually experience the pedestrian bridge, maybe for the first time,” she added.
In an email Friday, Casavant said the event is a celebration of the cities’ identities and future as a single community. “The bridge is a visible symbol that Biddeford and Saco are truly one community, bound together by a beautiful river and hundreds of years of history, economy, and culture,” he wrote.
“This will be a great day to celebrate the revitalization of our mills and downtowns, as well as progress in our business parks, educational institutions, agriculture, technology and fishing industries,” Pilon was quoted saying in a recent press release about the event. “Saco and Biddeford are two Certified Business-Friendly communities with beautiful natural resources and great cultural offerings.”
Folks in the Biddeford- Saco area will have more than just the bridge dedication to keep them busy on Saturday.
Following the ceremony, locals and visitors alike will be able to learn about downtown Biddeford and Saco’s mill development and revitalization through the Best of Biddeford + Saco Passport tour and the Taste of Biddeford + Saco tour.
Additionally, throughout Saturday afternoon and evening, the second annual RiverJam Festival will feature several New England musicians, beginning in Mechanics Park in Biddeford, from noon to 5:30 p.m., before moving to Saco Island from 7:45-10:30 p.m.
There will also be a fireworks show at 7:15 p.m. to bring both communities together to say farewell to summer.
The bridge dedication, Best of Biddeford + Saco Passport tour and fireworks are all free. Tickets for the RiverJam Festival cost $10 and can be purchased at the door or online at www.riverjamfest.com (a family pass is also available for $25). For more information about the events, contact Biddeford- Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director Craig Pendleton at 282-1567 or [email protected].
— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less