BOWDOINHAM

From scenic kayak paddles, food and entertainment and fireworks to the debut of Sumo wrestling, Celebrate Bowdoinham returns to downtown Bowdoinham on Saturday.

Celebrate Bowdoinham is a chance for community members to catch up with one another and for local organizations and businesses to showcase themselves, said Bowdoinham Town Planner Nicole Briand, who helps organize the annual celebration.

“We’re excited for a fun day,” Briand said Thursday. “We’re excited to try some new things and it’s a nice relaxing fun family event. We’re busily getting ready.”

“All the old favorites are back and some new events to add to the madness,” she said.

Most of the events take place at Mailly Waterfront Park on the Cathance River. There will be food vendors and The Town Landing restaurant will be open.

The rain or shine celebration starts Saturday with a bicycle ride at 8 a.m. followed by the parade down Main Street at 10 a.m.

The kids coin scramble starts at 11:30 a.m., the citizen of the year award presentation is at 12:30 p.m., lobster crate races at 1:30 p.m., the famous KenDucky Derby Race at 3:30 p.m., a bean supper at the fire station at 4 p.m. and fireworks light up the sky at 8:30 p.m.

The silent auction takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items up for bid include. Gift certificates, home improvement materials, sports tickets and many local products such as a wood dining table donated by Swan Island Restoration. The auction benefits Celebrate Bowdoinham and the skateboard park.

Kids activities will be ongoing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. With a $5 hand stamp kids have unlimited access to the Bouncy House, obstacle course, Rock Wall Slide, Bungee Run and Disco Dome. There are also games, face painting, balloon twisting, a petting zoo and an art tent. Jay the Strolling Magician will return this year. There will be open skating in the parking behind the Merrymeeting Arts Center, with skateboards and helmets available.

Returning to Celebrate Bowdoinham is the dunk tank, with proceeds also benefiting the skate park. For $2 a ball (or $5 for three), people get a chance to dunk Maine House candidate Seth Berry, Bob the Bus Driver, Bowdoinham Community School Principal Chris Lajoie and others who dare to take a dunk for a good cause.

New this year are $5 guided kayak paddles on the Cathance River led by L.L. Bean Discovery School. The approximately 45-minute kayak tours have limited space. The first starts at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are available at the town office, Briand said.

New this year — attendees can don a “Sumo suit” and see if they have what it takes to be a Sumo wrestler.

Entertainment starts at 11 a.m. and features Bob White, Stage Right, The Melotonins, Jazz Alchemy, and lastly The Blues Buzzards at 7 p.m.

No unauthorized vehicles or boat trailers will be allowed in the waterfront park after 7 a.m. or they will be subject to towing. People won’t be able to launch boats at the boat launch.

Celebrate Bowdoinham kicks off Friday with movie night at 7 p.m. at the Merrymeeting Arts Center, featuring a filming of the original play “Merrymeeting Monologues” by Stephen Lagawiec and “Growing Up Bowdoinham” by Jeff Fischer of Third Chapter Films.

Friday is also when people need to drop off their Bowdoinham’s Best entries at the grange hall between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Pies for Bowdoinham’s Best Pie Contest must be dropped with recipes at the grange Friday between 4 and 6:30 p.m. Judging starts at 7 p.m. The first place prize is $50; $25 for second and $10 for third place. People can buy a slice of pie Saturday during Celebrate Bowdoinham to benefit Bowdoinham Food Pantry.

For more information or a brochure, visit bowdoinham.com/celebratebowdoinham.

dmoore@timesre

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