Bowerbank Days returns in August
BOWERBANK — Every five years the town of Bowerbank celebrates the community of 100-plus citizens and more seasonal residents on the shores of Sebec Lake with a celebration. Bowerbank Days 2024 is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10 with music, food trucks, vendors, 5K road race, parade, children’s games, boat parade, and more.
“It’s a lot for a little town,” Steve Loureiro of the Bowerbank Days 2024 committee said.
He said the committee of about 10 regular members has been meeting regularly since last August, convening about every other week to plan for Aug. 9-10 events and work on Bowerbank Days fundraisers.
BOWERBANK ICEMAN — Samuel “Iceman” Merrill Lord manned his fishing hole at Newell Cove on Sebec Lake in Bowerbank until the ice gave out completely beneath him and he took an icy plunge into the water. Predictions were made for an ice out contest to benefit Bowerbank Days 2024 — set for Aug. 9-10. Saturday, March 9 at 10:59 a.m. was the time of the ice out and 3:15 p.m. on March 15 was the winning guess.
“We did do a raffle which we sent out with the tax bills, that was the first thing,” Loureiro said with this information being mailed last summer.
“That’s the one that gives us a little bit of cash to work with the rest we borrow from the town and we just try to get it back,” he said. “It’s not gangbusters about making money, it’s just about trying to have a good time for the town and trying to not spend a lot of money.”
The Bowerbank Days 2024 committee had a unique ice out contest as another fundraiser as mannequin Samuel”Iceman” Merrill Lord was keeping watch at his fishing hole until the ice gave out completely beneath him and he fell into the waters of Sebec Lake.
Loureiro said he had heard of a fundraiser in Massachusetts where a person falls through river ice and he thought how he could replicate this in Bowerbank.
REELED IN A BIG ONE — Every five years the town of Bowerbank celebrates community with Bowerbank Days, including a mid-Saturday morning parade. The 2019 procession went by the town hall and fire station with residents and camp owners among the participants, including the float for 38 Clark Cove Road.
“Then I looked at some of the historical names and I named him and gave him a nickname and dressed him up,” Loureiro said when Iceman was still not yet fully submerged. “He is sitting there now, it’s all water but there’s still ice under him so he’s not officially in.”
At 10:59 a.m. on Saturday, March 9 Samuel Merrill Lord hit bottom and was rescued. Michael Ferioli ended up with the winning entry as he guessed 3:15 p.m. on March 15 as the date and time. In addition to earning bragging rights, Ferioli will also receive a cottage stay and a Bowerbank Days long sleeve T-shirt with the new logo.
Donations of $10 could be sent to the Bowerbank Days fundraising Venmo page. The ice out progress on the north shore of the lake at Newell Cove on the northwest side of Ram Island could be monitored via webcam through Youtube.
The Bowerbank Days 2024 will be the fifth such celebration, the first was in 2004. Loureiro said plans have live music on Friday evening from 5-10 p.m. with food trucks, several raffles, and a silent auction.
He said the time will be for “just kind of walking around, meeting your friends.”
Plans have Saturday morning starting with the Gary Wakeland Memorial 5K at 8 a.m. with a 9:30 a.m. parade to follow. Aug. 10 will feature all-day music, two food trucks, craft vendors, a historical display at the library, children’s games, and other events.
Loureiro said kids will be able to make their own camp sign. “They will provide the wood, the paint, and the know-how,” he said.
Adults can take part in ax throwing contests and a couples’ egg and spoon race.
“We’re still working on making sure we fill the whole day with things,” Loureiro said. He mentioned the committee is looking at lumberjack competitions and tug of war contests and hope to have a Civil War encampment Friday night into Saturday and Native American group present to share their cultural heritage.
“The whole thing on Saturday ends at 5 o’clock with a boat parade that starts at the landing and travels up the lake, people decorate their boats and everything,” Loureiro said.
“Each camp road is encouraged to dress up the end of their camp road and then we have a prize for the best job,” he said, saying the hope is that each road enters a float in the morning parade.
“We’re really trying to get a lot of the community involved,” Loureiro said.
For more information please see the Bowerbank Days Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555962523781 and the Bowerbank Days 2024 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/682675513673470.