Greenville, Sebec and Dexter hosting Independence Day activities

Staff Report

 With many people taking July 3 off to start the holiday weekend early, a good turnout is expected for Fourth of July activities in Piscataquis County.

 Lodging facilities report near capacity bookings, restaurants are expecting to do a “bang-up” business and souvenir shops are braced for a flood of tourists.

 Things kick off in Greenville on Friday, July 3 as the Moosehead Marine Museum presents a free “Moosehead Memories” slide show starting at 5 p.m.

 Also, the Slightly Off-Center Players — who normally perform at Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft — will present two family-friendly comedies at the consolidated school auditorium: “Waiting to be Probed: A Love Story” written by Bobby Keniston and “The Last Man on Earth,” written by Eitan Loewenstein.

 Curtain time is 7 p.m. and admission is by donation. The event is sponsored by Camden National Bank.

 Keniston is a Dover-Foxcroft native and has more than 30 plays published for the youth, high school and community market. Loewenstein is also a prolific, one-act playwright and author of the highly-acclaimed film short “Beg to Differ.”

 The annual Fourth of July craft fair gets underway on Saturday at 9 a.m. in the Camden National parking lot next to the steamship Katahdin dock.

 The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Greenville Industrial Park and ends in the municipal parking lot downtown. Prizes will be given in several float categories.

 Parade entry forms can be dropped off at the town office or emailed to Bethany@Greenvilleme.com.

 From 1-4 p.m., there will be children’s events and activities in the Katahdin parking lot including a bike parade and face painting.

 Something new this year is the Lucky Duck fundraiser for Squaw Mountain starting at 4 p.m. A $10 donation enters a Lucky Duck for a chance to win $200, $100 and $50 toward a winter visit to Big Squaw Mountain. The race “course” runs from the bridge over Wiggin Stream in Greenville Junction to Currier’s Flying Service.

 Funds will help the nonprofit ski resort raise $2,000 to match the Plum Creek donation to fix the beginner’s “Pony Pull” lift to help get young skiers up the hill.

 For more information, visit the Lucky Duck Fundraiser Facebook page.

 From 6-9 p.m., dance to D.J. Rokkin Road in the Katahdin parking lot while the huge fireworks display is set off across Moosehead Lake from the East Cove at dusk.

 The Greenville High School alumni banquet will also take place at Woody’s Bar and Grill in Greenville Junction from 7-9 p.m.

 In Dexter, the weekend kicks off on Friday, July 3 with a fireworks display over Wassookeag Lake at dusk.

 It had been many years since there was a Fourth of July parade in Dexter, but organizers revived the tradition last year with a decent turnout in spite of the soggy weather.

 This year’s parade starts at 10 a.m. at the fire station and travels down Church, Main and Lincoln streets before disbanding at Factory One — the former Dexter Shoe Factory — on Water Street. All entries are welcome from business floats and marching units to antique cars.

 For more information, contact Ronald Grant at 717-9017 or Michele Seavey at 270-1685.

 The Abbott Memorial Library will hold a book sale on July 4 immediately following the parade with books, puzzles and movies sold at prices from 25 cents and up.

 Also after the parade, members of DDATT (Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition) will be at the library, hand cranking their popular homemade ice cream. All are welcome to give the crank a couple of turns and sample some old-time goodness. For more information, call 924-7292

 In Sebec, Independence Day activities begin with breakfast at the Sebec Village Community Christian Church from 7:30-9 a.m.

 The annual 5K road race gets under way at 8 a.m., the parade starts in the village at 9:30 a.m. and a USCA-sanctioned canoe race takes place at 10:30 a.m.

 A hearty lunch is being served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with your choice of barbecued chicken or hot dogs with  pasta salad, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, roll and beverage at $7 for adults and $3 for children under age 12. There’s also a bake sale from 11 a.m. until everything is sold out.

 There are children’s activities throughout the day including pony rides and a table filled with multi-choice raffle prizes.

 Enjoy live music by Jeff Hamm from 6-8 p.m. followed by fireworks at dusk.