Guilford Bicentennial Celebration 2016
Bicentennial Piscataquis River Festival is Saturday
GUILFORD — The 12th annual Piscataquis River Festival returns on Saturday, July 30 with a day of events in the downtown area. The 2016 festival will be a celebration of the town of Guilford’s Bicentennial.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PISCATAQUIS RIVER FESTIVAL — Last year’s annual Piscataquis River Festival in Guilford featured a parade through town on the morning with a color guard made up of members of Boy Scout Troop 61 of Parkman leading the procession. This year’s festival will feature a day of events on Saturday, July 30, including a parade at 9:30 a.m. with all of the activities celebrating Guilford’s Bicentennial.
This year’s Piscataquis River Festival begins with breakfast served at the Guilford United Methodist Church at 7 a.m.
Friends of Community Fitness has a pair of road races, with a Kids’ Fun Run starting at 7:30 a.m. and then the Fitness 5K beginning at 8 a.m. with registration for both prior to the starting guns from the downtown athletic field. This year’s 5K will follow a reverse route from prior festival races.
The Piscataquis River Festival “Big Bicentennial Parade” through town starts at 9:30 a.m. as local businesses, organizations and others create their best floats to tie in with the community’s 200-year milestone.
At 9 a.m. the Guilford Memorial Library’s book sale begins, with the food and craft vendor sales also starting at 9 a.m.
The U.S Postal Service will have a Bicentennial cancellation stamp booth at the festival, opening at 10 a.m.
A Bicentennial ceremony and dedication will be at the athletic field at 11 a.m.
Live music with the Sebasticook and HJ Crosby Bands starts at 11 a.m. at the gazebo.
“Elvis” will be rocking and rolling at the Piscataquis River Festival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the athletic field, sponsored by Lovell’s Guilford Hardware.
Table manners will not be required at the 1 p.m. Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union’s pie eating contest behind the tennis courts.
Youngsters have the opportunity to take a pig home during the 1:30 p.m. pig scramble, to be held inside a fenced-in area. The scramble is sponsored by Herring Brothers.
Live music with country act Cold Blue Steel will be from 1-5 p.m., with classic rock act Out of the Blue performing from 5-9 p.m.
Getting one’s ducks in a row will be quite handy at the 3 p.m. rubber duck race on the Piscataquis River.
Once the sun sets, a fireworks display over Guilford will take place at night.
For more information, please see the Piscataquis River Festival page on Facebook.
File photo
LEAVE YOUR TABLE MANNERS BEHIND — A pie eating contest will be part of the Guilford Bicentennial Piscataquis River Festival on Saturday afternoon. The competition is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the back of the tennis courts.
File photo
CATCH A PESKY PORKER — A pig scramble is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside the orange fenced-in area on Saturday during the Piscataquis River Festival in downtown Guilford. Youngsters will attempt to catch a pig to take home.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
A SALUTE TO VETERANS — Cub Scout Pack 61 of Parkman thanked those who served during a past Piscataquis River Festival parade.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME — The float for the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union in last year’s parade featured many of the characters from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BICENTENNIAL PARADE — A float for Pirate Rec travels through downtown Guilford during a past year’s Piscataquis River Festival. The 2016 procession starts at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30 as area businesses and organizations will create floats tying in with the community’s 200th birthday.
Photo courtesy of Guilford Historical Society Treasurer Cindy Woodworth
1905 QUILT FOR THE BICENTENNIAL — Marilyn Bennett has loaned a 1905 quilt for the Guilford Historical Society to display during this weekend’s Bicentennial celebration. The Guilford Historical Society Museum will be open during the Bicentennial River Festival from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 30. Bennett is a cousin to Wilfred Priest, and their grandmother Flora Johnson was one of the ladies who created and signed the quilt in 1905 at the Valley Grange in Guilford Center. The historical society hopes the public has the chance to view this beautiful handmade quilt in person and take a look back into the history of Guilford.
Fitness 5K and kids run kick off River Festival
GUILFORD — Friends of Community Fitness will host its annual 5K race/walk and children’s fun run on the morning of Saturday, July 30 as part of the Piscataquis River Festival.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FIT TO RUN A 5K — The entrants in last year’s Friends of Community Fitness’ 5K road race take off from the starting line to kick off the annual Piscataquis River Festival in Guilford. This year’s race will be at 8 a.m. on Saturday, starting at the downtown recreational fields with the course covering the reverse route of previous years.
The kids race starts at 7:30 a.m. at the downtown recreational fields, with registration beginning at 7 a.m. The event is free, and the first 24 youngsters will receive a T-shirt and ribbon. Awards will be presented to first through third place.
The 5K starts at 8 a.m. with registration at 7:30 a.m. This year the course will be reversed with participants running and walking in the opposite direction of past years. Those taking part will be timed with prizes awarded to the top three.
Registration forms are available at www.comfitme.com and registration may be also be done on the morning of July 30. For more information, please contact 876-4813 or friendsofitness@myfairpoint.net.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
OFF THEY GO — Nine young runners took part in Friends of Community Fitness’ Kids Fun Run during the 2015 Piscataquis River Festival. running down and back along the Guilford Memorial River Walk while dodging puddles and each other. This year’s kids run starts at 7:30 a.m.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ALL IN THE FAMILY — Zach Doore and his father David Doore were first and second respectively in the 2015 Friends of Community Fitness Fitness 5K in Guilford at 21:15 and 21:16. Younger brother and son Isaac Doore came in eighth in the field of 20.
Library book sale
GUILFORD — The Guilford Memorial Library will be having a by donation book sale on Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be something for everyone. For more information, please call the library at 876-4547.