|From the NG 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee|
The 250th Celebration Committee has been meeting since the summer to start planning for our celebration of being an officially incorporated town, and the semi-solid plan so far is ambitious. The people of New Gloucester submitted their formal request for recognition to the Massachusetts in March of 1774, and it was granted almost seven months later in September. So we are going to have a looooong party, starting in March and going through Labor Day, and it’s going to be a doozie!
Here is the semi-solid calendar of events as it stands now.
- March – An opening proclamation and old-fashioned bean supper, with a birthday cake competition providing dessert – start experimenting with your recipes and decorations now!
- April – Memories and Milestones: A rocking chair story-telling/conversation event with some of our older residents sharing personal remembrances about life in our town; and a musical event (or two) with local musicians of various genres, including a sing-along (and maybe someone wants to write a NG Anthem?)
- May – A photo contest, grouped by age, and judged by professional photographers, and on display at several locations, illustrating themes likes: People of NG; NG at Work, NG at Play, and NG Places; and a poetry slam; and a town “yard sale” encouraging group and neighborhood sales advertised by the town in appropriate papers and sites.
- June – a NG walk/run roadrace (5K? 10K); and a car show.
- July – All ages field day, including old-fashioned games like 3-legged race, and team tug of war contests; and coloring contest by age – anyone out there want to submit original drawings suitable as coloring pages?
- August – Garden tour of private gardens and town garden spots – gardeners, this is advanced notice so you can start preparing your 2024 gardens now; and a HUGE community dinner – potluck?
- September – Grand Parade – get your floats, kazoo bands, antique vehicles, bikes, trikes and unicycles ready! And a bonfire… maybe in the context of a town fair.
But wait, that’s not all!
This is an opportunity for businesses and organizations of all kinds in New Gloucester to create their own “250th Celebration” events with sales, demonstrations, contests, raffles, shows, and 250th edition products…and whatever else. The NG Public Library and the NG Historical Society will cook up some interesting gatherings and games. Someone want to put on a cribbage tournament? A needle-work show? A tour of art studios and wood-working workshops? This is the year! We expect to have a Celebration Calendar online and will post your events.
We will have official 250th t-shirts and a Sesquicentennial Book for sale. In addition, we expect to make a stampable Passport that will serve as your own momento of a special year.
Our vision is of a season of discovery and play in New Gloucester. We hope people will make new friends, learn new things, have a whole lot of fun, and be certain as never before that New Gloucester is a special place, and we are lucky to live here.
The 250th Celebration Committee will be meeting at the Meeting House this Thursday, October 12, at 7 PM. The meetings are not televised. The public – EVERYONE – is welcomed to attend to share ideas, ask questions, and jump in. It will take a lot of volunteers, before and during these events, to pull this off. We know some of the people who always volunteer will do so, but it will take more than that. If you are a “newcomer” to NG, or somehow haven’t had the time to get to know many people or much about the town, helping out will change you from a resident, to a member of the community. Come play!
