Penobscot region communities gearing up for bicentennial celebrations
ORONO, Maine — Maine’s Bicentennial is fast approaching, but some communities across the state have started celebrating early.
Sunday, March 15, will mark the Pine Tree State’s 200th anniversary of statehood, which has motivated some municipalities to recognize their own local histories.
Celebrations officially began in July with a kick-off event to recognize the 200th anniversary of the July 1819 vote that separated Maine from Massachusetts.
Gov. Janet Mills traveled throughout the state on July 30 for the kick-off, making appearances in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta and Portland.
[What to know about Maine’s upcoming bicentennial celebration]
Communities around the state have also planned local events, with support from the state’s Bicentennial Commission. Several Penobscot region municipalities in particular will celebrate in their own ways throughout the year.
ORONO: Along with the bicentennial, the town of Orono will celebrate its 214th birthday with a handful of events on Saturday, March 14. Beginning at 3 p.m., the town will host Maine author Mac Smith to discuss his book “Mainers On The Titanic” at the council chambers.
Between 4 and 6 p.m., there will be a “Taste of Orono,” held at The Stone Manor, which will feature food and drink from local restaurants. The historical society will also host an open house and display artifacts from Orono’s early days during the event.
“‘Taste of Orono’ highlights our town’s exceptional culinary and brewing scene. Town restaurants and breweries are invited to highlight their favorite menu items during a showcase held at The Stone Manor on Main Street,” according to the town’s website.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., families can gather at the Keith Anderson Community House for a family dance, followed by fireworks downtown at 7:30 p.m.
As part of the state bicentennial, Orono Spotlight Cinemas will show Stephen King’s “The Shawshank Redemption” at 7 p.m. on March 11.
OLD TOWN: The city’s bicentennial commission is organizing a community dinner on May 2 at the Old Town Elementary School for local communities including Greenbush, Alton, Bradley, Milford and Indian Island. Meals will be served three times between 3 and 8 p.m. and will be free to the public. People are encouraged to make donations to Habitat for Humanity or to bring in non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries.
In between meals, people can tour the school and look at exhibitions featuring the community’s history.
“Our goal is to showcase our community’s past and present and dreams for the future from diverse perspectives,” committee event coordinator Gerri-Ana Harvey said.
VEAZIE: Beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, March 6, Veazie will celebrate its 167th anniversary. Veazie native Matt Bishop, who is the current curator and operations manager at Bangor Historical Society, and longtime resident and former Old Town educator, Mary Honey Bagley, will both give a short talk on the history of Veazie from the past 200 years.