City’s Old Home Week promises fun-filled days

The Eastport Fourth of July Committee has planned another fun-filled celebration for all ages and is extending an invitation for all to attend this year's Old Home Week from July 1 through July 4.
"With only a few more days until the Fourth of July, everything is coming together nicely," says Barbara Hicks, co-chairman of the Eastport Fourth of July Committee. "The crew of the USS Nitze is looking forward to participating in many of our traditional events, including the firemen's muster, codfish relay and Big Wheel race."
"The USCGC Jefferson Island will also be in port on July 1 through July 3 and has designs on a Big Wheel race win," she adds. "We're truly honored that these two ships could be with us to celebrate Independence Day. It reminds us of how much the men and women from all branches of our armed services do for us throughout the year."
The USS Nitze will offer tours to the public on July 2, 3 and 4, and the USCGC Jefferson Island will offer tours on July 1, 2 and 3 at the fish pier.

Friday, July 1
Events begin at 10 a.m. in Eastport on Canada Day, Friday, July 1, with the Canada Day Sailboat Race to St. Andrews. Craft fair and vendors will begin to sell their wares at 10 a.m. and that will also be the opening time on July 2, 3 and 4. An exhibit of selected works of Janice Wright-Cheney can be seen from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on July 1-4 at the Tides Institute and Museum of Art.
In the afternoon, the frisbee contest will begin at 1:30 p.m. in library park, and it will be followed at 2 p.m. by a limbo competition in the same place. Bike races from the Husson Boat School to the fire station begin at 3 p.m., and a public reception for the officers and crew of the USS Nitze starts at 5 p.m. in the Eastport Youth Center.
The artist Janice Wright Cheney will give a talk at the Tides Institute and Museum of Art at 7 p.m., which is also the time for a basketball game between the sailors and a local team at the Shead High School gymnasium. The Masquerade Ball at the Eastport Arts Center starts at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 2
On Saturday, July 2, "Welcome Home Day" events will begin with scenic plane rides from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Eastport Municipal Airport. The plane rides will also be held during those hours on July 3 and 4.
Keep an eye out for author Sarah Graves who will be autographing copies of her book Knock Down outside of S.L. Wadsworth's that day. The kids' cupcake decorating contest will being at 10 a.m. at Overlook Park, and a watermelon-eating contest will be held there at 11 a.m. After lunch, the Little Mr. and Miss 4th of July contest will be held at 1 p.m. at Overlook Park. The pet show starts at 4 p.m., also at Overlook Park.
The first Moose Island Follies show of the day starts at 4 p.m. in the Eastport Arts Center. The talent show's youth competition begins at 5 p.m. at Shead High School, followed by the adult contest. The SMHS Class of 1981 reunion will begin at 5 p.m. at the Eastport Chowder House. A Zumba party begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Shead High School auditorium, and the second Moose Island Follies performance starts at 7 p.m. in the Eastport Arts Center.
The Shead High School Class of 1991 will hold its reunion at the Eastport Chowder House, beginning at 7 p.m. The Big Wheel races start at 7:30 p.m. in front of Cummings Garage on Washington Street, and that's the time the band Blast Addicts will begin playing classic rock 'n roll at Overlook Park.

Sunday, July 3
On Sunday, July 3, "Armed Services Day" events will begin with the 41st annual 7.0 mile Charles E. Davis Memorial run, which starts at Perry Corner at 9 a.m. The kids' one-mile fun run from The Boat School to the Dead River Company on Key Street also starts at 9 a.m. The Quoddy Maritime Museum auction will be held on the sidewalk in front of the Water Street museum from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The tiny tots fair, for ages five and under, begins at 9:30 a.m. in library park.
At 12 noon, the Miss 4th of July contest begins at Overlook Park. The strawberry shortcake sale starts at 1 p.m. at Peavey Memorial Library, and the Little Eagle Drummers will perform at that time in library park. Glory Bound will provide the music in library park, beginning at 2 p.m. which is also the starting time of the firemen's muster on Water Street. Also, 2 p.m. will be the start of the Peregrine Puppets show at the Eastport Arts Center.
The annual codfish race, which is always a crowd pleaser, begins at 3:30 p.m. on Water Street and features four-member teams. Several reunions will be held that day, including the SMHS Class of 1961 beginning at 4 p.m. at the senior center; the SHS Class of 2001 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Eastport Chowder House; and the SMHS Class of 1956, which starts at 5 p.m. in the Blue Iris Bistro.
Comedian Bob Marley's show at the Shead High School auditorium begins at 6 p.m., and downtown the Blast Addicts will entertain with music for all ages, starting at 7:30 p.m. The annual torchlight parade begins in front of the post office at dusk.

Monday, July 4
On Monday, July 4, Independence Day will begin at sunrise with the 51st annual flag-raising at the breakwater. The airport will be the site of the annual blueberry pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. The Calithumpian Parade starts in front of the post office at 8:30 a.m.; land sports begin at 9 a.m. on Water Street; and water sports will be held at the breakwater at 10 a.m. The U.S. Coast Guard's open house begins at 10 a.m. and will include tours of rescue boats and equipment. The 33rd annual Buddy Allen Car, Truck and Bike Show starts in Bank Square at 10 a.m.
The blueberry pie eating contest is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Overlook Park. For those who are hungry, at 11 a.m., the Eastport Senior Citizen Center on Dana Street will begin selling crabmeat and other types of sandwiches, and that's when the fish chowder sale begins at Christ Church Institute.
The doll carriage, wagon and trike parade begins at 12 noon in front of the post office, and at 12:15 p.m. the Elvis Presley tribute concert, featuring Mike Bravener, will start at Overlook Park. The parade bands will perform in library park at 1 p.m. The Grand Independence Day Parade will begin at 2 p.m. and will be followed by the Lighthouse Jubilees singers performing in library park at 3 p.m. The steel drum band Pan Coalition will perform in Overlook Park at 4 p.m., followed by Barbara's School of Dance at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks display will be held at dusk.
In case of rain, outdoor events will be held at Shead High School.