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 5.
The return of the U.S. Navy, which will be represented by the U.S.S. De Wert, will be a highlight. The absence of sailors was felt last year when a naval vessel was not assigned to Eastport for the Fourth. "The ship will arrive here on the morning of July 2 and leave on the morning of July 6," says Barbara Hicks, who co-chairs the Eastport Fourth of July Committee with Roland Mitchell. "The public can tour the ship on July 3 and July 5 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m."
"Right now we don't know how many there will be, but we welcome the families of sailors who will be coming to Eastport to board the ship for a 'family sail' to Florida when the ship leaves here," she adds.
The sailors from the U.S.S. De Wert will be participating in many of the sporting events, including the Big Wheel race. "They're sending out a challenge," notes Hicks of the July 3 contest. "We know Federal Marine is working on two entries."
"And, since last year's fireworks had to be cancelled, we've decided to put more finances into this year's display," she points out. "We've been told that there's going to be something new in the sky. Something we haven't seen before."
Thursday, July 1
Events begin on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, with opening of the "Terra Nova (Newfoundland) Contemporary Photographs by Thaddeus Holownia" exhibit at 10 a.m. at the Tides Institute & Museum of Art. The exhibit will be on display from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on July 1 through July 4. The Canada Day Sailboat Race begins at 10 a.m. at the Eastport breakwater and ends in St. Andrews.
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 Boat School to the fire station begin at 3 p.m., and a public reception for artist Christi Harris' exhibit "Crowning Glory" will begin at the Eastport Arts Center at 5 p.m.
The old-fashioned country rib barbecue hosted by Cobscook Bay Resource Center will be held at the head of the breakwater from 5 to 7 p.m. Photographer Thaddeus Holownia will give an artist talk at The Tides Institute & Museum of Art at 7 p.m., which is also the time for the Eastport Arts Center concert recital featuring pianist Greg Biss and violinist Trond Saeverud.
Friday, July 2
On Friday, July 2, "Welcome Home Day," events will begin with scenic airplane 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 2, 3 and 4. The Shead Memorial High School Class of 1960 will hold its reunion at the Boat School, beginning at 9 a.m.
Craft fair and vendors will begin to sell their wares at 10 a.m., and that will also be the opening time on July 3 and 4. Also at 10 a.m., the kids' cupcake decorating contest will begin at Overlook Park and a barbecue begins at Blakey Methodist Church on High Street. The first annual Rosie's Hotdog Stand hotdog eating contest takes place at 10:30 a.m., and the watermelon eating contest at Overlook Park starts at 11 a.m. After lunch, the Little Mr. and Miss 4th of July contest will begin at 1 p.m. at Overlook Park. The pet show starts at 4 p.m., also at Overlook Park. The gospel concert, featuring several musical acts, will begin at 4 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church.
If the U.S. Navy ship U.S.S. De Wert arrived in port that morning, a public reception for her officers and crew will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Eastport Youth Center.
The youth division of the annual talent show begins at 5 p.m. at Shead High School and will be followed by the adult division. The Class of 2000 from Shead High School is holding its reunion at the Seaview Campground, beginning at 5 p.m. Country band Dirigo Highway is scheduled to begin playing at 6 p.m. at Overlook Park. The Shead High School Class of 1985 reunion starts at 7 p.m. at the Eastport Chowder House.
Moose Island Follies opens its two-night stand at the Eastport Arts Center at 7 p.m. It will begin at the same time on July 3. The final event of the day will be the popular Big Wheel races, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. in front of Cummings' Garage on Washington Street.
Saturday, July 3
On Saturday, July 3, "Armed Services Day," events will begin with the 9 a.m. kids' one-mile fun run from the Boat School to the Dead River Company on Key Street. 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. From 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on this date and July 4, the Pickled Herring is sponsoring red, white and blues music. At 12 noon, the Miss 4th of July contest begins at Overlook Park. The strawberry shortcake sale begins at 1 p.m. at Peavey Memorial Library, which will also be holding a used book sale throughout Old Home Week. The Little Eagle drummers will perform at library park at 1 p.m., and that will be the time that author Sarah Graves autographs books in front of the S.L. Wadsworth store. Old Eastport films will be shown by the Northern Lights Film Society, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Eastport Arts Center.
Glory Bound will perform gospel music at 2 p.m. in Overlook Park, which is the starting time for the firemen's muster on Water Street. Maritime feature films will be shown at 3 p.m. at the Eastport Arts Center, courtesy of the Northern Lights Film Society. The annual codfish race, which is always a crowd pleaser, begins at 3:30 p.m. on Water Street and features four-member teams. A Zumba party with Alicia Nicholson will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Shead High School.
Three Shead Memorial High School class reunions begin at 5 p.m. The Class of 1955 will meet at the Eastport Chowder House; the Class of 1965 will gather at Seaview Campground; and the Class of 1980 members will get together at Ross Furman's house. The Class of 1975 will begin their reunion at 7 p.m. at the Eastport Chowder House.
Those who are not attending a class reunion can go up to Shead High School at 6 p.m. for a new show by returning hypnotist Steve Marino, attend the second night of the Moose Island Follies at 7 p.m. or go downtown to Overlook Park at 7:30 p.m. to hear the rock band Everyday Stranger. Old Timers/New Timers Night will begin at 8 p.m. at the Eastport Youth Center, and the annual torchlight parade begins in front of the post office at dusk. It will be followed by the first lighting of the luminaries in the vicinity of the fish pier.
Sunday, July 4
On Sunday, July 4, Independence Day will begin at sunrise with the 50th annual flag raising at the breakwater. Inkas Wasi will be performing South American music all day, and there will be a powerchute fly-in throughout the day at the airport. The airport is also 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 32nd 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, the Eastport Senior Citizen Center on Dana Street will have crabmeat and other types of sandwiches and fish chowder at Christ Church Institute on Key Street starting at 11 a.m.
The Doll Carriage 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; and 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 Jubilee Singers performing in library park at 3 p.m. The Atlanticade motorcycle tour is expected to arrive in Eastport around 3 p.m., and the steel band Pan Coalition will perform at Overlook Park at 4 p.m. Sherrie's Zumba Fitness Dance Party begins at 5:30 p.m. at Overlook Park, followed by Barbara's School of Dance at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks display will be held at dusk. If the weather is inclement, it will be held on July 5.
Monday, July 5
On Monday, July 5, the 40th annual 7.0 mile race begins at 9 a.m. at Perry corner and ends at the Eastport breakwater, and the walk starts on Carlow Island near the Eastport sign. Three sporting events are scheduled for the afternoon. A team from the U.S.S. De Wert will compete with a local team in soccer, beginning at 12 noon behind the elementary school. A volleyball game between the sailors and locals will start at 4:30 p.m. at the high school. That will be followed at 6 p.m. by a basketball game featuring locals against the U.S. Navy at the high school.
All of these sporting events are free, so the public is encouraged to come out and cheer for their favorite teams.