BETHEL – Since its humble beginnings in the 1950s to raise money for needy community families, the Mollyockett Day Festival has become a smorgasbord of all-day events.

Sponsored by the Mahoosuc Arts Council since 2000, the festive day commemorates Mollyockett, a Pequawket Indian who lived among and befriended western Maine’s early settlers from the mid 1700s to early 1800s.

“Mollyockett’s generosity, self-reliance and accomplishments are qualities as worthy of community honor in our time as they were in the days of the early settlers, and they provide a fine inspiration for Mollyockett Day,” according to the Mahoosuc Arts Council.

This year’s events begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19, with a pancake breakfast at the Bethel Inn; coffee and doughnuts sale, Cookie Walk and flea market at the United Methodist Church; and registration for a 5-mile road run and walk and 1-mile fun run for children at the Bethel common.

A library book sale, which precedes the event from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 18, also runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

The Mollyockett Day Classic Road Race starts for children at 8:30 a.m. and for adult runners and walkers at 9 a.m.

Also at 9 a.m., there will be a Farmer’s Market in the Bethel Family Health Center parking lot and a car show until 2 p.m. at Telstar High School with a free shuttle offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from the Chapman Inn on Main Street.

From 10:30 a.m. to noon, there will be a Harley Owners Group Bike Show at Bethel Outdoor Adventures on Route 2. The famed Mollyockett Day Parade, set to the theme “The Good Olde Days,” runs from 11 a.m. to noon.

Parade announcements, the crowning of a young girl as “Princess” Mollyockett to preside over the events, and a Treasure Hunt presentation will begin at noon in the common’s gazebo.

Gazebo entertainment from:

• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. – Julie & Brownie with songs for kids.

• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – the Mahoosuc Community Band.

• 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Jewel Clark and Donnie Kaitlin.

• 4 to 5:30 p.m. – The Muddy Marsh Ramblers.

• 7:30 to 9 p.m. – Malinda Liberty and The Silver and Lace Band.

Starting at 1 p.m., there will be a Bed Race between Tri-Town Rescue and Bethel Rescue; the Scoggin Cloggers and Spring St. Cloggers from Bridget’s School of Dance at the Bethel Fire Station, and a Child Identification Program a the fire station.

Bethel Family Health Center’s 21st annual Frog Jumping Contest hops from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Stan Howe’s lawn, and registration for the 7th annual Old Time Fiddler’s Contest, which runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., starts at 4:30 p.m.

There will be a Duck Race at the Artist’s Covered Bridge on the Sunday River at 5 p.m. The event concludes after a fireworks show that starts at 9 p.m.

For more information, call the Mahoosuc Arts Council at 824-3575.

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