Civil War re-enactment, lecture among the events being planned.

BETHEL – A wide range of activities are planned for the whole family at the 23rd annual Sudbury Canada Days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8, 9 and 10, the summer heritage festival of the Bethel Historical Society.

Festivities will begin on Friday with the arrival of the Civil War re-enactors – the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The 12th annual Hall Memorial Lecture on Friday night will feature Allan R. Whitmore, PhD, chairman of the University of Southern Maine History Department, who will make a presentation on the life and career of George Washington Madox of Ellsworth, who began life as a Know-Nothing and ended up a feminist and Marxist.

The horseshoe tournament will begin a 10 a.m. Saturday. Ice cream will be available from the 1922 Mount Zircon Bottle Lunch Stand. The children’s parade (ages 4 to 12) will begin at 1 p.m. The theme is “Famous Americans.”

Traditional craft demonstrations and exhibits, a flower show, historical videos, art show, old-time children’s games and the farming/logging exhibit will continue through the afternoon. There will also be badminton and croquet tournaments.

At 5 p.m. a log driver’s bean supper will be followed by a program that will feature a visit by Hannibal Hamlin and his wife, Ellen.

On Sunday the flower show, historical videos and farming/logging exhibit will continue. There will also be an open house at the Lower Sunday River Schoolhouse (1895) and the day’s events will end with a old-time hymn sing at the historic Middle Intervale Meetinghouse (1816).

All events except for the bean supper are free. All are invited.

Further information about the society and its activities may be obtained by calling 824-2908 or 1-800-824-2910 or e-mailing [email protected].