DIXFIELD – Although the town’s 200th birthday has come and gone, bicentennial events are continuing each month.

Event organizers met Wednesday afternoon in the town office to continue planning for a slew of upcoming events on Sunday, Aug. 17.

These include an all-day outdoor market, an art exhibit, flower show, vintage hat show, an historical encampment, a one-mile fun run for children and a 5-kilometer road race.

The Main Street market features food, collectibles, crafts, raffles, baskets, novelties and flea markets as well as live music from the Arsenault Family Band, Black Mountain Hobo and Friend, and vocalist Mary Murphy. It will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Bicentennial Committee is also sponsoring an art show that will be on display at Ludden Memorial Library. Works submitted by artists can be done in any medium from any age group, but must show scenes of Dixfield township. Among the suggestions are old Sawyer photos, old paintings by grandmother, new photos, and pencil sketches.

A $200 prize will be awarded for the best depiction of Dixfield. The committee retains the picture. Other awards will also be given. For more information about the art show, contact Alice McKay Barnett at 491-8100.

The Festival of Flowers Show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Dixfield Historical Society at 63 Main St. Entries will be received from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the society where they will be judged that night behind closed doors.

There are several classes among which are a bouquet of wildflowers in a crock or pitcher to house plants, dried flower arrangements, miniature bouquets that are less than four inches high, a variety of vegetables in a basket or other container, flowers in a teacup or mug and single flowers in a bottle or bud vase. For more information, phone show hosts Esther or Al Larsen at 562-7332.

The Ancient Ones encampment, Saturday and Sunday, features old-time trappers and pioneers camped out on the historical society grounds. There will be demonstrations of tomahawk throwing and bow and arrow shooting.

The Bicentennial Road Races start on Third Street opposite the Grange hall with runners or walkers routed through historic Dixfield.

Preregistration by Aug. 12 costs $10 per entrant for the 5K run, while day-of-event registration from 8 to 9:30 a.m. costs $12 per entrant. The cost for both pre- and day-of-registration for the children’s one-mile event is $5. For more information, contact Paul Jones at 562-7172 or e-mail pajz@megalink.net.

“I’ve only had four people sign up for the race right now, although usually more than half of the people running show up on the day of the race,” Jones said.

He is also looking for additional volunteers to help with registration and at the finish line.

The committee also discussed plans for a bicentennial clock ceremony and are busy securing an easement to place the clock.

Dixfield celebrated its bicentennial birthday on June 21.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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