PHILLIPS — With a rock ‘n’ roll theme, Phillips Old Home Days festivities will kick off Saturday and run for nine days.

The 61st year of events goes through Sunday, Aug. 19, and includes dozens of family-friendly activities and competitions. The theme is “Rock and Roll is Here to Stay.”

Pam and Dick Matthews are this year’s honored couple. They have volunteered hours for the town’s Revitalization Committee, which led to a launch of the Phillips Farmers Market and the Sandy River Business Association.

They worked on the renovation of the Phillips Area Community Center and regularly organize the center’s musical events and annual variety show. They will help kick off Old Home Day at the center with a show featuring local artists from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. At 6 p.m., the center will reopen for an artists’ reception and concert featuring Ruth Hill.

Photographers should bring their entries to the Shadagee Apartments community room by noon Saturday, Aug. 11. Photo categories include color and black and white, scenery, animals and people. Framed photos must be at least a 5-by-7 inches and no larger than 11-by-13 inches.

For the flower show Friday, Aug. 17, volunteer organizer Cindy Farrington asks that floral arrangements be dropped off at the community room between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16. The rock ‘n’ roll theme offers plenty of room for creative interpretation, she said.

Also on Friday, Aug. 17:

* From 1 to 6 p.m., Suzy Sanders and her Wonderland volunteers will offer their annual afternoon of magical adventures for children of all ages.

“We’ll be making beautiful fairy wings, dazzling crowns, magic wands and dashing pirate hats,” Sanders said. “We’ll have a puppet show and costumes and lots of other fun activities.”

* Next door at the Phillips Community House, the chicken and baked bean barbecue starts at 4 p.m. until the food runs out.

* After the 6 p.m. parade down Main Street, DJ Dreamin’ Big will provide music from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. for the street dance.

On Saturday, Aug. 18, the Cancer Remembrance Walk opens for registration at 7:30 a.m. at the former Skowhegan Savings Bank for an 8 a.m. start. A road race starts at 9 a.m. on Main Street, in front of the library, and a bicycle race starts at 11 a.m. The lumberjack competition starts at 9 a.m. on Route 4. This year’s lumberman honoree is Clint Abbott. Frog-jumping competitors will gather at 1 p.m. on Main Street at The Local Bull.

In keeping with the rock ‘n’ roll theme, the no-alcohol, adults-only Saturday night sock hop starts at 7 p.m. at the Phillips Area Community Center, with DJ D-James playing popular oldies. On Sunday, Aug. 19, the Children’s Parade begins at 9 a.m. down Main Street. Truck-pull competitions start at noon at the Northwoods Pulling Track on Route 4.

The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad narrow gauge train rides offer visitors a special glimpse of history. From 11 a.m.to 3 p.m., the train will leave the station hourly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17-19. Friday evening’s special departures will leave at 8:30 and 9 p.m.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, August 11

9 a.m. – Noon – Amateur Photo Contest (Shadagee Common Room. FMI, 639-1019)

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Art show (Phillips Area Community Center)

6 p.m. Artists’ reception, followed by Ruth Hill concert at 7 p.m. Phillips Area Community Center)

Sunday, August 12

11 a.m. – Volleyball Tournament (North Franklin Park)

Tuesday, August 14

6 p.m. – 8th Grade Talent Show (Phillips Elementary School)

Wednesday, August 15

10 a.m. –  Thrift Shop & Book Sale (Phillips Public Library)

6 p.m. –  Doubles-Only Cribbage (American Legion Hall on Depot Street)

Thursday, August 16

10 a.m. –  Phillips Public Library Thrift Shop & Book Sale. Event will be held indoors during Library hours

3 p.m. – 7 p.m. –  Flower Show (entries to Shadagee Apartment Community Room. Viewing will be Friday from 10AM-5PM and Saturday 10AM-3PM. All entries must be removed between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday. FMI, contact Cindy Farrington at 256-0335

4 – 6 p.m. – North Franklin Sportsmen’s Club Barbeque ( 71 Main Street ; southern-style spare ribs, homemade salads, coleslaw, roll, beverage, $12 and $8 under 12)

5 p.m. Rock-Paper- Scissors Tournament

7 p.m. – Elvis Impersonator Don Boudreau (Phillips Area Community Center)

Friday, August 17.

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Beverages and snacks under the tent at the Phillips Community Church

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Phillips Historical Society open house

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Narrow Gauge Quilt Show (Congregational Church)

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Flower show viewing (Shadagee Apartments community room)

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; 8:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Train Rides (Dill Woods on the hour)

1 – 6 p.m. Wonderland, (37 Main Street)

12 p.m. – Sunset Airplane Rides by Morgan Aviation (Lindberg Airport)

1 – 4 p.m. – Agricultural Building open house (North Franklin Park)

4 – 7 p.m. –  Chicken BBQ (Phillips Community House)

5 p.m. – Old Home Days Parade (Main Street)

7:30 – 10:30 p.m. –  Street Dance with DJ Dreamin’ Big (Main Street)

Saturday, August 18.

6 – 11 a.m. –  Breakfast at the Lindbergh Airport on Route 4; airplane rides by Morgan Aviation

8 a.m. -Cancer Remembrance Walk (7:30 a.m. registration at former Skowhegan Savings Bank)

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Phillips Historical Society open house

9 a.m. -Lumbering Competition (parking lot of Indulge Salon & Spa, Route 4)

9 a.m. – Road Race (Phillips Public Library)

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Flower Show Viewing (Shadagee Apartments Community Room)

10 a.m. – noon -Eco-Tours at Fox-Carlton Pond

10 a.m. –  Phillips Public Library Thrift Shop & Book Sale (during library hours)

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Train Rides (Dill Woods)

11 a.m. – Bicycle Race (age up to 17; Phillips Public Library)

Noon –  Horse Pulling (North Franklin Park)

1 p.m. –  Frog Jumping Contest (Local Bull)

3 p.m. –  Bathtub Races (Toothaker Pond)

7 – 10 p.m. Sock Hop (adults only, no alcohol, Phillips Area Community Center)

Sunday, August 19

6 – 11 a.m. –  Breakfast with The Sandy River Flying Club (Lindbergh Airport)

8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Airplane rides by Morgan Aviation (Lindbergh Airport)

9 a.m. – Chicken Shoot (North Franklin Park)

11 a.m. – Children’s Parade (Main Street; rain site is Phillips Area Community Center)

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Hourly train rides (Dill Woods)

Noon – Northwoods Pulling Track Truck Pulls (Route 4. Registration at 11 a.m.)

1 p.m. – Horseshoe Tournament (North Franklin Park)

1 – 3 p.m. Phillips Historical Society open house (Pleasant Street)

1 p.m. – Duck Derby at the bridge

(Facebook photo)