BETHEL — As Molly Ockett Day returns, organizers are looking forward to welcoming people on what they hope will be a beautiful summer day.

“A successful day for us would be good attendance and good weather,” said volunteer Danny Whitney, who said the festival will be held in Bethel on Aug. 9.

Organization of the popular festival was passed from Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce to Bethel Area Business Association last year.

Behind the event are Bethel Area Business Association members and volunteers Whitney, Michael Pelletier, Kara Kimball, Stephanie Cayer, Ron Savage, Rebecca Whitney, Dennis Doyon, Jewell Clark, Ellen Whitney, Leanna Bowie and Heidi Godomski.

Whitney said getting the day off the ground was the biggest challenge because, except for one member, none of them had worked on an event like this.

Whitney said they had tremendous support from sponsors. For instance, when the original fireworks vendor canceled they had to work with a more expensive vendor. They sent an email to the sponsors and within 24 hours had the cost difference covered.

The event is 100% paid for by the sponsors, he said.

“The support from all the businesses has been outstanding,” said Whitney. “From their own pocket, they supported this because they like the cause and want to see the day be a success.”

Whitney said that while they are gearing Molly Ockett Day toward children, he hopes “absolutely everybody” attends for the free entertainment and “tons of good food.”

“This year we hope to raise a little money that will go toward the BABA fund, but it’s not about that this year,” he said, “it’s about creating a day for the community.”

Whitney said the child-focused day will see the return of the frog jumping contest, the three-legged race and the dunk tank. New this year is the bounce house, touch-a-truck and Jason Tardy will juggle on the gazebo.

Broad Street will be closed from the library to Mason Street. Ninety-percent of the activities are on or near the Common, Whitney said.

“For the adults we’re excited about having the beer tent and corn hole tournament at the Bethel Inn,” Whitney said, adding that there will be more food vendors, but fewer craft vendors on the Common than in year’s past.

The Museums of Bethel Historical Society and Bethel Library will be open with programs of their own.

The Telstar High School basketball teams will be in charge of a three-point tournament on Mayville Road behind the Big Apple Grocery Store.

The festival has traditionally been held every third Saturday of July, until this year. Bethel has held the summer event since 1958, but was originally called the Bethel Bazaar. According to the Molly Ockett Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Bridgton, “In 1970, the Bethel Area Summerfest name was changed in honor of the Indian woman whose generosity and self-reliance have become legendary,” Molly Ockett.

Mali Agat, or Molly Ockett, was an Abenaki woman who lived in western Maine from the early 1700s to 1816. She died in 1816 and is buried in Andover.

Schedule of events

10:30 a.m. — Parade: Will follow the same route as in the past. Line-up is at 9:30 a.m. at River View on Railroad Street. Parade will start there and head to the Bethel Common. Prizes will be announced around 12:45 p.m. from the Gazebo.

10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. — Local vendors and community tables on Bethel Common; beer tent at the Bethel Inn

11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. — Kids events on the Common: Bounce house, dunk tank, face painting, touch-a-truck, frog jumping (2 p.m.) and 3-legged race (4 p.m.)

Noon — Jason Tardy Show #1

12:30 p.m. — Basketball three-point and free-throw competition at the town basketball courts behind the Big Apple on Mayville Road.

1-3 p.m. — Slightly Polished classic rock cover band

3:15 p.m. — Jason Tardy Show # 2

4 p.m. — Cornhole at the Bethel Inn

4-6 p.m. — Brad Hooper

6:15 p.m. — The Fossils

9 p.m. — Fireworks finale at the Bethel Inn