Celebrate Bowdoinham 2022
2022 Participants - please use this online Participant Application to Sign Up. We look forward to seeing you!
Fireworks Business Sponsors and Friends can use this printable form. Fill it out and mail it to the town office with your contribution.
SAVE THE DATE -- 2022 CHICKEN RUN!
Friday, September 9th at 5:30pm
Bowdoinhammers: Everyone had so much fun at the Chicken Run on May 7 (which had been postponed from 2021), the Bowdoinham Parent Partnership decided we just HAD to host another one!
This fall, the Bowdoinham Community School 5k Chicken Run and Kids’ 1-Mile Fun Run will return to its normal day and time on the Friday evening before Celebrate Bowdoinham. Please save the date:
Registration through our website is open until Thursday, September 8th at 6pm. Just visit https://runinarace.com/BowdoinhamCommunitySchool/. All proceeds benefit the Bowdoinham Community School. We hope to see you there!
An Ode To the Sponsors
SAVE THE DATE: Celebrate Bowdoinham will be SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2022! This year will
be focused on all the groups, organizations, and improvements to our town that are
“Community Built.” We have impressive, diverse citizen involvement that makes
Bowdoinham unlike any other community, and it’s worth celebrating! Detailed times will be
released once the official lineup of events is finalized, but here are some activities to look
forward to!
Friday, September 9th:
Bowdoinham Food Pantry will once again host the pie contest! Drop off will be the afternoon
of September 9th with judging to follow and slices sold the next day to benefit the Pantry.
Prizes will be awarded for the best baker in town, but with delicious pies, we all win.
Bowdoinham Community School had so much fun with their spring Chicken Run, they’re
doing it again for Celebrate- it’s a great way to start the weekend running and support our
amazing school! Follow @bowdoinhamchickenrun on Facebook for updates and register at
www.runinarace.com/BowdoinhamCommunitySchool
Saturday, September 10th:
Our day will start bright and early with our Bowdoinham Farmers’ Market at 8:30. Stock up
on healthy snacks for the day and enjoy the beautiful morning by the river.
The Celebrate Bowdoinham Parade will kick off the festivities at 10:00 and follow the
traditional route: Fire Station (Post Rd) to Main St; down Main St to River Rd; then River Rd
to Ridge Rd to Cemetery Rd to Center St; back to Fire Station. $100 donation will be awarded
to the first 10 Bowdoinham-based community group and non-profit organization float entries
to help support your enrichment of our town! A grand prize of $250 will be awarded to the
best decorated float overall. Floats to be considered are intentionally decorated and either
driven or towed behind a vehicle or person. The theme this year is "Community built." Register
your float by emailing planning@bowdoinham.com
Down at the waterfront the festivities will begin with music at the gazebo, food and coffee
trucks, vendors, the Community Art Show exhibit at the Merrymeeting Arts Center gallery,
and a shady tent with lots of seating to share “Bowdoinham Stories and Sage Advice.” To
help mingle and move you around all the day has to offer, there will be a “Community Built
Passport” available at the Information Tent: collect stamps by visiting all the groups and
organizations that have been created by the community, for the community for a chance to win
the most Bowdoinham prize of all: a year’s supply of trash tickets! Contact
planning@bowdoinham.com to increase your visitors by adding your group to the passport!
Activities for all ages include the Merrymeeting Arts Center Zucchini Races at the Matthew
Townsend Parker Memorial Skatepark in the morning, Lobster crate races in the afternoon,
and plenty of inflatables supervised by the MTA Class of 2023 (Juniors take note: it will be
your turn next year)! In addition to the Giant Foosball, Basketball Shootout, Mad Dash
obstacle course, and children’s bounce house, we’re bringing back the DUNK TANK! If your
community group would like to reserve and supervise that activity for an hour, it’s a splashy
way to raise awareness, engage with the crowd, and creatively raise money!
Be sure to visit the BIG DUCK at the Town Information Tent to get your free balloon with the
purchase your lucky duck for the KenDUCKY Derby that ends the day at 3:30. All prizes for
the day including the parade float grand prize, the pie contest winner, “Community Built
Passport” drawing, and the Citizen of the Year will be announced before the rubber ducks run
in the river. The Citizen of the Year award recipient shall be an outstanding individual
recognized for their impact on the lives of Bowdoinham citizens, a special individual who
shows dedication and spirit beyond what is considered regular duty. The following
characteristics will be considered: present activities, previous activities,
charitable/philanthropic efforts, improvement in the quality of life for Bowdoinham residents,
and commitment to the community. Nominations can be sent to our Town Manager at
As the day winds down, Party Palooza will offer face painting and balloon tying from 4-6
while you enjoy a little more music and a breezy picnic or food truck dinner before the
Celebrate Bowdoinham ends with the bang of FIREWORKS!
A huge thank you to the enthusiastic planning team for all the effort to create an inclusive day
of celebration for our very special town.