RICHMOND — It’s hard to miss the Kennebec River running right by the heart of town, a wide swath of cold water running between the Swan Island state wildlife management area and the town’s waterfront park.

So why not celebrate it?

Thus, the theme of this year’s annual Richmond Days festivities: “A River Runs Through It.” Events start Friday afternoon and continue with a full day and night of activities Saturday, culminating in a fireworks show above the river.

“You can never have too many opportunities to highlight this resource that’s right here, downtown, and so much a part of the community,” Community and Business Development Director Victoria Boundy said of the Kennebec River and the waterfront park next to it, where most of the Richmond Days activities will take place. “Richmond has the prettiest waterfront in this part of Maine. It’s a beautiful location.”

Richmond Days activities, most of which are free, include pontoon boat rides, lobster crate races and Swan Island tours.

The Swan Island tours cost $5 and will take place at several times Saturday. Participants need to sign up before the tours at the state boat landing, to the left of the town’s waterfront park.

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Even some of the music has ties to the water. Roll & Go, featuring local resident Charlie Ipcar and other musicians, will perform seafaring tunes at waterfront park from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Other musicians taking the waterfront park stage include Celtic folk singer Paddy Mills at 7 p.m. Friday, and on Saturday, children’s musician Matt Loosigian at 11 a.m., country band Bad Penny at 4 p.m. and rock and country band Madcastle at 7 p.m.

The children’s parade is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, starting at the parking lot of Richmond Utilities District.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, both children and adults will march through town in the annual parade, starting from the high school parking lot, going down Main Street, left onto Front Street, another left onto Kimball Street through Boynton Street, left onto Williams Street and right onto Main Street to return back to the high school.

A full schedule of events is available in the town newsletter and on the town’s website at www.richmondmaine.com.

Vendor, food and games booths will be setup in the waterfront park, as will, on Saturday, inflatable bounce rides, slides, Wii gaming and laser tag.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com


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