RICHMOND — If you have fond memories of the 1980s, that magical decade when the hair was big, the colors were neon and the music was still on MTV, Richmond has a festival for you.
Every July, this riverfront town organizes Richmond Days, a weekend festival full of mostly free family events for residents and visitors alike, and this year the focus is on everything 1980s.
“This year, we’re having a roller rink on Front Street,” said Laurisa Loon, executive assistant for the town. “It comes with lights and music and 60 pairs of roller skates.”
The rink opens at 11 a.m. Saturday, but by then events will be well underway.
The festivities start Friday evening with the Children’s Parade at 6:30 p.m., a Footloose Friday street dance at 7 p.m., and a showing at 8:30 p.m. of “The Never Ending Story” at Waterfront Park.
Saturday’s schedule includes a parade at 10 a.m.; a chance to play classic 1980s arcade games such as Pac-Man, Centipede and Donkey Kong; and a chance to ride a mechanical skateboard.
Horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered throughout the day, and an inflatable water slide and a bounce house will be set up at Waterfront Park.
The Enterprise Grange offers a pancake breakfast for $6 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Grange hall, on Alexander Reed Road. Dresden Richmond United Methodist Church is hosting a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Pleasant Street. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children.
Food trucks also will be offering food for sale throughout the event.
“We were thinking about favorite 1980s board games,” Loon said.
For Richmond Days, the town was able to rent a life-size inflatable Hungry, Hungry Hippo game.
The festival also includes lobster crate races, free tours of the Southard Museum and tours of Swan Island, which cost $5 per person for those 6 and older; those 5 and under can go free.
“Throughout the weekend, we’ll probably have between 3,000 and 5,000 people,” Richmond police Chief Scott MacMaster said. “The big event is the parade and the fireworks on Saturday.”
The fireworks are scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m., shortly after Racer X, an ’80s cover band from Portland, finishes its 7 p.m. show at the gazebo.
Loon said people come from around Maine and from out of state as well, because Richmond Days coincides with the Richmond High School Alumni Banquet at Marcia Buker School.
On Saturday, the Richmond Area Health Center is hosting a 1-Mile Fun Run at 7:45 a.m. and a 5-kilometer run at 8 a.m. Registation for both starts at 7 a.m.
On Sunday, the Swan Island 10K starts at 9 a.m. Online registration at running4free.com.
A full listing of events is available on Richmond’s Facebook page and on the town’s website, www.richmondmaine.com.
“We’re looking forward to a spectacular weekend,” MacMaster said. “It’s the ’80s. That’s when everything was good.”
Jessica Lowell — 621-5632
Twitter: @JLowellKJ
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