Preparing for Bowdoinham's Biggest Party

Happy Monday, Bowdoinhammer!

If you've still got all your digits intact after the 4th of July weekend (phew!), you might consider crossing them for this incredible opportunity!

You could enter to win a dreamy weekend getaway (October 3-5, 2025) at the absolutely lovely Upper House cottage! We're talking a two-night stay on the gorgeous Phippsburg peninsula, all valued at a cool $700.

Tickets are just $20 each and are available now at the Bowdoinham Public Library. Don't snooze on this one because they'll be drawing for the lucky winner at Celebrate Bowdoinham on September 13th (it’s closer than you think).

Visit BowdoinhamLibrary.org/events/raffle-to-benefit-bpl/ for all the info.

This is your chance to snag a fantastic escape!

Let’s have a look at what the future has in store for us…

Highlights in this Newsletter:

1. The BCC is pausing its open office hours.

2. No better time to sign up for Celebrate Bowdoinham stuff than right now (or before August 1st).

3. Bowdoinham News announced who will be doing the mural at the waterfront.

4. There’ll be Trivia at the pub on Monday night.

5. The Kids Craft a Creature workshop scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled.

6. Age-Friendly Bowdoinham will be hosting its monthly luncheon on Thursday.

7. Catch some culture on Friday with a special showing of The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

8. Hang out at the waterfront park some more on Saturday, and you might see some belly dancing.

9. Even MORE waterfront park fun with the Summer Concert Supper happening on Sunday.

Keep scrolling for more info about these and other events.

BCC Takes a Summer Break

The helpful folks over at Bowdoinham Community Connections will be taking a well-deserved summer break from their office hours. So, if you've been planning to pop by the Fire Station, they'll be pausing their regular schedule until September.

Not to worry, they'll be back to assist the community once the leaves start to turn!

They wish everyone a happy and safe summer until then.

Bowdoinham's Biggest Party: How to Get Involved

Get ready to light up the night, Bowdoinham! 

The dazzling fireworks display at Celebrate Bowdoinham (Saturday, September 13th) is facing higher costs this year due to tariffs on China. But fear not, because our incredible community can ensure the grand finale still goes off with a bang! 

The Town is seeking local sponsors to help cover these increased fireworks expenses. Plus, don't miss your chance to shine in the Celebrate Bowdoinham Parade! This year's theme is "Farming in Bowdoinham," and there's even a $250 prize for the best-decorated float. 

Whether a person runs a farm, a business, a club, or just has a brilliant idea, they are encouraged to sign up by August 1st. All the details for fireworks sponsorship and parade registration can be found right here: https://www.bowdoinham.com/event/celebrate-bowdoinham-2025. 

Let's make this year's celebration unforgettable!

Get ready to add some color to your strolls at Mailly Waterfront Park

The Bowdoinham News (check page 16!) recently announced that talented artist Erica Sedler, who created the fantastic mural at Wild Oats in Brunswick, has been commissioned for our town's first public art installation on the bathhouse.

Funded by TIF money approved in 2024, this exciting project saw the community choose "Waterways and Nature" as the theme. CDAC and a Merrymeeting Arts Center jury selected Sedler from 12 impressive applicants, and her beautiful work will be unveiled at Celebrate Bowdoinham!

Visit her website, ArtByEricaSedler.com, to see more of her work.

Happening in Bowdoinham THIS week:

MONDAY, July 7th

• Goats in the Road Trivia, Three Robbers Pub (12 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

• Open Pottery Studio, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. $10 suggested donation. The maximum capacity is 10 pottery enthusiasts.

TUESDAY, July 8th

• Recycling Drop-off, Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.), NOON - 6:00 PM.

• Kids Craft a Creature, Merrymeeting Arts Center (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. For kids aged 3 to 8. CANCELED

• Merryreading Book Store OPEN, Merrymeeting Hall Basement (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

• Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School Tennis Court (23 Cemetery Rd.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

• Select Board Meeting, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 6:00 PM. Townhall Streams link. For a list of other town meetings, visit the town's calendar.

WEDNESDAY, July 9th

• Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

• Bridge, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - NOON. FMI: Judy Gray, 666-3025. The group welcomes all players. Current players range from high-scoring duplicate players to seniors who played in college and newbies who have taken a class.

• Bowdoinham Food Pantry OPEN, Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main St.), 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. For all residents of Bowdoinham and Bowdoin. Building community with food. NO income verification. FMI: (207) 751-7779. Shop there first.

• Open Pottery Studio, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. $10 suggested donation. The maximum capacity is 10 pottery enthusiasts.

THURSDAY, July 10th

• Trash Pick-up Day. You can buy the $3 trash tags at the Town Office and Public Works Facility. Pick-up times vary. 

• Recycling Drop-off, Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

• Cribbage, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 9:30 AM - NOON. Hosted by Age Friendly Bowdoinham.

• Age-Friendly Bowdoinham Monthly Luncheon, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. 

• Merryreading Book Store OPEN, Merrymeeting Hall Basement (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

• Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

• MSAD 75 School Board Meeting, Mt. Ararat High School (68 Eagles Way, Topsham), 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM.

FRIDAY, July 11th

• Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

• A special performance of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” performed by the Camden Shakespeare Festival, Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 6:00 PM. It's one of Shakespeare's funniest comedies, performed with live music - definitely not one to miss! If it rains, they'll move the show to Merrymeeting Hall. 

SATURDAY, July 12th

• Recycling Drop-off, Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

• Visit/Volunteer/Donate/Shop at the Bowdoinham Gift Shop, Recycling Barn (243 Post Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Clean and FREE curated household items, clothes, and toys are available. Donations and volunteers are welcome to support this community resource and help reduce waste. Contributions are accepted inside, and returnable beverage containers may be dropped off in the window near the road at any time.

• Summer Ceramic Shop, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 8:00 AM - NOON. The MAC Gallery will be hosting a ceramic shop for 6 weeks during the Farmer’s Market. Stop by before or after you shop! You just might need a bowl to eat all that salad you just bought!

• Bowdoinham Farmers' Market, Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 8:30 AM - NOON. 

• Merryreading Book Store OPEN, Merrymeeting Hall Basement (27 Main St.), 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

• “Late Bloomer” exhibition, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Merrymeeting Arts Center presents "Late Bloomer," a retrospective exhibit by Maine artist Rachel Ingrid Robbins, a former writer who explores themes of growth, transformation, and creative resilience through tactile pastel and mixed media. Her dreamlike narratives, tracing an evolution from written to visual storytelling, feature vibrant colors and mystical beings, marking a personal and creative shift.

• Raqs by the River, Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Join Rosa Noreen and her students, Troupe Negma from Portland's Bright Star Dance Studio, and special guests for a joyful outdoor show featuring group and solo belly dance performances, live music, and Palestinian debke. Fun for all ages! This show is free and open to the public, families welcome, at the beautiful Mailly Waterfront Park.

SUNDAY, July 13th

• Sunday Service, Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St. Mailly Waterfront Park, 1 Main St.), 11:00 AM. Followed by a BBQ Potluck, ALL are welcome.

• Sunday School/Service, Bowdoinham Church of the Nazarene (7 School St.), 10:00 AM, Service 11:00 AM. 

• Summer Concert Supper with “Dooryarders” playing at the gazebo in Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The Cemetery Committee will be serving food. 

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Coming Soon to a Bowdoinham Near You:

📖 The Loose Ladies Book Group will discuss "The Night in Question" by Susan Fletcher on Thursday, July 17th,  a lyrical novel full of mystery and wisdom about love, friendship, and forgiveness. If you liked "A Man Called Ove" or "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry," you'll likely enjoy this! Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or a local bookseller. 

. . .

🧸 Ever wonder what happens at the library after hours? Well, Bowdoinham Public Library is giving us a peek with their 4th Annual Stuffie Sleepover on July 18th! From 4-6 PM, kids can drop off their favorite stuffed pal. Once settled, trusty Kate and her team of volunteers will take over, ensuring the stuffies have a night packed with fun and mischief! It’s an epic pajama party without the actual kids, and you just know they’ll have stories to tell when you pick them up the next day. This unique event promises wild tales (from the stuffies, of course!), so be sure to pre-register your fuzzy friend for their big night out by emailing [email protected], or calling 666-8405.

. . .

📸 Professional photographer Leah Haraden is running another Kids’ Summer Photography Camp, for ages 12-15, on July 22nd & 24th (1:00-3:30 PM) for just $30. They'll learn photography basics, composition, and lighting through hands-on fun, with the opportunity to have their work displayed in a September exhibition! All they need is a camera (even a cell phone!), plus a $10 printing fee for a professionally printed photo. Let your teen see the world through their own unique lens!

. . .

🐑 Open Farm & Studio Day is happening on Sunday, July 27, 2025! This is our annual shindig, a full-on celebration of Bowdoinham's farming and creative communities, and you definitely won't want to miss it. From 9 AM to 5 PM, you can wander through local farms, check out live demos, shop for artisan goods, snag some farm-fresh eats, explore nurseries overflowing with beautiful flowers, and discover all sorts of pop-up markets. Then, as the afternoon rolls into the evening, head over to Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) from 4 PM to 7 PM for a fantastic Food Pantry Benefit BBQ. While you're chowing down (between 4-6 PM), you can groove to the live music of Rough Sawn, playing acoustic folk, Americana, and classic country tunes until 7 PM. To plan your adventure, keep an eye out for the 2025 Event Guide (PDF download), and on the day itself, just follow the bright red signs all through town. It's the perfect way to experience the best of Bowdoinham!

. . .

🚴 The 4th Annual Le Tour de Bowdoinham Food Pantry Charity Ride is pedaling our way on Saturday, August 16th, and they're looking for volunteers! Whether you're a cheering type, snack master, finish line greeter, course marshal, or chalk artist, shifts are super flexible (1.5 to 3 hours). Businesses, you can be a superhero too: sponsorships (cash, raffle goodies, or discounts), get your logo on the new jersey, posters, website, and social media. Get in on the action by emailing Yvette Meunier at [email protected] or calling (207) 666-3096. Let's make this ride the best yet! 

I hope you have the best week ever.

Be good to yourself.

Love,

Rodney

❤️