Happy Fourth of July, and Happy 250th Birthday, America! It’s going to be a busy weekend around here! Here’s a calendar of some of the special events happening in the area on the Fourth of July and beyond.
Saturday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Community Celebration, sponsored by the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society and the Independence 250 Committee. Here’s the full schedule:
10:00 a.m. - Parade (Assemble at 9:00 a.m. at River Lanes)
11:30 a.m. - Patriotic picnic and concert by the Portland Brass Quintet at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society. (Preceded by a presentation of the colors and a reading of the Declaration of Independence)
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Party! Food, music, and games at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society, including:
Zim Zam Jam - Open music jam (All voices and acoustic instruments welcome.)
Historic games and dress-up activities for children
Regional History Fair - Information tables and activities from area historical societies
Lawn games - Croquet, cornhole, and more
Grand opening of the “Connected by a Thread” quilt exhibit in the Mason House exhibit hall
Chronicle of Colors: Flags of the United States exhibit in the Robinson House
Centennials Past and Present exhibit in the Robinson House
Mason House Museum period room tours
Museum Shop specials
Hot dogs and snacks available for purchase from the “Mt. Zircon Bottle” lunch stand
Also happening all day on July 4th:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - 22nd Annual Shy, Novice, and Closeted Art Show - Local artists (18 High Street)
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Bethel Area Arts and Music Summer Art Market (Philbrook Place, 162 Main Street)
Saturday, July 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Tyler Concrete, 256 North Main Street in Greenwood: Second annual Independence Cruise-in. Free admission gets you live entertainment from the Ball Brothers Band and the Fossils, Jamaican cuisine by Kool Runnings available to purchase, classic cars, and fireworks. Contact (207) 557-3785 for more info.
Sunday, July 5th, 9:15 p.m. - Fireworks Show! (Bethel Resort & Suites)
Wednesday, July 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Locke Mills Union Church: Public Spaghetti Supper.
Molly Ockett Day Medallion Hunt returns!
Molly Ockett Day will be held in Bethel on Saturday, August 8. In the return of an old favorite tradition, and to help commemorate America’s 250th birthday, the Molly Ockett Day Medallion Hunt, sponsored by the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society and the Bethel Area Business Association (BABA), is officially underway.
The object of the hunt is to decipher a series of clues and locate the medallion hidden on public land within the town lines of Albany, Andover, Bethel, Gilead, Greenwood, Grafton, Hanover, Mason, Newry, Riley Plantation (Sunday River area), and Woodstock.
The finder of the medallion will be awarded a cash prize of $599.99 (generously donated by Western Maine Supply and Clean Cut Painting Company) during the Molly Ockett Day festivities.
Clues, each different and more revealing, will be published once a week for five weeks leading up to Molly Ockett Day on August 8, 2026. The first clue will be revealed at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society’s July 4th Celebration.
All clues will be announced on WOXO radio on Monday mornings, starting July 6, and then published on the Bethel Area Business Association and Museums of the Bethel Historical Society Facebook pages on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m., starting on July 8.
If the medallion is not found by the time of the fireworks on Molly Ockett Day, the hunt will be terminated.
Here are the contest rules:
1. Anyone is eligible to join the thrilling hunt for $599.99 except for MBHS staff, trustees, Independence 250 committee members, and their immediate family, as well as Bethel Area Business Association Officers and immediate family members.
2. To claim the prize money, you must be 18 years or older or accompanied by a parent/guardian.
3. The finder of the Molly Ockett Treasure Hunt medallion must immediately return the medallion to Bethel Area Business Association by calling 207-890-3617.
4. The finder will receive the cash prize of $599.99 on Molly Ockett Day August 8th.
5. BABA reserves the right to discontinue the hunt if public property is destroyed, or if reports of private property trespassing are discovered.
6. The medallion will be in a clear container, and is generally hidden in or attached to something else. The medallion is not buried below ground and as the rules state, searchers do not need to destroy property to find it, this includes digging up the ground.
7. Searchers also do not need to risk personal injury to find the medallion.
8. All contestants agree that BABA, MBHS, and WOXO will have no liability whatsoever and will be held harmless of any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly from acceptance, possession, misuse, or use of the prize or participation in this contest.
9. The winner grants permission for Bethel Area Business Association (BABA) and Museums of the Bethel Historical Society (MBHS) to use his or her name and photograph.
Pupdate: Lena will turn five months old on Monday, July 6! She’s been learning to swim, although she’s still a bit unsure about it. She’s an excellent retriever on land, and even brings the ball (or stick, or Frisbee) back (most of the time), and she’ll swim a couple of yards to retrieve a toy in the water, but when she reaches it, she forgets to swim and gets a little panicky, flailing around and sometimes going under. (Don’t worry, I stay right with her in the water!) I think she could really use a doggy lifejacket to allow her to build up confidence (and get much-needed exercise) while she’s too young to keep herself afloat for long without one. We do have Eli’s XL lifejacket for her to wear next year, but I may have to get her a medium-size one to wear this year so she can keep up with her friend Puck on playdates.
Speaking of swimming, I’ve been going for long swims as often as I can, usually in the early mornings when the lake is calm. Tuesday morning I swam to Rock Island and back for the first time this summer, a roundtrip that takes me slightly less than an hour. In weather like this, I’m glad for a form of exercise that doesn’t leave me hot and sweaty, but I’m really missing hiking. Between a puppy who’s too young to hike yet, and a lawn that won’t stop growing, I somehow went the whole month of June without a hike!
The First Universalist Church of West Paris is closed for the summer. Members and other people interested are encouraged to attend the Universalist Church in West Sumner from July 12- August 23. The West Sumner time is 11:00 followed by a lovely luncheon. The West Paris Universalist church will reopen the Sunday after Labor Day, Sept. 13.
This online newsletter is intended to keep our communities informed, so if you have news, events, or photos you’d like to have included here, I hope you’ll share them with me! You can reach me by email at amy.w.chapman@gmail.com or by phone or text at 207-890-4812.