Maine’s Bicentennial Celebration in Castine

Note: These events have been postponed to Summer 2021

(Originally scheduled for Sunday, July 12 – Tuesday, July 14, 2020)

The year 2020 marks Maine’s Bicentennial and Castine is throwing a birthday party! (Maine200.org). In addition to celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Maine’s Statehood, we will also commemorate the Centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. To mark this Centennial, we are saluting Women Leading the Way on the Coast of Maine while celebrating the empowerment and education of women.

Castine is a seaport of historic significance, with the second deepest natural harbor on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Castine has also been a shipbuilding and seafaring center prior to, and throughout all of Maine’s two-hundred-year existence. To commemorate Castine’s Penobscot Bay Maritime Heritage, we will be hosting the tall ship, Oliver Hazard Perry, from July 12-14. To learn more about the Perry, visit their website.

The Town of Castine is planning a celebration that will include, unite and welcome members of our local community as well as visitors from elsewhere in Maine, the United States and abroad. The events will be free (food not included) to the public to the extent possible.

To begin the celebration, a parade of ships ranging from small boats to large seagoing vessels will lead the way up Penobscot bay into Castine on July 12, 2020. On July 13, we will continue our celebration through hosting speakers throughout town, sponsoring tours of historic Castine and our visiting sailing vessels.

Finally, on July 14, we will celebrate Maine, our unity and equality through our Bastille Day event with speakers, tours and our annual Picnic en Blanc dinner.

Tours, exhibits, music, programs, food, merchandise and more.

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