Shelburne’s 250th celebration begins on Friday, June 22, at 5:15 p.m. with an opening ceremony at the “Baptist Corner Lot” between Main and Water streets.
From 6 to 10:30 p.m. there will be a reception, dinner and dancing at the Shelburne-Buckland Community center at 53 Main St. The meal is a bountiful buffet of beef, chicken, ham, vegetarian pasta and desserts prepared by the Kiwanis Club.
Janice Dompke and her band Shakin’ All Over will provide the dance music.
Tickets ($25) are limited and those available may be purchased at Memorial Hall (Shelburne’s Town Hall) and at the Senior Center.
In Shelburne Center, blacksmithing, woodworking and other “Crafts and Skills from Yesteryear” will be on display at the First Congregational Church, on the Mohawk Trail. Besides the craft demonstrations, there will be a townwide quilt show. These events are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In Shelburne Falls, festivities begin with a book sale and open house at the Arms Library, Main and Bridge streets. The sale goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and an open house there runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The open house will include historical displays, library tours and a roof-restoration slide show.
At 1 p.m., a Civil War Militia Camp of the 10th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Militia Company C sets up camp on the grounds of the Shelburne Historical Society (the former Arms Academy) on Maple and Church Streets. Shelburne and Buckland soldiers were part of that militia’s Company H just before the start of the Civil War, and was one of the oldest companies in the regiment. “History and Tradition of Shelburne, Massachusetts” says about 180 men from Shelburne fought for the Union during that war.
Soldiers of the militia camp will be set up to meet the public and fill them in on what everyday life was like for Civil War soldiers as they traveled far from home, awaiting combat. Wondering what they ate or what the things they carried were? Find out during this event.
A big parade with floats, marching bands and groups begins at 3 p.m., starting at Cricket Field in Buckland, and crossing the Iron Bridge onto Bridge Street. Among the marchers will be the Shelburne Falls Military Band, founded in 1835; the Shriners, Prone to Mischief, a street and parade band; and William Diamond Jr. Fife & Drum Corps. The Mohawk Trail Regional High School graduated its first class 50 years ago, and many Mohawk alumni are planning to march in this parade.
Those coming to the parade are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to Memorial Hall between 2 to 4 p.m. The donations will go to the West County Emergency Food Pantry.
The parade ends at the Buckland Shelburne Elementary School grounds, 75 Mechanic St., where events will continue into the afternoon and evening. There will be children’s games and historic games of the past, a puppet show and climbing wall.
Food and drink sales will include salads and seafood, doughnuts, fried dough, cold drinks, cotton candy, sno-cones, tacos, ice cream, Cliff’s Smokin BBQ, Lefty’s beer, baked goods and beverages. There will be many arts and crafts vendors there, including a 250th merchandise booth. There are also exhibitions from the Academy at Charlemont, Catamount Hill Association and the Colrain Historical Society.
Bands will be performing on two stages on the school grounds. They include: Zydeco Connection at 4:15 p.m.; Fortified Blues at 5:15 p.m.; Trailer Park at 7:15; and the Shelburne Falls Military Band at 8:15 p.m. There will also be a square dance led by Doug Wilkins at 6:15 p.m.
The evening will be topped off by fireworks — the first public display here in at least three decades. Atlas PyroVision Entertainment Co. will be putting on the light show, which can be enjoyed from the BSE field, beginning at 9:30 p.m. (In case of rain, the fireworks will take place Sunday night.)
The Arms Book Sale continues from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 10th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Militia Company C camp reopens to the public at 10 a.m. There will be campfire cooking until 4 p.m., lunch and a meet and greet at noon, musket-fire demonstrations hourly and an ending ceremony around 4:30 p.m.
For those who want to know more about Shelburne’s role during the Civil War, the Shelburne Historical Society Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum features a new exhibit on the town’s Civil War history, which includes letters and other documents.
Up the hill from the Historical Society, the Highland Village will hold an Open House and Art Exhibit from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.