250th celebration details When: The celebration begins Saturday, June 9 and continues for 5 weekends, ending Sunday, July 8. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Parade: Contact Marie Doucette at maried@gwi.net Celebration: Contact John Sherman (207) 283-3139 ext. 102, jsherman@sacomaine.org INDEX Return to main page Parade application Historical timeline Saco's history Mission statement The mission of the Saco Sesquibicentennial Celebration is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the incorporation of Pepperrellborough (later, Saco) by celebrating the history, heritage, culture and the continued growth of this great city.

City of Saco celebrates 250th anniversary with a five-weekend birthday party

When was the last time you were invited to a 250th birthday party? The City of Saco will be celebrating its 250th birthday with a big five-weekend celebration this June and everyone is invited. The Saco Sesquibicentennial Celebration will begin on Saturday, June 9th and continue over five consecutive weekends, ending on Sunday, July 8th.

On June 9th 2012 at 10 a.m., a parade will kick off a month long series of events, including a reading of the proclamation at the original meeting house in Biddeford, a city-wide historic scavenger hunt, photo displays in storefronts, historic timeline, an authentic encampment, horse drawn historic tours, guided historic walking tours, events at the Dyer Library and the Saco Museum, open houses, a 2-day old fashioned street fair and much more. Saco will be known as Pepperrellborough for a month and all are invited to join in the celebration of this great City's history, heritage and culture.

History
In the mid-1700s, both sides of the Saco River, then known as Biddeford, were served by one meeting house. In 1762, triggered by the hardship of traveling to attend services and the need for its own meeting house, the people living on the eastern side of the Saco River petitioned the Massachusetts legislature to form their own district. On June 9th 1762, the Governor of Massachusetts consented and incorporated the town of Pepperrellborough. In 1805, the residents of Pepperrellborough changed the name to the shorter, easier to spell "Saco."

For more of the history of Saco, follow this link

Parade
The celebration kicks off on June 9 at 10 a.m. with a parade down Main Street. The Parade Committee for the celebration invites groups from Saco, Biddeford, and Old Orchard Beach to participate in this momentous event! The committee seeks to have marching bands, police and firefighters, veterans, National Guards, Scouts, 4H clubs, Saco Jets, and any other group that would like to march. The parade will be narrated by WCSH Anchor Woman Sharon Rose and will feature the famous Hallamore 8 horse Clydesdale Hitch.

Would your church, civic organization or business like to help us celebrate by submitting a float for this event? Some float ideas can include Saco history, how your business/profession has evolved, or about the 21st century. Please join us and celebrate Saco's 250th Anniversary!

For More Information about the Parade contact Marie Doucette at maried@gwi.net

For more information, or if you want to help with the celebration, contact the John Sherman, City of Saco at (207) 283-3139 ext. 102, jsherman@sacomaine.org