The Saco and Old Orchard Beach area offers vacationers a fun paradise with plenty to do for all ages. Art festivals, summer concerts, amusement parks and family-friendly restaurants abound. Walk the beach, fish for stripers, hike the seaside woodland trails or fill up on cotton candy,French fries and other goodies at The Pier and in downtown Old Orchard Beach.

10 things to do off Exit 36

1. Sandcastle Contest-Fourth of July Parade

Ocean Park, off West Grand Avenue or Temple Street in Old Orchard Beach, 934-9068. On Tuesday and Wednesday, July 3 and 4, enjoy Fourth of July festivities in Ocean Park. On Tuesday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., participate in the 19th annual Sandcastle contest on the beach. On Wednesday come to the Independence Day parade, at 10 a.m. Later that evening there will be a dance in the square.

2. Salvation Army Pavilion

Church Street, Old Orchard Beach, 934-2024. July is the month for concerts at the Salvation Army Pavilion. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. July 6 – Steve Green; July 10 – Rick Charette & The Bubblegum Band; July 13 – Point of Grace; July 21 – The King’s Brass; July 24 – Glenn Miller Orchestra; and July 26 – Grace Flows Down.

3. Ocean Park Music Festival

The Temple, Temple Avenue, Ocean Park, 934-9068. Beginning on Sunday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m., the Ocean Park Music Festival kicks off its series of summer concerts. The concerts will run every Sunday night through Aug. 26. The concerts are open to all. Go online to www.oceanpark.org for a full concert schedule.

4. 10th annual Greek Heritage Festival

St. Demetrios’ Greek Orthodox Church, 185 Bradley St. (Route 5) in Saco, 284-5651. Over the weekend of July 13-15, St. Demetrio’s Church will celebrate its 10 annual Greek Heritage Festiavl. Festival hours are 11 a.m. -10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 15. The festival includes a craft fair, Greek food, Greek bookstore, children’s activities, music and more.

5. Parrot Head Volleyball Tournament

On the beach in front of the Brunswick, 39 West Grand Ave. in Old Orchard Beach, 831-7696. On Saturday, July 21, at 9:30 a.m., the Parrot Head Club of Maine will hold a beach volleyball tournament on the beach. The tournament will raise money for the Special Olympics. The Corona Brothers will play on the deck beginning at 1 p.m.

6. Giant Book Sale

Dyer Library, 371 Main St., Saco, 283-3861, ext. 1. On Wednesday, July 25, Dyer Library will kick off a five-day giant book sale. The library is open on Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday , 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Don’t miss out on the best book deals of the summer.

7. Entertainment at The Pier

The Pier Patio Pub, The Pier, Old Orchard Beach, 934-3595. On Wednesday, July 25, come see comedy hypnotist Frank Santos Jr. at The Pier Patio Pub at 10 p.m. An hilarious, high-energy show where the audience becomes part of the act. The Pier Pub has a variety of entertainment almost every night.

8. Saco Museum

371 Main St., Saco, 283-3861, ext. 2. On Thursday, July 26, at noon, a new exhibit entitled “Merit is Better than Fame: Maine Women and Men in the Civil War” will open at the Saco Museum. Museum hours are Tuesday-Sunday, noon -4 p.m. Admission is $2-$4, or free with a Dyer Library card. On Thursday the museum is open until 8 p.m.

9. Main Street History Trail

Historic walking tour of Main Street in Saco. Learn about the history of Saco by following the downtown history trail. Brochures are available at city hall, Dyer Library, the Saco Museum and many Main Street merchants. The history trail highlights some of Saco’s most well known people and places.

10. Harmon Museum

Portland Avenue, Old Orchard Beach, (directly across from town hall), 934-9319. An exhibit on the 100th anniversary of the “great fire” of Aug. 15, 1907, is on display this summer at the Harmon Museum, at the top of Old Orchard Street in Old Orchard Beach. Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon.