In the mid-1960s, the highlight of Gray’s annual town festival was the parade. Ruth Foster, festival organizer, said residents lined both sides of Main Street to watch the local Scout troops and elaborate floats – one a replica of the town’s first woolen mill – march by.

“It was very impressive for a small town to have a really nice looking parade,” Foster said.

Foster, a retired teacher who taught in Gray-New Gloucester schools, said she has fond memories of “families and kids having a wonderful time and coming together,” she said. “It was a very fun, healthy and positive activity.”

Gray hasn’t had a town festival in more than three decades. But this summer, Foster is a member of the committee bringing back the event.

Gray’s End of Summer Fest will take place Saturday, Aug. 27, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., on the grounds behind the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex, where Old Home Days was first held approximately 50 years ago.

Members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce who organized Old Home Days “didn’t have a lot of money,” Foster said, as they were mostly young families with children. They made their own games, including a wooden ring toss, a bean bag toss and a climbing rope.

Lacy Anderson of Gray, End of Summer Fest organizer, said she hopes this year’s festival will foster the same community spirit.

“I just think it’s so important for people in Gray to have the opportunity to get together,” Anderson said, “to meet people they haven’t seen in 30 years and to meet new friends.”

Anderson said she also hopes the festival will provide exposure for local businesses, charities and nonprofit organizations looking for customers or volunteers. Gray-New Gloucester school groups and civic organizations can fundraise at the event by selling food or beverages.

Thanks to sponsorships from local businesses, Summer Fest will offer free activities including horse-drawn wagon rides, a dunk tank and farm animals.

A quarter-mile Fun Run for children in first- through fourth grade will kick off at 9 a.m. The course will follow the Bike-Ped Committee’s new walking trail, constructed at the beginning of the summer, behind the municipal offices.

For younger tykes, there’s a diaper derby also starting at 9 a.m. There are three age divisions – crawlers, new walkers (18 months and younger) and little runners (18-24 months).

Families will have the chance to compete in a series of four challenges that will include old-fashioned lawn games, hula hoops and bean bag tosses. Teams of three will compete against three other teams in timed challenges for the chance to win a $25 gift certificate. There will be three time-slots for competition – 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The competition is for ages 13 and older.

More relaxing festival activities include craft exhibits and displays of antique vehicles for adults, and face painting, fairy houses and storytime for children.

Local musicians Living Highway, Farmington and Humphrey, Ton Def and the Gray-New Gloucester High School Brass Quintet will entertain.

Anderson said she hopes the festival will inspire memories for children that will last them for decades.

Although the games and activities may look a little different from 50 years ago, Foster said, for families and the community to come together, “it’s a blessing.”

A CLOSER LOOK

Gray’s End of Summer Fest will take place on the grounds of the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex at 24 Main St. from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.

Off-site parking is available at 33 Main St., on the fields across from Town Hall, and at Stimson Hall on Route 26.

For a complete schedule of events, visit the Gray End of Summer Fest on Facebook. Email Lacy Anderson, festival organizer, at grayendofsummerfest@gmail.com

Those involved in planning the Gray festival include, from left, Rachel Rumson, Lacy Anderson, Town Manager Deb Cabana, Donnie Carroll, Tim Terrano and Jobin Terrano.