GORHAM – Here’s one way of judging how many people the Gorham Founders Festival drew to town over the Memorial Day weekend: The 200 barbecue chicken dinners at Central Fire Station sold out in 30 minutes.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Ken Fickett, firefighters then scrambled to buy more chicken.

They came back with another 25.

“That was all we could get,” he said.

The festival, which celebrated Gorham’s 275th birthday, drew a crowd exceeding 3,000 for the Motor Booty Affair concert and fireworks Saturday evening, said Phil Gagnon, a town councilor who chaired the festival committee.

Besides the parking lots, cars Saturday lined Main Street for about a mile. The festival featured amusement rides, food booths, entertainment and historical bus tours. It all got under way Friday. The official opening ceremony Saturday drew a large turnout for speeches and singing.

For the Memorial Day parade, a throng, the largest estimated number of spectators in recent years, lined South and Main streets.

“I thought it was very successful,” Gagnon said about the four-day event, commemorating the founding of Gorham in 1736.

A land grant, Gorham was first known as Narragansett No. 7. The town’s first settler, Capt. John Phinney, arrived with a son in a canoe in 1736. This year, a namesake, John Phinney, was the festival honoree and grand marshal in the parade.

In the opening ceremony with Town Council Chairman Matt Robinson as emcee, TV meteorologist Matt Zidle, a Gorham resident, delivered the keynote address.

“I wish to thank all those who came before us,” Zidle said. “Have a great and fun time everybody.”

Burleigh Loveitt, a former longtime town councilor, updated the recent history of the town.

“Today, we celebrate our free and prosperous town of Gorham,” Loveitt said. “Gorham looks forward to a great future.”

Children groups played integral roles in the ceremony.

“Really fun,” said Jessica Burgess, 9, a Village School student who sang the National Anthem as a member of Brownie Troop 2322.

With a rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung to the town, Gorham High School Chamber Singers concluded the opening ceremony.

The festival attracted numerous descendents of the town’s founders. Eric Levine and his family came from Florida to celebrate the occasion. Levine was a Gorham teenager when the town observed its 250th anniversary in 1986. “We wanted to share this experience with our kids,” Levine said.

“It’s a nice occasion,” said Deborah (Alden) Loveitt of Gorham, who represents the 10th generation from a founder, Austin Alden. She said the Alden family still lives on original Alden land, “a king’s grant.”

Cindy Hazelton, director of Gorham Recreation Department, said this week the parade featured 50 units and at least 400 kids. With a conservative estimate, Hazelton believed parade spectators numbered 2,000.

Police Chief Ron Shepard led a contingent of 10 Gorham police officers in the parade that was escorted by Sgt. Mike Nault in a cruiser.

Bob Mountain of VFW Post10879 said post member John Alden, who carried the U.S. flag in the parade, had carried it as a Boy Scout in the town’s 200th anniversary 75 years ago.

The parade led to Eastern Cemetery for a ceremony that Hazelton estimated was attended by 400 people. The Rev. Dan Lakeman was the featured speaker.

Bus tours of historical sites proved popular and in the village. The Rev. David Butler greeted visitors at the First Parish Church that featured a display of historical documents signed by town founders. Suzanne Ennis was the hostess for tours of the Baxter Museum.

The festival was orderly but did have two minor incidents. Shepard said a couple of people with backpacks containing alcohol went to watch a band but were informed that wasn’t permitted. In another incident, some kids harassing carnival workers were kicked out.

“No one was arrested,” Shepard said.

Gagnon said the festival committee would meet in two weeks with discussion including whether to hold the festival next year.

“I think it’s great to have the festival,” said Chuck Barr, a 50-year Gorham resident. “(You) get to see people you don’t usually see – see old friends.”

“I think it’s great for the town to come together,” Terry Wright, another Gorham resident, said.

Dan LeVasseur, a member of the festival committee, hopes it becomes an annual event.

“It’s one of the oldest towns in New England,” LeVasseur said. “That’s why I think we should continue celebrating it.”

Members of Girl Scout Junior Troop 1173 from Gorham were front and center during Opening Ceremony of the Gorham Founders Festival, signing the words to the National Anthem. (Photo by Rich Obrey)