Rockland to celebrate anniversary Summer solstice, city’s 150th birthday to make for good times

ROCKLAND – The city swings into summer Saturday night with its annual summer solstice celebration.

During the solstice festivities, the city will observe its 150th anniversary.

At 8 p.m. at the corner of Limerock and Main streets, the city’s birthday will be acknowledged “with cake, fellowship and renderings of appropriate expressions of joy,” Councilor Brian Harden said Monday. Harden is also chairman of the sesquicentennial steering committee.

Summer solstice signals the arrival of summer.

Rockland folks flock to Main Street for an evening of music, entertainment, food and fun. The family-oriented affair starts at 5:30 p.m. when Main Street is closed to traffic and opened to six local bands, which play music from folk to blues and a little bit of country.

Some of the activities planned for the night are games and crafts sponsored by the Farnsworth Art Museum, Mid Coast Children’s Museum, Atlantic Challenge, as well as other nonprofit organizations.

Businesses will stay open that night, and Main Street restaurants will offer their fare, such as pizza, Mexican food, wraps, pastries, ice cream and chocolates.

One of the highlights of the evening is a whoopie pie eating contest outside the Rockland Cafe.

Main Street will be closed to traffic from 4:30 to 10 p.m.

Summer solstice is sponsored by the Downtown Rockland Business Group. For information, call 596-0376.