With towns, mills and factories lining their banks, rivers have played a significant role in the lives of Maine people for centuries. Six Penobscot County communities, with Old Town in the lead, have decided to celebrate that heritage with a weeklong festival running July 11-17.

Organized by The Old Town Public Library and the River Coalition, “Canoe Hullabaloo” aims to involve and celebrate people who might not otherwise be able to share their gifts from the Penobscot River communities of Old Town, Alton, Bradley, Greenbush, Indian Island and Milford. Concentrated at Riverfront Park in Old Town, the weeklong festival will feature canoe races, evening concerts in the park, a 5K road race, a craft fair and food.

“We are very concerned about people in this day and age who feel disconnected from where they live,” Old Town librarian and festival organizer Valerie Osborne said. “We want people to feel connected to where they live and have a sense of place.”

The money raised from the festival will go to the River Coalition, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support children and their families in the six Penobscot River towns.

“Already what we’re doing has strengthened our applications for federal monies,” Shawn Yardley of the River Coalition said. “I think it speaks to the significance of what we’re doing that the governor is coming and Sen. Susan Collins is coming.” The politicians will attend the festival’s opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m.Sunday.

The River Coalition competes with other nonprofit organizations for grants and sees the festival not just as a vehicle to raise money, but as a way to help build community, which is one of its goals.

“We’re still benefiting, but we’re doing it in the context of community building [which is] what we’re about,” Yardley said.

Several local businesses have supported “Canoe Hullabaloo,” including Old Town Canoe, which donated 25 8-foot canoes to the festival. The craft were transformed into works of art by 20 local artists and five community groups and now are on display at the library.

In addition to the canoes, local artists and residents also decorated paddles donated by Old Town Canoe, which are hanging from the library ceiling for all to see.

“It’s a real celebration because it’s so inclusive,” Osborne said.

As one of the festival’s final events, the 25 uniquely adorned canoes will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the River Coalition.

Potential bidders may find two canoes particularly interesting. They are decorated with Stephen King book jackets and signed by the author. One draft will be raffled off, and the other will be sold at the silent auction from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 17.

“We’ve got a lot of cool stuff,” said Cindy Seger, a festival organizer and Old Town Public Library staffer.

Other items to be auctioned off include memorabilia signed by University of Maine athletes, paintings, quilts and trips.

Although they plan to take about a month off from planning, “Canoe Hullabaloo” organizers already have begun thinking about future festivals.

“This will be an annual thing as far as we’re concerned,” Seger said.

Aimee Dolloff can be reached at 990-8130 and adolloff@bangordailynews.net.

Canoe Hullabaloo Festival

All events at Old Town’s Riverfront Park

Sunday, July 11

8 a.m.: 5-K Road Race.

10 a.m.: Bass fishing derby with cash prizes for catching one of three tagged fish

Cost is $5 for adults $2 for children under 12, with $1 going towards membership in the Maine Youth Fish and Game Club of Pickerel Pond.

5-6:30 p.m.: Barbecue in Riverfront Park, $5.00 per adult, $3 for children, $15 for family.

6:30 p.m.: Opening ceremony.

7:15-9:15 p.m.: The Penobscot River Ramblers.

Monday, July 12

5 -6:30 p.m.: Classic car drive-in.

6:30-7:45 p.m.: Concert featuring Soul Sensation.

Tuesday, July 13

5-6:30 p.m.: Canoeing 101-Paddling Instructions.

6:30-7:45 p.m.: Concert featuring Sunset Strip Band.

Wednesday, July 14

4-6 p.m.: Old Town YMCA Children’s Carnival with various games for children ages 4-10.

6:30-8 p.m.: Children’s entertainer Rick Charette.

Thursday, July 15

6:30-7:45 p.m.: Willy Kelly Band

Friday, July 16

8-10 p.m.: Karaoke in the Dark in the Park, open to everyone.

6:30-7:45 p.m.: Concert featuring Coconut Groove.

Saturday, July 17

7-11 a.m.: Canoe regatta and attempt to break the world record of 777 canoes.

10 a.m.: Juried craft and art show on Main Street between Noonan Chiropractic and Canoe City Video and Appliance, across the street from Riverfront Park

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Silent auction at the 3E building across from the Riverfront Park.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Chicken BBQ by the Old Town Elks Club

Noon to 3:30 p.m.: Canoe races on the Penobscot River

1 p.m.: Recreational-class canoe race around Indian Island. Check-in begins at noon.

1 p.m.: 15-mile canoe race around Marsh Island with five portages and cash prizes $25 paddler entrance fee. Check-in begins at noon.

2 p.m.: Children’s storyteller Jennifer Armstrong.

6-7 p.m.: Concert featuring Lidral Duo.

7 p.m.: Canoe auction and announcement of the painted-paddle winners, community canoe raffles, followed by closing remarks and the Penobscot Closing Blessing.

8:30-10:30 p.m.: The Jack Cashman Band.

Celebrating the river and community

What: “Canoe Hullabaloo”

When: July 11-17

Where: Riverfront Park, Old Town

Cost: All events are free unless otherwise noted

Contact: Call the Old Town Public Library at 827-3972 or visit www.canoehullabaloo.com