ORONO – Orono Festival Day is a longstanding tradition that has significant meaning this year as residents and those with ties to the area celebrate the town’s bicentennial.

The festival begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, with a parade starting at Orono High School and looping up Main Street to North Main Avenue, Crosby Street and back around to Park Street.

Local students, service groups and others with connections to the community will participate in the parade.

“We’re encouraging families to march together,” Virginia Whitaker, chairwoman of the Bicentennial Committee, stated in a press release.

Mill Street will be closed during the festival to accommodate local artisans, food vendors and a performance stage. Volunteers will be on hand to sell bicentennial merchandise, including copies of the “Orono Cooks” cookbook, postcards and discounted calendars.

From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Orono residents will have the chance to bring a piece of mail to a booth on Mill Street for a commemorative bicentennial postal cancellation. The design features the town seal surrounded by the words “Town of Orono, Incorporated 1806.” Text beside the drawing states “1806-2006 Bicentennial Station, Orono ME 04473” and the date.

The special cancellation will be available through the Orono Post Office by mail through Oct. 8. Mail requests should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope inside a larger stamped envelope and be sent to Postmaster, 1806-2006 Bicentennial Station, 1 Bennoch Road, Orono, ME 04473.

The celebration continues at 2 p.m. Sunday with a townwide ecumenical service at Orono High School with the Rev. John Neff presiding.

For more information, visit www.orono2006.com.