Bradford residents are preparing to celebrate that community’s terquasquicentennial, its 175th anniversary, and there is much to do.

The celebration begins with the Bradford Volunteer Fire Department’s annual auction at 6 p.m. Friday, July 14, at the fire station on East Road.

The celebration parade begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 15, and then you will enjoy a day filled with activities such as old-time crafts, games, a petting zoo, food, a contradance, ATV pull, pedal-tractor pull, manure pitch-off, pig scramble, minimusic festival and talent show, chicken barbecue and more.

The John B. Curtis Free Public Library will host a book sale in the morning, and the Bradford Heritage Museum and Archives will be open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the library.

Muriel Parler invites you to see the Quilt Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bradford Elementary School on Main Road.

You will especially be interested in a “a collection of baby quilts, known as the MOFGA Quilts,” she explained of quilts that “derived the name from the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association chapter, which was active for many years in Bradford.

“Upon the birth of a member couple’s first child,” she wrote, “the group created a quilt to mark the occasion, each quilt adhering to a particular theme.”

The show will also debut the historic quilt marking Bradford’s 175th anniversary of incorporation.

“The piece is composed of 30 photographic squares depicting scenes from bygone Bradford, surrounded by traditionally pieced squares,” Parler added.

Saturday’s activities end with fireworks at the school.

Sunday, Bradford United Baptist Church will hold at a tent meeting at 10:30 a.m. on the school grounds, and a horse show throughout the day will conclude the celebration.

For information, call 327-2121.

Visitors to Newport during its Summerfest are invited to attend two events hosted by Valley Arts Alliance.

VAA presents a free, two-day art show and sale, “Valley Arts at Occasions,” from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 14, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the former Grange Hall located at 140 Main St. in Newport.

There you will find sculpture, paintings, woodcrafts, jewelry, photography, quilts and CDs by local musicians.

Members of Newport Garden Club have partnered with a VAA artist to create a floral design to complement the artist’s theme, and contributed artwork will be raffled with proceeds benefiting VAA and its ongoing activities.

For your Friday night entertainment, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the former Grange Hall, you are invited to enjoy jazz, blues, Latin, light rock and folk music presented by four award-winning young musicians with Nokomis Regional High school music backgrounds: Sam Hoekstra, Tom Clukey, Ben Nadeau and Brad McIntyre.

For more information, visit www.valleyartsalliance.org or call Annette Houston, 368-2443 or Hoekstra, 368-5570.

Eight Belfast gardens and one Lincolnville garden are featured in the 16th annual garden walk hosted by the Hospital Aid of Waldo County General Hospital from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15.

Tickets are $12, in advance, or $15 the days of the walk.

Advance tickets are available at Fertile Mind Bookstore, Mr. Paperback, Garden Cottage, Wild Flowers and the WCGH Gift Shop in Belfast, at Left Bank Bookshop in Searsport and Plants Unlimited in Rockport.

On tour days, tickets can be purchased at these businesses or any of the gardens.

For more information, call Donna Tidd, 338-1104; the WCGH Gift Shop, 338-2500, ext. 4353 or e-mail sgordon@wchi.com.

Betty Littlefield, president of the Brooks Historical Society Museum, which is located in the former Pilley Homestead, invites you to view an Antique Quilt Exhibit from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 16, at the Museum in Brooks.

There is no admission, but a freewill donation is appreciated.

The museum is open every other Sunday, Littlefield said, with tours given upon request.

“We’ve had great raves about it,” Littlefield reported of the museum that has “been done as a 1900s home complete with a kitchen, parlor, dining room, master bedroom, children’s room, archival room and a Veterans’ room.”

Littlefield said the museum also contains a room full of displays that include “mounted, antique buttons, advertising and pharmacy items, fashions, a Civil War trunk, and showcases of schools, businesses and organizations.”

If you cannot visit on this or any other Sunday, but would like a tour, call Littlefield at 722-3633.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.