MARS HILL — Townspeople are preparing to greet more than 1,000 people in Aroostook Central Institute’s “Join Me in ’93” reunion and the town’s 125th birthday celebration from Thursday, Aug. 5 through Saturday, Aug. 7.

Joe Shaw, the town’s community development director, is chairman of the school reunion and the birthday celebration.

On Thursday more than 75 people, mostly from central Aroostook County, will become U.S. citizens in an administrative naturalization ceremony at 2 p.m. at the high school. A 7 p.m. dance will be held.

The Mars Hill Rotary Club will sponsor the annual Citizen of the Year award at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at the high school.

The ACI reunion honoring students from 1909, when the school opened, through 1965 when it closed, has been extended to include graduates from Central Aroostook High School.

Friday events will begin with a golf tournament at 8 a.m. The event will be followed by a coin and stamp show, an ACI memorabilia-room program from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and a chicken barbecue from 4 to 7 p.m. at the high school. A parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a dance from 9 p.m. to midnight at the high school.

The following events are scheduled for Saturday:

Snowmobile club breakfast, 6-9 a.m., at the club house.

Golf tournament conclusion, starting at 8 a.m.

Cub Scout trash and treasures sale, strawberry shortcake sale and ACI memorabilia room; 9 a.m.

Shriners parade on Main Street; 11:30 a.m.

Firefighters’ muster, 2:30 p.m.

Old-fashioned bean supper, 4-7 p.m., high school. The supper will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. general school meeting, class meetings, prize drawing and Citizen of the Year award.

The celebration will conclude with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.