MONTHLY 250^th ANNIVERSARY THEMES & EVENTS

September 2010: “Reflections of the Past” kickoff after Labor Day weekend

• 3 celebrations (TBA)

• Golf tournament fundraiser

• Child born on 1761 anniversary

• Retro at the park fundraiser

• Covered bridge supper fundraiser (may have to request bridge closure)

• 250^th anniversary shopping bags fundraiser

• Web site launch

• Ware 250^th Toll Road Fundraiser???

• Hang Ware 250^th banners from downtown streetpoles

October: Farming Roots

• Octoberfest (partnering with Pioneer Brewery of Sturbridge) fundraiser

• Vintage baseball and marker for Candy Cummings

• Train rides fundraiser

• Fall foliage tours fundrasier

• 4H Fall Harvest at the Grange

• MA Paranormal Society with David Palmer

• Tractor display

• Animals around town

November: Ethnicity and foods

• Raffle and silent auction fundraiser

• Lectures on ethnic history

• Partner with Ware Family Center???

December: Celebrating Families

• Christmas.. sell luminaries dedicated to friends and family to decorate a public space…. Perhaps (frozen) green in front of Ware Center Meeting House for Christmas Carol singing (parking may be a problem) or Veterans’ Park or Town Hall

• Christmas concert fundraiser

• Christmas caroling

• Christmas card contest

• School events to showcase

• Family Day with old-time events fundraiser

January: Arts & Literature

• New Year’s Ball fundraiser

• Ice skating

• Poetry contest

• Oldest resident contest

• Artist series

February: The People of Ware

• Blood drive at BMLH

• Ware History Book

• Sleigh ride through Grenville

• Craft Fair

• Historian lecture

• Famous People of Ware series

• Miss Ware Contest

March: Industry & Technology

• Ware, England tie-in

• History tours of mills and churches

• Square repair effort fundraiser

• WHS cookbook event fundraiser

• Ware historical mile

April: Nature

• Easter parade or funny hat contest

• Church choir services

• Re/max hot air balloon

• Easter egg hunt at Grenville

• Veterans and pows

• Native American pow-wow

Adopt a bed (Create a bed of flowers somewhere and maintain it for the year)

May: Salute to Military

• Military concert and parade

• Adopt a plot (or pew) at the Old Meeting House -- “Make your bed”

• Re-enactment of 1700’s as well as of civil war  (Indians/1700s/civil war)

• Military – May – free concert Air Force Band of Liberty (Colonial Brass), colonial re-enactment band

June: Sports & Education

• In June the Ware Historical Society hosts the third graders for a bus tour and visit to “Historic Ware Center” with stories, crafts and history.

• Robidous family artifacts

• Vintage baseball and marker for Candy Cummings

• Disc Golf fundraiser at WHS

• Wedding histories and customs

July: Transportation

• Fireman’s muster fundraiser

• Plan with 250^th banner

• Fireworks fundraiser

History of Ware bus tour (Magical History Tour)  (by horse drawn wagon???)

August: Landmarks

• Adopt a town-wide book

• Civil War reenactment

• Time capsule

History lessons at select spots… people have a program, visit the area, perhaps have a book stamped to show what they visited… a prize ???  covered bridge, Quabbin, Ware Center, first Post Office, RR yard

September 2011: Bridge to the Future

• Massive parade, fireworks and celebration