Gerry Butler greets people last year in a chicken costume during the Oakfest Parade. This year’s parade, Christmas in July, is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. down Main Street in Oakland. Submitted file photo

OAKLAND — Oakfest is set for Friday through Sunday, July 26-28.

Carnival games are part of a full field of free children’s activities planned for Oakfest 2023, including bounce houses, slides and water activities, July 27 on the grounds of Williams Elementary School in Oakland. Submitted file photo

This year’s Oakfest theme is Christmas in July, with three days of family entertainment beginning Friday evening with food, music and a parade on Main Street.

The days starts at 4 p.m. with a children’s Lions Club Safari, Bowling with Coconuts, at the Camden National Bank parking lot and tours at Memorial Hall on Church Street. Food trucks are available from 5-11 p.m. and the American Legion Beer Tent will be open for those 21 and older until 11 p.m.

The evening events kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a performance by the Highland Bag Pipes, followed at 6 p.m. by the Christmas in July Parade. There will be music by “RJ the DJ” Richard Jandreau, and a street dance with live music by the Roy Hudson Band from 8 -11 p.m., sponsored by the American Legion, according to a news release from the foundation.

Claire Slevinsky chooses a book at last year’s ShineOnCass booth at Oakfest. The ShineOnCass Foundation’s “Shine A Light on Literacy” project will provide free books to all children attending ShineOn Oakland Day at Oakfest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 at Williams Elementary School, 55 Pleasant St. Submitted file photo

Saturday’s ShineOn Oakland festivities start at 9 a.m. behind Williams Elementary School at 55 Pleasant St. with an expansive, 75-booth open air market. The daylong event features Maine-made artisans and crafters, a variety of food vendors, and dozens of children’s activities like bounce houses, water activities, a climbing wall and carnival games, sponsored by Kingdom Life Church.

Children can choose a free book as part of the ShineOnCass Literacy Project. For more information, visit shineoncass.org.

There will be a Cruise-In Classic Car Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and live music until 3 p.m. at the ShineOn Oakland Stage.

At dusk will be an outdoor movie night presentation of “Migration,” presented by Kingdom Life Church. Attendees can bring lawn chairs and blankets. In case of inclement weather, the movie will be shown at the 191 High St. church.

The Oakfest Christmas in July Boat Parade, led by Eric Seekins, is set for 10 a.m. Sunday at the Oakland Gazebo, 22 Old Belgrade Road. There will be live music from 1-3 p.m. by Ryan Michaud, a food truck will be available from 2:30-5 p.m., and a free Elvis in Concert with Don Boudreau from 3-5 p.m., all overlooking Messalonskee Lake.

Oakfest is sponsored by the town of Oakland, Oakland American Legion, Oakland Lions Club, Kingdom Life Church, First Park, Kennebec Valley Federal Credit Union, Hometown Auto, Bri By Designs, Valley Beverage, Oakland Waterfront Park Summer Concert Series and the ShineOnCass Foundation.

Oakfest partners with the ShineOnCass Foundation to provide an annual community support project to the summer festival.

For more information, call Committee Chair Kathy Paradis at 207-465-7357, or visit the Town of Oakland Facebook Page or oaklandmaine.us.

Check out other upcoming area events!