FALMOUTH — Following a year packed with events to honor the town’s 300th anniversary, the Tercentennial Committee will end the celebration with a bang.

A special fireworks show will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, during the town’s annual Very Merry Falmouth event. The fireworks will be launched from Legion Field and can be viewed along Route 1.

The 300th kicked off with a fireworks show last year and “it only seemed fitting to bookend our year with another celebratory display as a closing event,” Erin Bishop Cadigan, the tercentennial coordinator, said.

Along with a variety of official signature events – including a lecture series, an old home days festival and an incorporation day remembrance – civic groups, schools, churches and businesses in town also offered their own take on the celebration with a large range of offerings.

It was that spirit of cooperation and community effort that touched Cadigan the most.

“I’m (so) proud of all the partner organizations who took on extra work and tapped their already limited resources to create commemorative events of their own,” she said. “In doing so, we were able to have such a rich, activity-filled calendar.”

“It made the whole year really special to have so many different community groups participate (and) it confirmed in my mind why Falmouth is such a great place to live,” she added.

Cadigan said she would be hard put to choose a favorite or most memorable event, but said, “I think one of the most impactful was the Donate300 challenge, which (presented) a really simple way to make charitable giving part of our year-long commemoration.”

The final Donate300 is being sponsored by Falmouth Martial Arts. During the month of December the studio will be collecting new, unwrapped toys to benefit Toys for Tots. Donations can be dropped off at the Mason-Motz Activity Center at 190 Middle Road.

Cadigan said the overall response from the town during the 300th “has been wonderful. All of our events enjoyed large crowds. Our lecture series, in particular, was incredibly well-attended. I think people of all ages were able to engage in the tercentennial in some way throughout the year.”

She said the Tercentennial Committee was also “thrilled with the response of the business community. Not only did businesses provide financial support, they also got involved as volunteers and partners, helping out in so many ways.”

Cadigan was not surprised by the high level of involvement in the 300th.

“I think it is a really special milestone and it afforded businesses and organizations an opportunity to reach and expand their audience through new and unique programs or events … and many rose to the occasion in support of their community.”

The goal throughout the 300th year was for people to acquire “an appreciation for their community – not just for its history but for what it is today,” Cadigan said.

“Our events tried to highlight venues all over town and to showcase all that Falmouth has to offer. I hope people came away with a renewed sense of pride in the place they call home.”

The Tercentennial Committee relied solely on volunteers and Cadigan said the 300th wouldn’t have been so successful without the support of the Town Council and town staff.

Town councilors not only allocated resources, but also actively participated in the 300th as volunteers or in promoting activities and attending events. “Town staff was more than helpful. They were a great team to work with and bent over backwards to help the committee,” she said.

Along with the 300th closing fireworks, Very Merry Falmouth will offer a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the weekend. See www.verymerryfalmouth.com for a full schedule of events.

It all begins with the community tree lighting and visit with Santa at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Village Park.

Then on Friday, following the 300th fireworks show, the Falmouth-Cumberland Community Chamber of Commerce will host the Merry Mix ‘N Mingle, 6:30-9 p.m. in the event tent at the Falmouth Shopping Center on Route 1.

The holiday party, which is free and open to the public, will feature food, music and a cash bar, along with a 50/50 raffle. Proceeds from the event will benefit the chamber’s scholarship fund.

The celebration continues on Saturday, Dec. 1, with the Ugly Sweater 5K and Merry Mile Fun Run/Walk, which kicks off at 9 a.m. Participants are encouraged to don their ugliest sweaters for this holiday hustle.

Registration is required and all proceeds will benefit the Falmouth Memorial Library. The cost is$30 for the 5K and $15 for the fun run. Prizes will be given to race winners, as well as those sporting the ugliest sweaters.

Starting at 9 a.m. and running through 3:30 p.m. a variety of holiday fun will also be on offer at venues around town, including free horse-drawn wagon rides, kids’ activities and holiday movies, courtesy of Flagship Cinemas.

From 10 a.m to 3:30 p.m. a Cookie Walk & Bake Sale will be held at the tent on Route 1. Pick up a baker’s dozen of home baked goodies to share during the holidays. The cost is $10 per plate and all profits support local booster organizations and school groups.

At 1:30 p.m. area restaurants, clubs, and organizations will participate in the Hot-In-A-Pot Cook-Off in the event tent. Attendees can enjoy free samples of soups, stews, chilies, and chowders and then vote for their favorite.

Kate Irish Collins can be reached at 710-2336 or kcollins@theforecaster.net. Follow Kate on Twitter: @KIrishCollins.

Falmouth’s Tercentennial Committee will host a fireworks show at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, to close out the 300th-anniversary celebration. “We kicked off the tercentennial year with fireworks at Very Merry Falmouth, (so) it makes sense to close our anniversary year with a bang by offering another spectacular fireworks display,” committee member Ellen Snyder said.