NORTH YARMOUTH — North Yarmouth’s annual Fun Day celebration has been going strong for more than 25 years, and it’s back this weekend with a “homegrown” theme.

“We are sort of looking at what’s going on around us in our state, and in our country, and seeing that people are looking closer at themselves and looking at the idea of community and realizing how very important it is,” said Katie Murphy, vice chairwoman of the North Yarmouth Events Committee, which sponsors Fun Day. “People are staying close to home. They’re looking for nice, fun things to do close to home. And we’ve always been about that. We love our town of North Yarmouth … We feel like we’ve got something special here.”

All events take place at the Village Green on Route 115. A pancake breakfast kicks off the event at 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, followed by two fun runs: the half-mile Squirt Sprint at 8 a.m. and the adult sprint at 8:30 a.m. Sign up for all contests and events at nymeevents.com.

The Fun Day parade begins on Pea Lane at 9 a.m. and marches north along Route 9 to the Village Green. A ceremony at the bandstand is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., featuring a salute to the flag and the presentation of the 2009 Distinguished Citizens award to Pam Ames and Linc Merrill.

Throughout the day on the Green there will be children’s games, food from several booths, vendor tables representing many local businesses and non-profit organizations and entertainment at the bandstand. A silent auction of locally produced items and gifts from local businesses will be held, as well as contests including a cribbage tournament, horseshoes, diaper derby and karaoke, all with prizes awarded. Children can participate in face painting, fire engine rides and other activities.

Local baseball coach Derek Soule will be at Fun Day with his radar gun to give children and adults an opportunity to test their throwing arms. Participants can throw two balls and guess the speed of their third pitch, and those who are right on the mark or close to it are eligible to win a prize.

People curious about what Girl Scouting offers can tour a mock campsite, sit by a campfire and speak with local leader/recruiter Chris Hamlen from 10 a.m. to noon about opportunities available for girls and adults in Cumberland and North Yarmouth.

Country singer Kayla Wass will perform at at 12:30 p.m., and the Blues Dogz will perform at 2 p.m. Jeff Raymond and friends will take the stage at 4:45 p.m.

Tree Frog Farms will present a dog agility demonstration at 11:30 a.m., and a “Zumba Break” at 1:20 p.m. will encourage everyone to dance while burning copious calories. Fifteen contestants will compete for cash prizes in the karaoke contest at 3 p.m.

At 5 p.m. the North Yarmouth Fire Department will host a traditional beanhole bean supper, and a free family contradance will be held on the Village Green at 7:30 p.m., followed one hour later by a contradance at Wescustogo Hall, where admission will be charged.

The celebration extends into Sunday for the Royal River Regatta, which leaves from Wescustogo Park on Route 231 at 11:30 a.m. The Regatta, in which everyone – especially kayakers and canoeists – is invited to participate, concludes at Baston Park on Route 9 at 12:30 p.m., where donuts and cider will be served.

“Sometimes when you say neighbor in North Yarmouth, ‘neighbor’ can be somebody who’s four miles away, but we still consider each other to be neighbors,” Murphy said. “And it’s really fun to … have that once-a-year focus, where we all come together geographically and physically.”

Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net.