51st ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL HOMECOMING FESTIVAL 2024

AUDIO ON DEMAND WQDY 92.7 AND 95.3  ROXANNE REDDING AND PATTIE ANDERSON JOINED US ON THE STREET BEAT

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FROM THE FESTIVAL’S FACEBOOK PAGE

WEDNESDAY AUG. 7TH 2024

10am-5pm CDN – Woven in Time Quilt Show. Come enjoy the displays and hear about the personal power of making, living with, and gifting quilts for charity from the Anglican Parish of St. Stephen hand quilters and the St. Croix Cotton Mill Quilters. Free admission, vendors onsite. 20 Church St., St. Stephen. Vendors 10am-3pm only.
10:30-12:00 & 1:00-3:00 CDN – Charlotte County Museum – Scavenger Hunt, Guess the Artifact, self-guided walking tours of some of the historic sites in Milltown, period games, and more. Located at 443 Milltown Blvd. St. Stephen.
2pm CDN – Lonicera Hall is hosting ‘High Tea’ Enjoy a time of socializing along with coffee, tea, sandwiches and sweet treats! Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased by calling 506-466-1471, email lonicerahall@gmail.com or stop in at Lonicera Hall at 28 Union Street, St. Stephen! Limited seating available!
2pm-4pm daily (August 6-9) – Join the Calais Library all week as we host our “Crafternoon” in the children’s section with many items available to help the kids get creative! Or stop by anytime during the week for our annual book sale!
4pm-6pm US – Children’s Peanut Fair, behind Calais Elementary School. Plastic peanuts can be purchased and used for games to win prizes. “Doctors” and “nurses” at the Doll Hospital and Teddy Bear Clinic will also be onsite, providing emergency care for all sick or injured dolls and stuffed animals. Sponsored by Calais PTO.
5:30pm US/6:30pm CDN – Meet & Greet, at Gateway Park (across from border on Canadian side). Complimentary hot dogs & beverages provided by the International Homecoming Festival Committee. Come meet and celebrate with friends and neighbors before the opening ceremony.
6:30 US/7:30 CDN – Opening Ceremony – “Hands Across the Border” on Ferry Point Bridge. A Celebration for all ages! Help us celebrate on the bridge with our annual handshake and flag exchanges, followed by dessert on the American side after the ceremony.
7pm-10pm US – Street Dance with DJ Jamie Bohanon, City Building parking lot. For kids of all ages! Sponsored by Calais Fire Association.

8pm US – Night Golf, St. Croix Country Club. Register at dusk. $20 entry fee or $25 with cart (driver’s license required). Sponsored by St. Croix Country Club. For more information or to pre-register, call, 207-454-8875. Non members welcome

THURSDAY AUG. 8TH 2024
2pm-6pm CDN – Join us for the 2nd Annual IHF Kids Fun Day! Free carnival games and inflatables for kids with the chance to win prizes! New this year, Chocolate Fest will be hosting activities during the Fun Day, including their popular Chocolate Pudding Eating Contest ($). See the International Homecoming Festival facebook page for more information. Garcelon Civic Center – arena surface.
5:30pm US & 6:30pm CDN – We hope you will join us for an International Alumni Basketball Classic. Where you can see former Calais High & St. Stephen High “greats of the game” take the court one more time. This fun international competition will feature the Lady Blue Devil Alumni facing off against the Lady Spartan Alumni at 5:30 PM (US Time) followed by the Blue Devil Alumni vs. Spartan Alumni at 6:30 PM (US Time). All money raised will benefit local nonprofit The Blue Devil Fund (with plans to impact both sides of the border).
STAY TUNED for more details and for exciting roster announcements
6pm US – Sidewalk Chalk Art, Flat Iron Park. Kids of all ages are welcome to come and create art on the sidewalk. Chalk will be provided or bring your own. Sponsored by Downeast Credit Union.
6pm-8:30 US – “Take Two” Frank Richard and Deb Richard Lapointe presented by the St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Washington County Community College.
6:30pm-8:30pm CDN – St. Stephen Summer Concert Series at the David Alison Ganong Chocolate Park featuring everyone’s favourite teachers, 29 & Holding!
FRI. AUG 9TH 2024
9am-2pm CDN – Join us at the St. Stephen Vendor’s Market, Downtown St. Stephen’s premiere artisan, vendor and food market at Municipal Plaza.
10:30-12:00 & 1:00-3:00 CDN – Charlotte County Museum – Scavenger Hunt, Guess the Artifact, self-guided walking tours of some of the historic sites in Milltown, period games, and more. Located at 443 Milltown Blvd. St. Stephen.
12pm-2pm US – O’Brien’s Quality Autocare. Hosting a free hot dog lunch from 12-2 for customer appreciation.
12pm – closing – Fitzgeralds Tavern & Townhouse Restaurant. Come party with us! Entertainment Friday and Saturday. Deck will be open from noon to closing.
1pm-3pm CDN – Canada/USA Friendship Party – Join us at the Family Resource Centre, 103 Milltown Blvd. St. Stephen. Different stations for all ages celebrating the two local countries: Tattoos, crafts, reading, colouring, sensory bins and lots more activities.
2pm-4pm CDN – Bernie’s Body Blast Open Family Play at Bernie’s Body Blast, 23 Milltown Blvd. St. Stephen. Cost is $10/child with the proceeds going towards painting a new hopscotch at MES.
5pm CDN – Join St. Stephen BIA at The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse as they present Art for the People in Downtown St. Stephen “Celebration of Botany” Geoff Slater, New Brunswick artist will be unveiling his 3rd mural in Downtown St. Stephen.
5pm US – Cornhole Tournament, Caeser’s Pub & Grill, 663 Main Street. 21+, proper ID required.
5pm-9pm CDN – Opening of the Charlotte County Jeep Nut’s Annual Jeep Run with an All Vehicle Show and Shine. 100+ Jeeps, ATVs, classic cars and others will be on display along King St. (from Brigg’s Plumbing), down and around Budd Ave. Onsite activities, vendors and more!
5:30pm – 12:30am – Moonlight Music Festival at The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse – Downtown St. Stephen will come alive at this social event of the year! Crowds from far and wide will come together to celebrate and dance to all types of music genres; Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Country (old & new), Blues, Honky Tonk, Soul, Folk and Party Favourites. Music by Zoe Fitch, Boundary Street Blues Band, and Steve Whalen Band.
8pm-10pm CDN – Glow in the Dark Skating at the Garcelon Civic Center. Adults $3.15pp, students/seniors $2.10pp. No shoes/pucks/sticks allowed on the ice.

8pm-Close US -DJ Devon McPhee and Beer Tent, Caeser’s Pub & Grill, 663 Main Street. 21+, proper ID required.

SAT. AUG.3 RD,  2024
8am US – Good Fight Maine Sub-Only Open Tournament (Jiu-Jitsu Tournament with Gi and No¬Gi divisions). CMHS 34 Blue Devil Hill. For more information on registration and spectator tickets please visit; Maine Sub-Only Open (goodfighttounrnament.com)
8am-11am US – St Croix #46 Masons public breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage. 8:00 am to 11:00 am at Masonic Hall, Calais Avenue $10 per person. Open House celebrating 200 Years of service. Contact Nancy Feiner.
8am-4pm US – Street Fair, downtown Calais. Two blocks of Main Street lined with vendors, jewelry, clothes, gifts, and more. Sponsored by the St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce. For more information visitstcroixvalley@gmail.com.
8am US – Calais Rec. One-Mile Fun Run, Memorial Park, Calais. A one-mile run for kids ages 4 to 12 with awards in many age groups. Register by 7:45am, no fee to enter. Sponsored by Calais Recreation Department. For more information, call Craig Morrison, 207-214-8792.
8am US – Calais Lioness Super Draw, Calais Street Fair. Purchase tickets to win great prizes from nearly 100 local merchants. Drawings at 2pm.
9am US – 45th Annual Johnson’s True Value International 5K Race, Calais Memorial Park. This two-nation race is a USATF and Athletics Canada Certified course that begins in Calais, travels through St. Stephen, and finishes back in the states. Requires participants to register from 7 to 8am US and provide a passport. $20 pre-registration, $25 race day. For more information, call Craig Morrison, 207 -214-8792.
10am CDN – Kiwanis Club Ball Drop – Balls will be dropped down Princess Street onto Budd Avenue! 1st Prize = $500.00 cash, 2nd Prize = $200.00 gift card. Find Kiwanis Club of St.Stephen on Facebook for more details.
10am-4pm CDN – St. Stephen Street Fair. Bring the whole family for a day full of vendors, tasty treats, live music, and much more! Kids of all ages will enjoy the inflatable axe throwing, bouncy castle, face painting and more. Road will be closed to through traffic along King St. (from Brigg’s Plumbing), down and around Budd Ave. Register by emailing events@chocolatetown.ca
10:30-12:00 & 1:00-3:00 CDN – Charlotte County Museum – Scavenger Hunt, Guess the Artifact, self-guided walking tours of some of the historic sites in Milltown, period games, and more. Located at 443 Milltown Blvd. St. Stephen.
11am CDN – Dooly’s International Pool Tournament 123 King Street, St. Stephen. Singles tournament, $20.00 entry fee. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m., tournament begins at
11:00 a.m. Contact Doran or Darcy at 506-465-9522, 506-465-7665, or email st.stephen@dooly.ca
12pm US – Calais Lions Auction, Main Street parking lot beside Camden National Bank.
12pm US/ 1pm CDN – PARADE!!! TWO COUNTRIES, ONE HEART. Beginning at Calais Motor Inn and ending at Brigg’s Plumbing in St. Stephen.
Following Parade – US – Barbara’s International School of Dance, Flat Iron Park, Calais. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy watching our local talent in a dance program. For more information, contact Barbara Lara, 207-214-6988.
1pm-3pm US – Papas Auto, 476 Main Street Calais, Maine. Red Knights of Maine Chapter 5 International Festival Motorcycle Show. 4 bike categories with 1st, 2nd, 3rd place awards as well as 3 side awards for loudest bike, oldest bike and overall people’s choice. Proceeds to benefit RKMC Maine Chapter 5 scholarship for local students entering the fire or EMS fields. Bike drop off available after 9 a.m. $10 entry fee per bike.
2pm-4pm US – 4th Annual Skate 4 Life Event at the Calais Skatepark. Brought to you by the nonprofit, Brendan Leddy Memorial Fund. This is a free event for all ages, experience levels, and action sports. Cash Prizes and lots of give aways! Local skate shop Undertow, from Machias, will set up products to sell at the park.
6pm US – Class of 1984 Calais High Reunion. 60 Swan St. (Tammie Wheelock Myers’ house).
6pm US – 2nd Baptist Church, 21 Church Street, Calais. Gospel concert featuring Jason Runnels, Love offering and refreshments, Contact: Gloria Phillips.
6pm US – Join us at Flat Iron Park and listen to the musical stylings of Pitch Black Ribbons prior to fireworks!
7pm US – Kid’s Candy Scramble, Flat Iron Park. Children can take part in the fun candy shell-out during the concert! Sponsored by the International Homecoming Festival Committee.
7:30pm to dusk CDN – Join us at St. Stephen waterfront park for music and vendors before the fireworks display!
8pm-Close US – Crossroads. Live Entertainment, Cornhole Tournament and Beer Tent, Caeser’s Pub & Grill, 663 Main Street. 21+, proper ID required.

8:45pm US/9:45pm CDN – FIREWORKS!!! Fireworks Show, over the St. Croix River. Enjoy the fantastic fireworks display from either side of the river! Sponsored by