RICHMOND -- This year's Richmond Days will celebrate the riverside town's shipbuilding history, and future, with a bang.

Actually, lots of bangs -- about $5,000 worth -- in the form of fireworks Saturday night over the Kennebec River capping off two days of activities.

"This promises to be the biggest and best Richmond Days in a long time," Town Manager Thomas Fortier said. "Richmond Days is probably the single most significant opportunity we have to feature our community, so therefore we made a significant effort to make a presentation that reflects positively on the community."

The fireworks alone should have an impact.

Fortier said the fireworks budget was upped from the usual $1,000 to $5,000 this year. He noted the fireworks and other Richmond Days activities are paid for by fundraisers, donations and vendor fees.

There are other additions to the annual events, too, reflecting an increased emphasis on children's activities.

Most activities are on the waterfront at Fort Richmond Park. Additions this year include three large "interactive" inflatable bounce houses featuring slides, tunnels, and a pirate theme; barrel train rides; pontoon boat rides; and a radio-controlled boat demonstration.

Also new is a bracelet system for children, with bracelets available for $5 allowing access to a number of games, rides, an arts-and-crafts tent, boat rides and other activities.

Bracelets are not required to get into Fort Richmond Park. And Fortier noted no children will be turned away from the free games and other activities, whether they have a bracelet or not.

"We're hoping people will buy bracelets, all proceeds will go toward future funding of Richmond Days," Fortier said. "But we're not going to turn anybody away."

This year's theme, "Wild Wave on the Kennebec, a Celebration of Richmond's Shipbuilding Legacy and Future," recognizes the town's past prominence in the industry -- and its future, too, especially with the recent arrival of a division of boatbuilder Hodgdon Yachts in Richmond.

Theme-related events include walking tours past Richmond's sea captain's homes with historian John "Jay" Robbins Jr.; sword and other pirate-related demonstrations by Pirates of the Dark Heart; a lecture and photographs by Bill Bunting on Richmond Captain Zack Allen at Dresden Richmond United Methodist Church; the "Richmond Goes to Sea" exhibit at Southard Mansion which, Fortier said, includes a telegram sent by a Richmond sea captain stating "the ship is sinking"; a wildlife exhibit by Maine Maritime Museum; and a lobster crate race.

Music will be provided at Fort Richmond Park Friday by Evergreen and, on Saturday, deejay Ryan Cote, Roll-N-Go nautical music and Richmond Days staple Freedom Riders.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com