Every business or organization routinely looks to certain individuals for ideas — those old faithfuls they can count on to offer great suggestions whenever they’re asked. Right now, creative minds need to step forward and come up with some innovative float concepts for the town of Boothbay’s 250th celebration parade on August 23, on and around the Boothbay Common.

The theme is simple: something that reflects Boothbay’s history. The Boothbay Civic Association, Dawn Gilbert, chairman, is overseeing the weekend celebration.

A lot has happened in 250 years, and our history dates even further back than that. Themes for a parade float are endless: minstrel shows or boxing matches at the Opera House; the filming of the movie Carousel; the popular Drunken Sailors Race; annual visits by “rusticators” who traveled here via steamboat; summer theater; the area as a popular art colony.

The early years of our yacht club, golf club, hospital, library and schools should provide fodder for some good float ideas, too. Ice harvesting, the pogy fishery, alewives, mackerel fishing and lobstering all played an important role in our economy and should spark your imagination. And so should our diverse shipbuilding past, ranging from the days when large sailing vessels slid down the ways to the era when minesweepers were produced for the Navy. Many of today’s summer colonies, such as Bayville, Ocean Point and Squirrel Island go back many generations, and the residents of some of these well-established neighborhoods should have some stories to tell, too.

Antique autos, some of our older carriages from horse and buggy days, fire-fighting equipment and other memorabilia from our early years would be wonderful to share with parade-goers.

Floats depicting life in Boothbay during prohibition, with bootlegging and rum-running a part of our colorful past, may intrigue some float-builders. It would be interesting to see their take on some of these illegal, but highly popular, activities.

Perhaps the story of your own club or business is filled with history itself and would make a great parade theme.

Get out your history books, folks, put on your thinking caps, and come up with a unique float for your business or organization. It’s a wide-open category, with cash prizes to be awarded. The St. Andrew’s pipes and drums will be in the parade, as will The Highlanders Scottish pipe and drum marching band.

The parade late Saturday morning will kick off the two-day 250th celebration, with seafood galore set to be served on the Common Saturday noon, under the direction of Ralph Smith. Saturday afternoon will be devoted to children’s games on the Common, and that evening, old-fashioned bean hole beans (baked underground overnight), and a pig roast will be on the menu, also on the Common. Sunday night, East Boothbay becomes the center of attention with a Navy band entertaining at Ocean Point Marina. Special seating will be reserved for veterans. A fireworks display over the Damariscotta River, the first in many, many years, will conclude the celebration and donations are needed. They can be left at the Boothbay town office or sent to the Boothbay Civic Association, P.O. Box 81, Boothbay, ME 04537.