Otis Marks 216 Years with a Celebration to Remember

Face Painting Cousins, courtesy of Susan Hicks

By Jackie Gentile and Sue Ebitz
July 2026

On Saturday, June 13, 216 years after being established, and sixteen years after the 200th Anniversary celebration, the Town of Otis gathered in a joyous celebration, drawing many residents and visitors from neighboring towns.

Otis Community Day was filled with music, community spirit, and small-town charm. The incredible turnout and the perfect weather contributed to this wonderful event. Energy and enthusiasm were evident throughout the day! You could see this by watching the children who planted flowers, had their faces painted, and exhausted themselves playing a variety of games all planned by our town's Recreation Department. 

The work of the town was on full display as many Otis departments and organizations interacted with the community. These included the Town Clerk, Otis Cultural Council, Rec Department, FRRS School Committee/PTA, Otis Library/Friends of the Library, Otis Historical Commission, Otis Preservation Trust, the Otis Observer, and Community Garden. This year’s revival of the celebration was spearheaded by the Revitalization Committee. 

Otis Marks 216th Birthday: musicians Larry and Lesley, by Susan Hicks, and PTA Officers selling 50-50 raffle tickets, by Susan Ebitz

Additionally, the town proudly showcased what Otis has to offer—Otis eateries that offered sweet and savory delights, and local artisans selling books, hand-crafted American flags, t-shirts, hats, and maple syrup, to name a few. Let’s not forget the local (hopefully) chicken hatchery, where children and adults alike delighted in a chance to pet baby chicks and be introduced to heritage breeds.

And the music! Six different groups provided the most wonderful and beautiful music! Featured performers included Larry & Lesley, the Juckets, Eric & Lukas, the Monday Project, Bruce Mandel, and Bobby Sweet & Lara Tupper with Pete Adams. This amazing lineup showcased the depth of local and regional talent. Set on two separate stages, one at the heart of the event and the other under a tent at the Grouse House, all bands filled the air with gorgeous and varied folk, bluegrass, R&B, and rock! 

Our heartfelt thanks to the team behind the scenes who made this event possible, especially the Otis Ridge crew, whose generosity, hard work, and dedication helped create such a beautiful space for everyone to gather and enjoy. The Otis Cultural Council was also an integral sponsor vital to the success of this project, providing funds to pay musicians and members to plan and participate in running the events and processing financial transactions. Thanks to sponsors Chaffee Construction and Lee Bank, who provided financial backing that was vital to the success of this project. Thanks also to SO many devoted volunteers, who stepped up and did what needed to be done to ensure the success of the event! Lastly, thanks to all of you who attended this event and reminded us why the Otis Community is such a special place to live. Otis is the place to be!

We hope this can become an annual tradition that brings the community together year after year, and we look forward to celebrating with all of you again next year!

HELP NEEDED!

We are planning an America 250th Celebration Party this summer, and would LOVE your help! If you’d like to get involved, please contact:

AMVETS Post 77, Tom “Nubs” Soules, 413-429-1119