The Village of North Lewisburg will celebrate its 200th anniversary over Labor Day weekend with several days of events highlighting the community’s history, traditions, and people.
The bicentennial celebration begins Saturday, August 29, with additional events September 5-7. Community yard sales will be held August 28-29 and September 4-6.
North Lewisburg officially dates back to September 6, 1826, when Gray Gary platted the village. Gary had purchased 150 acres from Hezekiah Spain and later built a log home near the area’s springs.
The first lot in North Lewisburg was sold in 1826 for $18. The original village had 32 lots, with Sycamore Street running north and south and Maple Street running east and west.
North Lewisburg was officially incorporated in 1844, with residents electing Russell B. Spain as the village’s first mayor.
The village continued to grow with the addition of a post office in 1845, railroad service around 1864, fire equipment, and eventually electric street lighting. Schools also became an important part of the community, eventually leading to the creation of Triad High School in the 1950s.
North Lewisburg has continued to grow over the years. The 2020 census recorded 1,636 residents, with more recent numbers listing the population at just over 1,800 people.
The bicentennial celebration will give residents and visitors several opportunities to learn more about that history while enjoying family activities.
New North Lewisburg Mayor Amanda Warner preview all the activities to offer during the bicentennial celebration.
Saturday, August 29
The celebration begins with food trucks, community garage sales, library activities, a book sale, face painting, and bike raffles.
A featured event will be the Muffins and Diamonds old-time baseball and softball games.
The evening will include youth karaoke, adult karaoke, and a movie on the diamond at dusk.
Saturday, September 5
The celebration continues with food trucks, a Jeep rally, vendors, a historical scavenger hunt, a photo booth, a cornhole tournament, and inflatable games.
Visitors can also take part in Coates Cabin tours and miniature train rides.
Live entertainment will include Subject to Change and the Bill Purk & Liberty Street Band.
Sunday, September 6
Sunday will feature a full schedule of activities, including a pictorial postmark, yoga, a community church service, church dinner, caricatures and clowns, canvas painting, and a farm and vendor market.
A Coates historical review will offer another look at the village’s past, followed by youth and adult bingo and miniature train rides.
Live music will continue through the evening before the celebration reaches one of its biggest highlights — fireworks at dusk.
Monday, September 7
The Labor Day finale begins with a 5K family fun run and walk, followed by duck races, a signature quilt auction, raffle drawings and veterans photos.
The bicentennial parade will begin at the park and travel around East Maple Street, East Street, Young Street, and North Sycamore Street.
The day will also include bicycle decorating and judging. Six bikes will be raffled during the celebration, with the winners decorating their bikes and riding them in the parade.
The celebration will conclude with a Cardinal Choir performance, a time capsule presentation, and the bicentennial cake cutting at Municipal Hall.
The fireworks rain date is Monday, September 7. The schedule is subject to change.
The North Lewisburg bicentennial celebration is an opportunity for the community to celebrate 200 years of history while looking ahead to the village’s future.
