Celebrate East Lyme Is Today

In case you’ve missed the signs posted all over downtown Niantic, today is Celebrate East Lyme day, which promises to be bigger and better than ever this year.

The day kicks off early with a sandcastle competition at Hole in the Wall Beach from 9 to 11 a.m. All the East Lyme Beaches, which were pending test results from Ledge Light Health District after a sewer backed up on 156 on Wednesday, are once again open for swimming.

Celebrate East Lyme doesn’t officially start until 3 p.m. With more than 200 vendors arriving to set up shop on Main Street, though, roads will be closed before then. So here’s what you need to know.

Route 156 (Main Street) will be closed at 1 p.m. from its intersection with Lake Avenue, east to its intersection with Route 161 (Pennsylvania Avenue). Traffic will be detoured north onto Lake Street and then East onto Hope Street. Traffic will then continue onto Route 161. There will be no street parking on Main Street between Lake Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue after 11 a.m.

Event organizer Heather Caulkins will be out marking the roads starting at 6 a.m. and East Lyme Police Cadets and Mutual Aid officers will be posting detour signs. The East Lyme Police will be directing traffic but if the event draws as many people as last year, when about 35,000 showed up, you can expect some delays.

The grand finale will be the fireworks display at 9 p.m. but Caulkins and First Selectman Paul Formica are encouraging people to stick around this year instead of trying to rush out to beat the traffic.

“Our police are wonderful but they’re not magicians,” says Caulkins. “With 35,000 people coming out of Main Street, it’s going to get congested. Just relax and plan on staying all day and leave when you’re ready.”

There will be late features playing at Niantic Cinemas and the restaurants and bars, many of which have bands booked for the night, will be open until late.

“We’re encouraging people to stay until late after the fireworks,” says Formica. 

Here’s a quick look at the schedule to help you plan your day:

9 a.m. Sand Castle Competition at Hole in the Wall Beach

3 p.m. Celebrate East Lyme 2012 Official Kick Off

5 p.m. Dunk First Selectman Paul Formica and the Shoreline Roller Derby Girls on the Town Green to benefit the American Heart Association

5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Meet Ronald McDonald at the Children's Area in the McDonald's interactive tent!

7 p.m. Great Niantic Bay Raft Races at Hole in the Wall Beach!

9 p.m. Fireworks Display over Niantic Bay!

You'll find all the details on the Town of East Lyme's website.