It’s not every day someone turns 375 years old. So for Duxbury’s big birthday the party is sure to be even bigger. With a variety of events for all ages, the 375th Committee has outdone itself in preparing for the milestone birthday of our beloved town.

The 375th Committee, co-chaired by Anne Antonellis and Tony Kelso along with 18 other members, has been planning this event for almost a year now.

“We began planning last July and have had several events throughout the year to raise money,” said Antonellis. Fundraising has been essential to the committee’s success. They have hats, mugs, bags, shirts and beach towels for sale with the 375th logo on them. The committee has also had several fundraising events throughout the year, including a silent auction with artist donated pieces that took place in January.

The celebration is a two-weekend long event that kicks off with an old fashioned clambake on June 9 at the Duxbury Beach park. Lobster, clams, mussels and steamers will be cooked the old fashioned way layered between seaweed and served with clam chowder, corn, rolls, chicken, linguica, cole slaw, fruit salad and cookies. For those allergic to shellfish, there will be meals cooked separately.

“Everyone will be able to watch as their food is cooked. There will be music, it should be a great night,” said Antonellis.

Tickets for the clambake are $50 and on sale at French Memories, Rock Paper Scissors, the Duxbury Senior Center and Duxbury Mortgage Services Inc, in Hall’s Corner. Be sure to purchase tickets before June 4 as they are sure to go quickly. If anyone would like to attend and can’t afford the cost of a ticket, they may contact the Interfaith Council for assistance.

As if the clambake weren’t enough, the town is also celebrating with the Duxbury Student Union Summer Fest on June 16, from noon to 4 p.m. Summer Fest will be for kids and families, and have inflatable bouncy houses, skateboard and longboard competitions, an event for dogs, and music from high school and college bands.

The celebration culminates in the official birthday on June 17 with a town picnic from noon to 3 p.m. on the Town Green. The event is a bring your own picnic party with dessert provided. The 375th Committee has commissioned a four foot by eight foot custom novelty cake which includes images of scenic areas of town and the infamous Powder Point Bridge and 375th logo.  The sisters of Saint Margaret’s will open their doors to the town and offer dessert.

The Snug Harbor Chorus will be present, as well as Jackson Wetherbee, and the essay contest winners who wrote about what makes Duxbury special to them. In case of rain, all of the festivities will take place indoors at the Performing Arts Center.

Duxbury has had a long and rich history and the 375th celebration is sure to become a lovely addition to that history. To quote a birthday goer past, Selectman Vogler from the 350th celebration in 1987 put it best, “It is important to remember that what we are celebrating is not an abstraction called history. What we are celebrating is what the people of Duxbury have done, are doing, and will do.”

As for what comes next, the 375th Committee is in the process of planning several events for the fall.

Antonellis said, “The best part of being on the 375th Committee has been getting to know people I didn’t know before and getting to know more of the history of the town.”