LOUISVILLE - For this firs time in its three-year history, the Louisville Summer Bash has a theme this summer, as the community pays homage to the Louisville Elementary School Turtle.

“We thought it would be fun to come up with different ideas for different years,” committee member Joanne H. Cameron said.

This year’s theme, “Remembering The Louisville Elementary School Turtle” is one that Ms. Cameron said will resonate with a lot of people.

Ms. Cameron said she can recall being in sixth grade when her class made a gift of a large mat depicting the turtle to the school. A display of historical artifacts and photos connected to the turtle will be on display at the Louisville Historical Center, Anyone who would like to contribute to the display is encouraged to call the town office at 769-0457.

“If people want to come up with floats for the parade they can base it on the turtle,” she said, noting the fire department still uses a turtle as its mascot.

The parade will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 11 with lineup at St. Lawrence Catholic Church prior to the event. The parade will then make its way from the church to the Louisville arena, where the remainder of the day’s events will take place.

Another turtle-themed event is the event’s first ever bake-off.

“There will be a turtle cake contest,” she said, adding “turtle cake” is open for interpretation and could include cakes shaped like turtles or cakes flavored with the popular Turtle candy.

There will be prizes for the winners and the cost to submit a cake is $1. Cakes will be on display for public voting at the historical center from noon to 4 p.m. The cakes will then be auctioned off at 5 p.m., with proceeds being used to help offset the cost of the event.

Last year the summer bash hosted its first barbecue competition, an event that garnered quite a bit of discussion.

“The guys who did it had a great time,” she said. “It was talked about a lot, so hopefully we’ll get some more entrants.”

This contest has a $5 entry fee. That fee covers entry in any of or all of the contest’s categories, which include chicken, brisket or ribs.

Department of Health regulations prevent the entries from begin served to the public, but the contest will be judged by a panel of local judges. Entrants have until 4 p.m. to have their finest barbecue ready to be judged. Prizes will be awarded.

Food that will be available to the public includes a chicken barbecue starting at 11 a.m. with proceeds to benefit the fire department and a pig roast at 5 p.m., with proceeds going to the Summer Bash Committee. A concession stand and beer tent will also be open all day, as will a craft sale and free bounce house for kids.

“Another event back by popular demand is the bed races,” Ms. Cameron said. “Those really are a good time.”

The bed races will be held at 6 p.m. and entry is $5 for each five-person team. Prizes for this event will also be awarded.

The day full of events will conclude at dusk with the town’s annual fireworks display.

While the bulk of the events take place on Aug. 11, the bash is a three-day event kicking off with the annual Lions Club Ice Cream Social at 6 p.m. Aug. 10.

“This has become a pretty popular event. Not only do they have cake and ice cream, but the firemen hold their duck race,” she said, adding duck tickets can be purchased at a number of places in the area or at the arena that night.

The Louisville Community Church will host an ecumenical service at 9:15 a.m. Aug. 13. That service will be followed by the annual community picnic at noon at the Louisville Arena.

“The picnic is open to everyone,” Ms. Cameron said. “It’s not just for people who attend the service.”

Town board members will be grilling hotdogs and hamburgers, which will be provided free of charge. People are asked to bring their own sides.

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