It's been a question in Wiscasset for a long time, Town Manager Laurie Smith said: Why doesn't the town have a major-draw event like some other towns do, one that shows its pride and pumps up the local economy in the process?

“Wings Over Wiscasset” on Tuesday, August 6, may turn out to be that event, Smith said.

Organizers hope it will bring 10,000 people to the town-owned Wiscasset Municipal Airport. That would nearly triple Wiscasset's population for the day.

The “Wings over Wiscasset” or “WOW” committee, as members call it, has been in touch with both the Wiscasset Police and Lincoln County Sheriff's departments about traffic that day. Wiscasset police will also be on-site at the airport during the event, Smith said.

The town is footing the bill for portable toilets, insurance and other hosting costs out of the airport budget. The town also put on a recent “Business After Hours” event at the airport, promoting “Wings” and seeking sponsors for it.

Boothbay Railway Village is a large contributor to the event, along with The Texas Flying Legends Museum and Music Doing Good, the nonprofit arts organization putting on a freedom-themed concert at the “Wings” event.

The Flying Legends' World War II planes have summered at the airport in recent years and put on shows there. But this year's show will be part of the new “Wings” event.

The “Wings” debut and the planning that's been going into it will serve as a model for possible use again in future years, Smith said.

“We're going to see how it goes,” she said.

“There are relationships being built for things that will be of great benefit to the Wiscasset region,” the event's producer Dennis St. Pierre said at a committee meeting July 8. “There's a lot of worthwhile work going on to make this happen.”

The committee began meeting in January.

“Wings” is planned to be many things: the concert; an air show; science, history and other presentations; a fireworks show; and a fundraiser for three, nonprofit causes: scholarships for programs at Wiscasset's Parks & Recreation Department; the Maine Aeronautics Association; and “Not Here,” an Auburn-based anti-human trafficking group.

Admission to the daylong event is free. However, organizers noted that an anonymous donor has offered to match “at-will” donations.

Among the challenges to holding such a big event is parking, committee members said. Plans are being made for shuttle buses to run to and from parking lots off Route 1 and near the airport, St. Pierre said.

“Wings Over Wiscasset” could use more volunteers. Sponsors are also still being accepted. St. Pierre can be reached at info@wingsoverwiscasset.org.

The rain date for “Wings” is the next day, Wednesday, August 7. Only a pouring rain or strong storm would move it from August 6, St. Pierre said.

The Texas Flying Legends team makes the call on whether its planes go up, he said.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.