The Marthasville Board of Aldermen has granted about $6,000 to the town’s bicentennial committee to purchase celebratory banners and salable souvenirs.Marthasville will celebrate its 200th anniversary year throughout 2017.About $2,000 will go to purchase 25 banners that proclaim Marthasville’s 200th anniversary, as well as metal brackets to attach them to telephone poles at the entrance to town.Mayor David Lange said the banners could remain up all year, after which the brackets could be saved and used for new banners, such as advertisements for city concerts.Aldermen also approved up to $4,000 in seed money for the Marthasville Bicentennial Committee to purchase memorabilia that will be sold throughout the year to raise money for events.The committee has been selling calendars with historical photos, Lange said, but needs funds to order bicentennial caps, shirts, medallions and other souvenirs. As the committee sells the items, part of the funds will go to repay the city.“All this stuff costs money up front, then as they sell it’ll come back in,” Lange said.Aldermen said they liked the idea of contributing to the bicentennial celebrations.“I personally would like to see the banners throughout town for the course of the year,” East Ward Alderman Nick Lange said. “It’s the 200th year of the community.”West Ward Alderman Mike Kloeppel said providing funding for memorabilia is fine, as long as the city is paid back.“The city needs to help out a bit — it’s not every day you turn 200,” Kloeppel said.The yearlong celebration will feature a festival June 17-18.Cathie Schoppenhorst, a committee member planning the event, previously said the festival will have the same flavor as fall festivals held in the past.Some of the activities will include re-enactors portraying early Marthasville settlers, continuous music with a dance to be held Saturday evening, an antique tractor show and pull, and traditional children’s games.Historic displays will be located at the Grabs Museum and the Katy Depot, including photos collected from Marthasville residents. Schoppenhorst said a parade will be held Sunday afternoon.A Peers-to-Marthasville Party will be held May 21 from noon to 4 p.m. Visitors to the renovated Peers Store Gallery will be able to ride the Missouri State Park Tram in either direction.A cemetery tour is planned for May 28 with special presentations planned at the St. Paul’s Cemetery.The bicentennial committee also is collecting historical photographs. Anyone who has a historical photo is invited to provide them to be scanned and returned.Food vendors and crafters will be welcome at the festival.Marthasville Bicentennial historic calendars currently are available to purchase for $5 at Marthasville City Hall, S&R, K&R Market and the Historical Society Museum in Warrenton.For more information, email marthasville200@gmail.com or visit the city of Marthasville website at cityofmarthasvillemo.org or the Chamber website at marthasvillemochamber.org.Marthasville Bicentennial