Although the shipping industry is often the most highlighted aspect of Mattapoisett’s past, this year’s Heritage Days will take a look at the town’s agricultural history.

“At one time there were over 200 dairy farms. Now, you’d be lucky if you could find two cows,” said Barb Gaspar, head of the Heritage Days Committee.

Gaspar said the original village was located on the Mattapoisett River, and besides farming, early residents made a living harvesting lumber and pitch from the forest.

A guided tour on Sunday afternoon will explore these areas, said Gaspar.

But before that, she and her team have planned a full weekend of events to encourage the community to get together.

The original inspiration for Heritage Days came after the town’s sesquicentennial five years ago, which Gaspar also helped to plan.

“We decided that the feeling of close community -– friend and neighbors, pride and awareness of where we came from- – that kind of thing couldn’t be lost, so we turned it into a one-weekend thing,” said Gaspar.

A variety of events have been planned for the weekend, starting with a lecture on Mattapoisett and the War of 1812 on Thursday night at the library followed by the Great American Cookout and Classic Car show in Shipyard Park on Friday.

Saturday morning is for the kids with a bicycle and dog carriage parade, crafts and face painting, followed by a treasure hunt for adults.

“It will be a little challenging and a little cutthroat. It’s funny to watch people who have lived here all their lives hunt for clues,” said Gaspar. “I’ll feel good if I’m able to stump them.”

The full weekend wraps up with a community picnic and Ecumenical service on Sunday evening. “It’s magical. Even if it’s raining in the rest of the town, it’s not raining at Ned’s Point,” said Gaspar.

The Heritage Days Committee has worked to help keep costs low for families.

“We don’t charge for anything that we can possibly do without charging,” said Gaspar.

“Last year, one gentleman said to me, ‘I don’t get this. My kids have been engaged and busy and I haven’t opened my wallet once.’ We told him to go buy a hot dog!,” she said.

Heritage Days runs from August 2 to August 5. For a complete list of the events, visit www.Sippican.VillageSoup.com