A group of residents involved with the tricentennial plan to create a nonprofit that would sponsor future community events of the type that brought out crowds throughout last year.

“This whole year has been a statement for us that the community is really interested in doing some of these events annually,” said Kyle Harney, who was the anniversary committee member in charge of publicity and is one of those involved in the planned new group.

“Pembroke has many types of communities — we have our ‘McMansions,’ our old cottages on the ponds, people from all sorts of homes. But they all showed up when we had events,” he said.

Harney said the new group would seek to put on events featured in the tricentennial as well as others that were not — like the holiday tree lighting held last month. “Every year we’d like to do at least four events, maybe more, to bring people together,” he said.

Selectman Bill Boulter, who chaired the anniversary committee, said the town is establishing a fund that will be used to support future town events of the type that took place last year. He said groups like the planned nonprofit could seek grants from the fund, which will be created with an anticipated small surplus from the 300th celebration.

Boulter said he supported the efforts of the new group, but cautioned that its task would be a challenging one. He noted that many who donated time and resources did so because it was a tricentennial year and might be less willing to contribute to such events on a regular basis.

Stretching over 12 months, the anniversary observance was packed with events ranging from a townwide birthday party and a water balloon fight to a boat cruise, an antique aviation weekend, and a Civil War encampment, in addition to the fireworks and the parade, which lasted three hours and drew as many as 10,000 people.   Along with the many festivities, the year featured the creation of a new book on Pembroke history, construction of a brick walkway bearing the etched names of local residents and groups, and the installation of a historic replica water wheel on the Herring Run, a gift to the town by the anniversary committee.

A pair of quilts depicting Pembroke history were also stitched, and a wine made of Pembroke-harvested cranberries was bottled and sold.

Organizers, who initially worried the celebration might be hindered by limited resources, said they are thrilled that it all went forward largely as planned, with even the weather cooperating.

Perhaps most gratifying, they said, was the community spirit the celebration seemed to stir, including among the many who pitched in to help with the various events and projects.

“I think what we gained was we brought the townspeople, the residents, the business groups, and all the different functions of Pembroke a little closer together. Everyone had a part of it,” Boulter said.

Deborah Wall, the town’s library director and one of the authors of the new history book, said Pembroke has “a lot of town pride. I think people knew that, but this was a witness to it. People got a good sense of how much Pembroke has to offer and how proud people are of Pembroke.”

The 300th committee raised just over $190,000 for the celebration, which proved enough to pay for the planned activities; the only event that did not go forward was a costume ball that was canceled due to insufficient interest.

The money raised included $60,000 in state funds secured by state Senate President Therese Murray, whose district includes Pembroke, $30,000 from an existing town fund that the committee pledged to repay, and private donations.

Boulter said factoring in all debts, the celebration at present has about broken even. The anticipated surplus would come from continued sales of the history book and other memorabilia.

Originally settled in the 1640s, Pembroke was incorporated in 1712. Last year’s celebration, the first since the town marked its 275th anniversary in 1987, was the result of a three-year planning effort.

“There was something for everyone,” said John Proctor, a committee member who chaired the group that oversaw the brick walk project.