BETHEL – Marshmallows roasted over a roaring bonfire on a jackknife-sharpened stick on a chilly December night.

That simple idea was such a big hit at last December’s New Year’s Bethel event that organizers went out and got a whole case of marshmallows to roast at this year’s festivities.

“Marshmallow roasting takes older people back to their childhoods and they seem to enjoy showing their kids and grandkids what they did in the past,” said co-organizer Stan Howe of the Bethel Historical Society.

“It really makes Bethel come alive on New Year’s,” he added.

That and the several hundred people of all ages from across the country who faithfully attend.

“Last year, we had people from Mississippi call up to make sure it was going on, because they were coming here and wanted to attend it again,” Howe added.

The sixth annual New Year’s Bethel celebration – a wild concoction of chemical-free family fun – begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, with a Watch Night Ecumenical Service at the West Parish Congregational Church.

“New Year’s Bethel is a chemical-free, wholesome, Norman Rockwell and Currier and Ives type of village festival. It’s very upbeat, and it’s nice to see an event that’s based on old-time values and old-time fun,” Howe said.

A Lighted Vehicle Parade, which starts at 6 p.m. from the Health Center on Railroad Street, will wind around the Common in Bethel village, and return to the center along Church Street.

New this year is a Celestial Chinese Dragon Children’s Parade from 6:15 to 7 p.m.

Historical Society Board of Trustees Chair Al Cressy said the dragon is a mythical creature that symbolizes ultimate prosperity and good fortune.

Event participants will be encouraged to help create the giant dragon, which will dance around the Common and provide the flame to light the traditional New Year’s Bonfire.

The dragon will be formed at the Bethel Inn Conference Center’s parking lot at 6:15 p.m. from a huge paper mache head and a colorfully decorated body of fabric supported by paraders.

“The more children of all ages joining in, the longer the dragon,” Cressy said. “If you are so inclined, you may bring your own decorated sheet to add to the dragon body. There will be plenty more dragon body available that night for anyone who just wants to join in the fun.”

Drummers and other musicians are also invited to add to the merrymaking.

“This family twist is something new this year. We wanted to try to attract families and give them something to do because there seemed to be a need, a hole in our program from past years,” Cressy said.

From 7:30 to 8:15 p.m., a Craft Jamboree will be held in Gould Academy’s Bingham Gym, where participants can create their own New Year’s flags, dragon masks and other crafts.

“The Underachievers,” a 5-piece band, will perform at 9:30 p.m. in the Bethel Inn Conference Center.

Other activities include five entertainment venues from 7 to 11:45 p.m., fireworks behind the event sponsor – Bethel Inn and Country Club – at 10:30 p.m., horse and wagon rides around the Common, and a New Year’s Countdown.

New Year’s Bethel is presented by the Bethel Historical Society “with invaluable assistance” from Mahoosucs Arts Council, Gould Academy, Sunday River Ski Resort, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, and West Parish Congregational Church.

“New Year’s Bethel makes Bethel appear to be the action-place in western Maine, and it will be as long as the floods stay down,” Howe added.

For more information, call 824-2908 or 800-824-2910.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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