AUBURN – Winter safety workshops and Lewiston Maineiacs-inspired hijinks will augment the regular events at this weekend’s Auburn Winter Festival.
Now in its fourth year, the February celebration features traditional wintertime events and races and not-so-traditional silliness.
Events include Friday night skiing at Lost Valley and movies at Great Falls Performing Arts Center, snow sculpting contests and dog sled rides on Saturday and snowshoe and cross-country ski races on Sunday.
This year’s schedule features special workshops put on by Augusta’s Eastern Mountain Sports.
Pam Famous, a registered Maine guide from the company, will teach a short class on buying and using a global positioning system to find your way around the outdoors.
EMS staff will also teach a course on preparing for wintertime outdoor adventures. Both workshops are scheduled for noon on Saturday.
EMS will also sponsor free snowshoe and cross-country ski lessons from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at Central Maine Community College.
“We did the lessons last year, but this is the first year we’ve had the workshops,” said Auburn Community Relations Manager Laurie Smith. “It should be a good addition to our normal events.”
Lewiston Maineiacs players and mascot Lewie are scheduled to be on hand at Lost Valley beginning at 8:30 p.m. Saturday for the largest game of musical chairs in the state. Winners can claim dinners at Margarita’s and tickets to Maineiacs home games.
The festival’s signature race, the Really Ridiculous Relay, will be back again this year at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lost Valley. Six-person teams compete in three heats – the human dog-sled pull, uphill snowshoe and downhill canoe. Winners receive free Lost Valley lift tickets.
The event kicks off Friday with $10 night skiing and rentals and free hay wagon rides at Lost Valley, the movies at the Great Falls Performing Arts Center and a $25 wine tasting at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Daily events Saturday and Sunday include an outside snow playground and an indoor carnival at the Central Maine Community College.
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