LISBON FALLS – When Moxie Festival Chairperson Sue Conroy begins planning another year’s festival in Lisbon Falls, she hopes that she can top this year’s success.

“I’ve already begun planning for next year,” a tired Conroy said Saturday evening. “We don’t officially meet as a committee until February, but putting on a festival like Moxie is a year-round affair,” she said.

Conroy can take solace knowing that this year’s 70s-themed festival was an unqualified success. With crowd estimates between 25,000 and 30,000, good weather save a few sprinkles, and three days of entertainment, the town’s 21st straight year of hosting the popular Moxie Festival went off without a hitch.

According to Fire Auxiliary member Kelly Beal, Friday night’s Family Fun Festival hosted by the Lisbon Fire Department was a big hit.

“It was unbelievably awesome. We’ve never had this many people for Moxie on a Friday night,” said Beal. “Our car wash did well, making about $500,” she said.

The festival kicked off with a bang on Friday night, with the Fire Department’s family festival and a well-attended musical event at the Teen Center.

Saturday morning saw one of Maine’s largest parades, with people lined 10 deep along the 2-mile parade route in Lisbon Falls. With floats featuring a 70s vibe, marching bands and drum corps, fire apparatus from a number of Maine towns, and the Shriners’ multiple units, the parade lasted two hours.

After a full day of events on Saturday, including a performance by popular Elvis impersonator Robert Washington in the afternoon, the evening was capped by two talented high school rock bands performing under the stars in downtown Lisbon Falls. Lisbon High School’s Alteria rocked the crowd of young and not-so-young with a repertoire of the band’s own songs from an upcoming CD.

With Sunday’s sixth annual Chief Worumbo’s Androscoggin Fun Race on the Androscoggin River, the festival came to a satisfying conclusion.

With another festival done, Conroy is looking forward to getting away from the hustle and bustle of the past few months, and hopes to finally relax and enjoy the rest of the summer.

“It’s a lot of work and planning and it never seems like we’ve got everything covered, but we amaze ourselves each year. Our dedicated group of volunteers has once again shown their moxie by putting on another great festival,” said Conroy.