WILTON – Blue skies and warm temperatures attracted a large crowd to the 22nd annual Blueberry Festival parade in Wilton on Saturday morning.

“The crowd was overwhelming,” said Shannon Smith, one of the organizers of the weekend events. “There was a lot of participation in all divisions, and the people attending seemed happy.”

Smith also gave some credit for increased participation to 2004 being an election year and stated that last year’s rainy weather also may have made this year’s parade even bigger. .

“The community is very strong,” stated Smith. “People pull together to make events happen.”

Kent Wiles, another organizer of the popular event, agreed.

“Wilton is a great community,” Wiles said. “It has faced adversity but has always pulled through. There is a lot of positive energy with the Nichols Bass building that may bring new jobs to the area.”

Parade participants included Boy and Girl Scout troops from several towns, floats, politicians and the Kora Shriners.

Other events held Friday as part of the two-day festival included a sidewalk sale at the Academy Hill School, children’s games at Kineowatha Park, and craft fairs and luncheons at several locations.

In addition to the parade, other Saturday events included a fireman’s muster on Main Street, a “Great Coke Bottle Race” at the Wilson Stream Bridge, “CHIPS,” a Child IP program of video and fingerprinting at the Academy Hill gym, a quilt and rug show at Wilton Methodist Church, and luncheons at various sites. Craft vendors lined Main Street with items ranging from the handmade baskets of Julie Eugley of Greenfield Township and the stone and glass jewelry of Mary Grace Perkins “Purple Grace” of Hudson to the cutting boards made by Sharon and Bernard Gilseider’s “Worldly Woods” of Dixfield and the blueberry-decorated ceramics of “Burgundy Barn Gifts” of Chesterville.

Also offered were 10-minute “Chair Massages” by Randy Ryder of Touch of Life Center of Livermore Falls.

Events concluded Saturday night with a “Parade of Boats” on Wilson Lake and fireworks over the lake.

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