GO AND DO:

Rangeley Snodeo events

Thursday, Jan. 20

6 p.m. – Chili-chowder cook-off, Rangeley Inn

7 p.m. – Casino Night, Rangeley Inn, to benefit the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club

Friday, Jan. 21

10 a.m. – Family ride and refreshments, leave from Oquossoc Marine

4 to 8 p.m. – Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club welcome to the Snodeo party, at the Club House

7 p.m. – Snowmobile apparel auction and entertainment, the Club House, to benefit the snowmobile club

5 and 7 p.m. – Catholic Women’s Club Snowflake turkey dinner, Masonic Hall

Saturday, Jan. 22

8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Radar run registration (tether switch or throttle override required), Russell Cove

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Radar run competition, Russell Cove, to benefit the snowmobile club

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Antique snowmobile display, adjacent to Town and Lake Motel

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Poker run registration from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Club House, to benefit the snowmobile club

100 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Hands-on children’s activities table, compliments of the Wilhelm Reich Museum Discovery Room, at the Club House

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – “River of Fear” book signing with author Rod Davis, at the Club House

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Sleigh Rides, Rangeley Village

10 a.m. – Registration, the Club House

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Obstacle Course (tether switch or throttle override required), City Hill, registration 10 a.m. at the Club House

12:30 p.m. – Turkey Bowling benefiting the Class of 2010, the Club House

2 p.m. – Rangeley Region Health Center duck drop, Town Dock, Lake Street

4 p.m. – Awards ceremony, the Club House

5 p.m. – Parade line-up, Rangeley Inn

5:30 p.m. – Snowmobile Parade, Rangeley Inn to Town and Lake Motel, Main Street, float trophies awarded after parade at Town and Lake Motel

Following parade – Fireworks display, Lakeside Park

Ongoing:

Ice castle and snow sculptures on the lake, cash prizes awarded for snow sculptures

New snowmobile displays and demo rides

Rangeley Snodeo enhanced to celebrate sesquicentennial

RANGELEY – Snowmobilers come from all over for the Rangeley Snodeo.

Sponsored by the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club, the Snodeo has taken place since 1984, according to club president Clark Allen.

Centerpiece events include the snowmobile radar run and obstacle course.

The radar run competition will award trophies and bragging rights to the fastest snowmobiles – and their riders – in various classes. Judges will shoot a radar gun at snow machines flying down a straight course of 700 feet on the lake. It takes 10 to 12 people almost an entire day to set it up with cones and hay bales, according to the club’s secretary, treasurer and key organizer, Gail Gavigan.

The obstacle course will challenge sledders to travel a course of bumps, sharp corners and cones, with trophies going to the fastest riders.

A turkey bowl, organized by the high school class of 2010, will take place outside the Club House, where frozen turkeys will replace bowling balls. The bowler with the highest score will receive the six frozen fowl, which, said Gavigan, should remain frozen during the event since it takes place on ice.

Several years ago, she said laughing, a reporter who wrote about the turkey bowl for The Boston Globe felt compelled to make a donation to the Boy Scouts, who sponsored the event, when some readers misinterpreted her portrayal and prompted several animal rights activists to call Gavigan in protest.

The poker run will send participants to five area businesses via snowmobile or road vehicle, where they will collect cards that are later turned in for playing cards. Top three poker hands will win cash prizes.

Gavigan said she expects to see about eight collectors from all over New England and New York display up to 30 vintage snowmobiles. This is the third year for this event.

This year being the town’s sesquicentennial, a committee has been established to organize celebratory events throughout the year. The committee will be enhancing this year’s Snodeo, not only with sleigh rides, snow sculptures and an ice castle, but has committed $500 to enhance the fireworks display. A blazing “150” will be part of the show.

Other events include a Friday morning four-hour family snowmobile ride to lunch from Oquossoc Marine, party and auction Friday night with dancing and door prizes, turkey dinner, chili and chowder cook-off, casino night and snowmobile parade.

Over the weekend, Gavigan said, the town will welcome 4,000 to 5,000 visitors, many of whom will arrive on snowmobiles. Last year temperatures dipped down to 25 below zero, she said.

“I think it’s going to be the best one ever,” she said. “But you know, Mother Nature rules us.”