People in Maine’s western mountains looking for fun will have no trouble finding it in the next few weeks.
Towns throughout the county will be holding multi- and one-day festivals that will include parades, food, races, contests, crafts and music.
Kingfield Days
This weekend, Kingfield will host its annual event starting with cribbage tournament at 7 p.m. today at the Herbert Grand Hotel. Featured events for the festival include the grand parade at noon Saturday with the Shriners’ Kora Krazy Kops and the always-extravagant floats of Jordan Lumber and others. An artisan fair from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in front of the Old Schoolhouse Bakery will include about 15 craftspeople, twice the number of last year, according to festival organizer Heidi Murphy.
New this year in Kingfield will be public judging of the flower-arranging contest with several children’s categories and adult prizes for most whimsical, best miniature and most patriotic, among others. Arrangements will be displayed in the Herbert Grand Hotel with awards announced at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Also new will be a 24-foot climbing wall on Depot Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Partially subsidized by the Original Irregular and Kingfield Recreation Department, cost will be no more than $2 to climb, Murphy said Wednesday.
The Bullocks, a local rock band, will perform for the teen dance at 8 p.m. Friday.
Moonlight Madness
In Farmington Friday, July 29, Moonlight Madness will rock the town, closing Broadway to all but foot traffic.
Those wishing to experience reflexology or massage may take advantage of free five-minute treatments offered at End of the Rainbow, a supplement and herb shop that recently relocated to Main Street. Veggie Madness, with entries from local restaurants, will be held again this year, as will the featured 1K and 5K road races at 6:30 and 7 p.m.
Dragon’s Lair on Broadway will be hosting their usual Friday night game tournaments but will feature the new ninth edition release of “Magic: The Gathering” starting at 6 p.m.
Also a free concert by the African Children’s Choir will be held at 7 p.m. at the Old South Congregational Church.
Weld Heritage Day
Weld, the little town of less than 500 people situated next to Webb Lake and Mt. Blue State Park, will host a heritage day starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30. The showcase event, according to Betty Simanek, one of the organizers, is the quilt show that fills the Weld Congregational Church at the town’s main crossroads. Old, new and treasured heirlooms will be draped over pews and hung on the walls.
“It’s quite a big deal,” Simanek said Wednesday. “The whole church is filled with them.”
A subgroup of the Franklin County Fiddlers will entertain, artists will display their wares, baked goods will be sold and antique cars will be displayed – all on the grounds of the Weld Historical Society in the center of town. For children there will be a frog-jumping contest and egg toss. There will also be a horseshoe tournament and trash and treasures sale in the town hall.
More to come
Other upcoming events include a blowout bash in Rangeley to celebrate the town’s sesquicentennial – or 150th birthday – July 29 through 30. It will be a busy week in the town including a parade, fireworks, historical displays, music, crafts, food, contests and demonstrations.
Wilton residents and visitors will not only enjoy the 23rd annual Wilton Blueberry Festival but will be able to visit a half-scale replica of the Vietnam War memorial. Opening ceremonies for the Vietnam Moving Wall will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2 at Kineowatha Park. It will remain up until closing ceremonies scheduled for Monday, Aug. 8.
The Blueberry Festival will take place Aug. 5 and 6 and will include a parade, dive-athon, blueberry bazaar, firemen’s muster, Coke bottle race, antique tractor pull and other events.
The theme for Phillips Old Home Days this year is “The stupid things (wo)men do.” Parade floats and other events will be geared to the theme.
More details on the Rangeley Sesquicentennial, Wilton Blueberry Festival and Phillips Old Home Days will be reported in the coming days and weeks.
KINGFIELD DAYS
July 21 to 24
Thursday, July 21
7 p.m.: Cribbage tournament, Herbert Grand Hotel
Afternoon: Flower arrangement contest, Herbert Grand Hotel
Friday, July 22
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Quilt and flower show, Baptist church
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Franklin-Somerset Federal Credit Union hot dog day
1 to 4 p.m.: Kingfield Historical Society open house
4 to 5 p.m.: Kids’ fun time games and prizes, Depot Street
4 p.m.: Eighth-grade grille, Depot Street
5:30 p.m.: Crowning of Mrs. Kingfield and ice cream social, United Kingfield Bank lawn
4 p.m.: Relay for Life roast pork dinner, behind Grand Central Station
8 p.m.: Teen street dance featuring The Bullocks, Depot Street
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.: Adult dance with Tom Bomazine, Nostalgia Tavern
Saturday, July 23
9 a.m.: Pet parade, Depot Street, register by 8:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.: Doll carriage and bike parade, Depot Street, register by 9:30 a.m.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Book sale, Webster library
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Kingfield Historical Society open house
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Artisan craft fair, Depot Street
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Mud football, Knapps Field, Route 142
10 to 11:45 a.m.: Kids games, Depot Street
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Climbing wall, Depot Street
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Quilt and flower show, Baptist church
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Kingfield United Methodist Church tag sale, Methodist church
Noon: Kingfield Days grand parade
3 p.m.: Whatever floats race, Carrabassett River starting at Lord’s Bridge
5 to 7 p.m.: Brackley family reception, Mountain Village Inn
6 p.m.: Bingo, American Legion, School Street
8 p.m.: Flag burning ceremony, American Legion monument
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.: Adult dance featuring Roy Hudson, Nostalgia Tavern
Sunday, July 24
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Truck pull, Jordan’s pit, Tufts Pond Road
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Mud football championship games, Knapps field, Route 142
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Acoustic brunch featuring Tracy Sprouse, Orange Cat Cafe
10:30 a.m.: Morning outdoor worship, Methodist church
11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Quilt and flower show, Baptist church
Noon to 3 p.m.: Kingfield Historical Society open house
1 to 3:30 p.m.: Go-kart races, Jordan’s track, Tufts Pond Road
NEW SHARON FUN DAYS
Saturday, July 23
All events to take place at the New Sharon Congregational Church
9:30 a.m.: Prayer ceremony and flag-raising
10 a.m.: Doll carriage and bicycle parade
11 a.m.: Kids activities including face painting, crafts, games, bounce horse
11:30 a.m.: Chicken barbecue
1 p.m.: Pony and carriage rides
1 p.m.: Horseshoes
4 p.m.: Hootenanny, sing along and talent show
All day: Historical society display, white elephant sale, refreshments
MOONLIGHT MADNESS, FARMINGTON
Friday, July 29
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Art in the park, Meetinghouse Park
11 a.m.: Lobster rolls, Meetinghouse Park
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Face painting, balloons, T-shirt sales, Serendipity’s Closet, Front Street
1 to 5 p.m.: Mobile health unit bike helmet fittings and giveaways
1 to 5 p.m.: Veggie Madness – healthy dishes prepared by local restaurants
4 p.m.: Live music with Elia Cummings, Broadway stage
4 p.m.: Chicken barbecue by Farmington Fire and Rescue, in front of the courthouse
4:30 p.m.: Epic fantasy trivia contest, Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers
5:30 p.m.: Fashion show, Broadway stage
6 p.m.: “Magic: The Gathering” fantasy card game tournament, Dragon’s Lair, Broadway
6:30 p.m.: Kids’ one-mile road race
6:30 p.m.: Guitar and vocals by Meg Reid, Broadway stage
7 p.m.: 25th annual Moonlight Madness road race, register in front of Shiretown Insurance
7 p.m.: African Children’s Choir concert, Old South Congregational Church, free
7:30 to 11 p.m.: Street dance with Lenedl (Celtic/world music) and Fugitives (pop, rock and country)
Midnight: Breakfast at Cherries Cafe
All day: Street vendors, live music, coloring contest, sidewalk sales
RANGELEY SESQUICENTENNIAL
July 29 to 31
Friday, July 29
4 p.m.: Burying of the bean hole beans, Rangeley Logging Museum, Route 16
4:30 p.m.: Biscuit bake, logging museum
6:30 p.m.: Music, logging museum
7 p.m.: Miss and Master Woodchip contest, logging museum
7:30 p.m.: Loggers’ Hall of Fame, logging museum
8 p.m.: Music and entertainment, Rangeley Inn
8 p.m.: Music and variety show by Rangeley Friends of the Arts “The Company,” Lakeside Park
Saturday, July 30
All day: Aircraft display including U.S. Border Patrol helicopter, Stephen A. Bean Municipal Airport
All day: Historical displays, dunk tank, children’s activities, kid’s fishing pond, cookie decorating, crafts and fly-tying at Lakeside Park
Afternoon: tours to local historic buildings
10 a.m.: Parade with military fly-over, Main Street
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Antique and collectible car, truck, snowmobile and tractor display, field adjacent to Town and Lake Motel
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Special U.S. postal cancellation for sesquicentennial, Lakeside Park or at the Rangeley Post Office
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Carving and crafts and chuck wagon and bean dinner, Rangeley Logging Museum, Route 16
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Horse-drawn wagon rides, pick-ups at Pleasant Street parking lot and Lakeside Parking
12:30 p.m.: Fly-casting demonstration by Joe Loughram, Lakeside Park
12:30 p.m.: Kora Highlanders bagpipe and drum band, Lakeside Park
1 p.m.: Presentations to attending dignitaries including Gov. John Baldacci and Rangeley family members, Lakeside Park
1 to 4 p.m.: Logging events, logging museum
1:45 p.m.: Auction with Robert Glass, Lakeside Park
2 p.m.: Fly-casting demonstration, Lakeside Park
2:30 p.m.: Doc’s Banjo Band, Lakeside Park
2:30 p.m.: Lobster cookout, Lakeside Park
7 p.m.: Glenshane in concert, Church of the Good Shepherd
Dusk: Sesquicentennial fireworks display
Sunday, July 31
9 a.m.: Special speaker Dr. Robert Frederick and worship service, Rangeley Baptist Church
All day: Aircraft display including U.S. Border Patrol helicopter, Stephen A. Bean Municipal Airport
Noon: Catholic church building fund outdoor barbecue, Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s clubhouse, Oquossoc
12:30 to 2 p.m.: Reception for Rangeley family members, Rangeley Lakes Historical Society
2 to 4 p.m.: Garden party, Rangeley Public Library
WELD HERITAGE DAY
July 30
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: A variety of family events including crafts displays, food, quilt show, frog-jumping contest, horseshoes, egg toss and rummage sale
UPCOMING AREA EVENTS
Vietnam Moving Wall Opening Ceremony, Wilton, Aug. 2
Solar Blast, Eustis, Aug. 5-7
Wilton Blueberry Festival, Aug. 5-6
Vietnam Veteran’s Moving Wall closing ceremonies, Aug. 8
Phillips Old Home Days, Aug. 13-21
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