BUCKFIELD – More than 1,000 people are expected to attend Buckfield’s annual Labor Day weekend festival, despite spiking gas prices, said volunteer organizer Rossie Kyllonen.
The four-day event culminates on Monday with an hour-long parade at 10 a.m., starting from SAD 39’s Buckfield Junior/Senior High School and ending at the town office on Turner Street.
“We usually get at least 1,000 people. This is downtown Buckfield, you know,” Kyllonen said Thursday afternoon.
For about 30 years, the event has been called Buckfield Community Day Weekend of Events. It just happens to be held on the last big weekend of summer.
The parade usually consists of floats, bicycles, antique cars and SAD 52’s Leavitt Area High School marching band. Most years there’s a theme, but not this year, Kyllonen said. The most humorous, most original and most patriotic entries will be recognized.
The fun starts Friday night with a variety show on the football field behind the Town Office, followed by a dance Saturday night, and a fireman’s muster and pig roast Sunday.
Other town events
Other Labor Day weekend activities include an annual service at 2 p.m. in Porter at the Old Porter Meeting House, followed by an open house at the History House from 3 to 5 p.m.
In Rangeley, the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club and Club House Restaurant and Lounge are to host a summer snowmobile “snodeo,” Rangeley Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Evelyn McAllister said in an e-mail Thursday afternoon.
There’s a casino night at 8 p.m. Friday, followed Saturday, starting at noon, by a giant swap meet, motorized sports vendors, a poker run, lobster and steak feed at 4 p.m., and a dance at 9 p.m.
“We hope the terrific, warm sunny weather forecast will offset the gas prices,” McAllister said.
“No one seems to be backing out of any reservations. Bookings look solid, but probably won’t break any records,” she added, about area lodging.
Meg Godaire of Bald Mountain Camps in Oquossoc said Thursday that their bookings were down due to gas prices, which jumped to $3.21 for regular unleaded overnight.
“It was the talk of the town,” she said.
“Gas prices have been affecting us and, having the kids go back to school before Labor Day, that has really hurt businesses everywhere up here,” Godaire said.
“Not only do we lose our summer help, but the kids’ parents like to leave a week before,” she added.
Glenn Davis, co-owner of Kings Hill Inn in South Paris, said Thursday afternoon that gas prices probably won’t affect their business right away.
“We have repeat business, so bookings are steady for us,” he said.
“This year, as a whole, tourism is down all over. June was down, but July and August were up, so we’ve done as well as we’ve ever done, but overall, business is definitely off,” Davis added.
But, if gas prices remain high, “next year, it will be a significant problem,” he said.
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