OTISFIELD – The town is gearing up for its first Winter Carnival on Feb. 18 and 19 – with or without snow – and organizers hope to make it an annual event.
“That’s our goal,” Noreen Edwards, carnival chairwoman, said Thursday. Otisfield residents as well as residents from other communities are welcome to attend the weekend’s festivities.
Edwards said the lack of snow may affect some events, but the carnival will be held no matter what the weather is like. Plus, the preliminary forecast is calling for a possible snowstorm this weekend.
“I haven’t given up yet,” she said. “We’re excited about it.”
Even without snow, the two-day fishing derby on Pleasant Lake will be held. “We’ll still be able to do the ice fishing,” Edwards said.
Feb. 18 and 19 are free fishing days in Maine so fishing licenses are not needed to participate in the derby. The event will be held both days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there is a $5 entry fee per family.
The Otisfield Volunteer Firefighters Association will provide lunch both days at the derby.
Edwards said the carnival is a town effort involving many residents and organizations including the Otisfield Trailblazers snowmobile club, the Otisfield PTA, and local churches.
A kickoff breakfast will be held Saturday at the Otisfield Community School, followed by a day-long litany of activities including a sledding party, snowmobile poker run, ice skating, a chowder fest, and an evening sock hop at the school.
On Sunday, there will be a bingo competition, more ice skating, a cross-country ski and snowshoe poker run, and a cold-water rescue demonstration at Casco Beach.
Edwards said backup activities such as cookie decorating are being organized for children in case there is no snow.
Raffle tickets are being sold at the town office. First prize is a $100 C.N. Brown Co. gift certificate that can be used toward the purchase of C.N. Brown home heating oil or gas at C.N. Brown-owned gas stations.
Second prize is a job-site radio and charger donated by Hancock Lumber Co. Third prize is dinner for two at Maurice Restaurant in South Paris and movie passes for Flagship Cinemas. Fourth prize is a movie basket donated by Movie Gallery.
Carnival organizers also are selling winter apparel items such as hats and sweatshirts with Otisfield Winter Carnival printed on them.
Anyone interested in obtaining more information about the carnival or becoming a volunteer may phone Edwards at 627-7033.
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