MEXICO – Saturday’s mellow mood at the Mexico Recreation Park brightened with the warm day and slow-to-get-going events during the second annual two-day Mountain Music Festival.
By noon, about 200 people of all ages stopped by off Route 17, checking out the flea market, food vendors, shiny classic cars, a smattering of motorcycles, and Roxbury and Mexico fire trucks.
More people were expected to stream in today for 7 hours of live music from headliner Bill Chinnock and his All-Star Band, and guests Jim Gallant, Barney Martin and Coos Canyon, and The Don Campbell Band.
Co-organizer Matt Gallant of Friends of the Mexico Rec Park, the festival host, said a little more than 400 tickets had been sold for today’s performances.
There was free admission Saturday, but today costs $15 per person; children under 10 get in free.
Money raised from the festival will be used to repair, upgrade and maintain the park, which Gallant calls Mexico’s “community heirloom.” It is nestled in woods between Route 17 and the Swift River.
During Saturday’s Car Burnout, several in the crowd covered their ears and noses while drivers smoked up the park, burning rubber off rear wheels while trying to remain stationary on a wet cement pad.
Some in the crowd wondered aloud how they could afford it, since the price of gas in the area jumped 7 to 13 cents on Saturday from Friday’s prices. The price of tires was also high, people said.
Toby Duguay of Mexico led off the burnout at noon, sending decibels screaming off the charts with his throaty 1962 Chevy Nova. Thick clouds of white smoke enveloped the eastern end of the park, towering over concession stands and trees.
Festival co-organizer Todd Wardwell announced to the growing crowd that Duguay’s performance was an appetizer for other acts to follow. But, there was about a 20-minute gap between Duguay and other burnout drivers.
Mexico police Chief Jim Theriault said he had his whole department there, and was expecting two Oxford County Sheriff’s deputies to help with security.
“If there are any problems out there, we will respond,” Theriault said.
But, at noon, it seemed like there were more security people, vendors, firefighters and festival support staff there than the public.
“Unless they have a bigger crowd than this, I don’t expect many problems, but, I’m sure it will pick up later,” he added.
Music festival rules prohibit alcohol, drugs, dogs and other pets, glass bottles and large coolers. All coolers and bags were being inspected at the gate, and all off-limit areas, including camping areas, are to be respected, Gallant said.
Saturday’s main event, live music by alternative rock band The Project, was to begin at 4 p.m. atop a stage assembled on three donated flatbed tractor-trailers under a donated canopy.
Gallant said giant speakers on the stage were capable of blasting up to 10,000 watts of sound power.
A fireworks show starting at 9:15 p.m. was to culminate the day.
Rattling off names on Saturday, Gallant profusely thanked supporters and Maine businesses for help ranging from donated materials to help and advertising.
“So many people stepped up to make this happen,” he said, right before he climbed into his large suburban and vainly attempted to burn rubber, much to the amusement of the crowd.
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