PHILLIPS — What can you do with duct tape?

Ask Janet White, who last year used it to create curtains for an old hearse entered in the 50th annual Phillips Old Home Days parade. She did such a good job, the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce chose that question as this year’s theme. The answers to it will be displayed during the procession that starts at 5 p.m. Friday.

White said Phillips Historical Society President Dennis Atkinson asked her last year to help clean the hearse and provide curtains for it. She said she knew she could come up with something, even though she wasn’t one to use needle and thread. So she bought a couple of rolls of duct tape and skirting. Atkinson was amazed with her creativity; she got stuck on what else could be done with the strong adhesive and came up with the theme. 

White said she’s been receiving a lot of calls about the parade, which will feature entries based on the theme: “What can you do with duct tape?” The parade begins in North Franklin Park and covers about a mile and a quarter down Park and Main streets, she said.

Old Home Days began Sunday afternoon with a performance by groups from the Maine Academy of Country Music and a vintage car display Tuesday night at Country Delight on Route 4. However, the majority of events will take place Thursday through Sunday. If the weather permits, more than 267 golf balls will be dropped from a low-flying parasail during the 5th annual golf ball drop Thursday evening , organizer Winona Davenport said.
Doug Lisherness flies over Justafield off Route 4 near the airport while a passenger releases a chute of numbered golf balls. The ones falling closest to a sheet in the field, used to teach and practice golf, will win eight cash prizes, she said. Half the proceeds are used to maintain the field. It’s fun to watch, she said, and people should be there by 7:30 p.m.

A new event this year is antique appraisals by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, White said. It’s sponsored by the Historical Society and takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Historical House. Plane rides will be offered by Morgan Aviation all day Sunday.

An event growing in popularity is the bicycle race for ages 1 to 17 at 11 a.m. Saturday. All entrants have a chance to win two bicycles donated by Steve and Mary White and Patrick and Bri Kinney of Strong.

This year, Earl and Lorraine Berry were chosen as the honored couple because of the support they give to the chamber and all organizations in Phillips, White said. The couple will ride in the front of the parade then be seated on the stage to view the procession. They’re also treated at the annual bean hole bean and chicken barbecue supper Friday night.

But come Saturday they’ll go back to work taking tickets for the horse pulling at the park.

“We’ll give them one day off,” White said.

A schedule of events can be found at www.phillipsmaine.com

abryant@sunjournal.com

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