AUBURN — It can’t snow enough for organizers of the city’s 10th annual Winter Festival.

“The rain did do a number on us, but we’re recovering,” Auburn Parks Director Pete Bushway said Thursday. “We’re trying to make a snow playground now, and it might not be ready right away. But it’s snowing now, and if keeps up, we should be in good shape.”

The city will kick off its annual winter celebration Friday night with ice skating, pond hockey, bonfires and $25 Lost Valley lift tickets from 5 p.m. to midnight. Lost Valley Ski Area will host a big-air ski jump competition and live music featuring Thunder Road in the lodge.

The festival will continue through next weekend.

“They’re predicting anywhere from a dusting to 3 inches tonight, and more this weekend,” Bushway said. “Obviously, from our perspective, the more, the better.”

The National Weather Service is calling for cold, dry temperatures Friday and Saturday with a possibility of snow on Sunday. A bigger storm could be headed toward central Maine midweek.

“It should be cold, so dress appropriately,” Bushway said. “But it should be a good time.”

Saturday’s festival activities will feature snowshoeing at Mount Apatite, snowmobile rides that end up at Lost Valley, a three-on-three pond hockey tournament, a bonfire and public skating at the Walton School field; also, $12 night-skiing lift tickets for teens and teen rock bands at Lost Valley.

Events will be spread throughout the city during the week: public skating at Ingersol Ice Arena and outdoors at Walton School. A torchlight parade will take place at Lost Valley at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, followed by fireworks
over the ski area at 9:15 p.m. The fireworks will be provided by
Central Maine Pyrotechnics.

This year’s events include snow shovel races on Feb. 6, the downhill
mountain bike race on Feb. 7 and snow-rafting rides throughout the
festival. The signature Really Ridiculous Relay Race pits teams of six
in a race up and down the ski hill. First, a human dog sled team must
carry passengers 75 yards to the lodge entrance. Then, a member races
uphill another 75 yards in snowshoes. Finally, two members race
downhill in a canoe. The fastest team wins $150 gift card to Mac’s
Grill.

Teams can register online at www.auburnmaine.org. A schedule of events is available at that Web site.

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