LIVERMORE FALLS — Bob Berry pointed to a snow-covered field Wednesday where a tent and children’s sliding area will be set up for the first Spruce Mountain Sled-In on Saturday.

Activities will include a raffle, a bonfire, snowshoe races and a vintage snowmobile display from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Livermore Falls Recreation Field. Hot foods and desserts will also be available.

The event will benefit the three snowmobile clubs in the area: Livermore Trail Blazers, Jug Hill Riders of Livermore Falls and Andy Valley Riders of Jay.

Berry and fellow organizers Kathleen Szostek and Donna Jude, all members of the Livermore Falls Downtown Betterment Group, went over a list of events that will cover the field.

Berry said he was worried Tuesday night when it started to rain.

“The event is part of an initiative of the Livermore Falls Downtown Betterment Group to draw more people into the downtown,” Szostek, president of the organization, said.

“This was supposed to be for next year. We were not going to do it this year, but everyone was so excited, we decided to do it,” Berry said of the sled-in.

High school-age students will be able to compete in teams of three to six to build snow sculptures. They are asked to come to the field at 10 a.m. to begin work. The sculptures will be judged, with first place winning $100, second place receiving $50 and third place, $25.

The students can be from any town, as long as they are high-school age, Berry said Wednesday.

There will be a vintage snowmobile display and food cooked by the Livermore Falls Fire Department members.

The children’s sliding area will be near the picnic tables. Livermore Falls Public Works Department members will push snow around to cover any bare spots on the field.

Children are asked to bring their own sleds, the kind that have no runners on the bottom, Berry said.

Once they slide down the hill, there will be a four-wheeler to pull them back to the top. Main-Land Development Consultants, Inc. is sponsoring the sliding portion, Berry, the owner of the company, said.

PalletOne, Inc. will set up a bonfire.

The Livermore Trail Blazers will offer rides in sleighs pulled behind groomers and snowcats.

Among the 25 or more raffle items are a gift certificates for goods and services, jewelry, an otter sled and hitch, a computer rebuild, a sandblaster and a mask.

Several businesses and the Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce are helping, as well.

A portion of Foundry Road behind the Livermore Falls Municipal Building will be closed to the Livermore Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant, Berry said. The public will be able to park in the parking area near the skateboard park. Emergency vehicles and vendors will still be able to get through.

A group of snowmobilers are expected to converge on the field after a noon ribbon-cutting ceremony in Jay on extensions of the Whistle-Stop Trail to Bridge Street in Livermore Falls.

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