FARMINGTON — Cloudy skies could not begin to dampen the spirit of Summer Fest Saturday morning as hundreds gathered throughout the downtown area for some old time fun.

The festival theme, Olde Time Fun, carried through the event as there was something for everyone including music, children’s games, stilt walkers, artists, food and even a visit with game warden Kris MacCabe, of Wilton, star of the Animal Planet television show “North Woods Law.”

“It’s nice to be a local then all of a sudden become a celebrity,” said Jacob Flanagan of Anson as he and his girlfriend Lindsey Nile waited in line for about 15 minutes to meet MacCabe.

Business sidewalk sales, vendors, musical entertainment and the farmers market spread across Broadway as children’s games and entertainment filled Meetinghouse Park.

Susie Dennison of Temple danced to “Rockin’ Robin,” sung by Gambol Creek’s Jeff and Donna Wells of Farmington, while her sons, Auley and Maurice Romanyshyn, 11 and 9, skirted around as a crowd gathered to watch.

The dance was impressive because it was performed on stilts.

Swirling her skirt and lifting one leg high, Dennison twirled around Broadway, almost making it look easy. She’s been doing it since she was a kid, her husband, Michael Romanyshyn, said.

The three were later joined by Casey Brackett and Jesse Johnson. They continued dancing to music provided by Michael Romanyshyn and Ryan Wilkinson.

Max Olmstead of New Sharon also joined his friends, the younger Romanyshyns, on stilts. He had only a few day of practice, according to his father Dion Olmstead, who stood by prepared to catch him if he stumbled.

Colorful, decorative river vessels set off down the Sandy River from the Fairbanks Bridge Saturday afternoon in the first-ever Great Float Race.

Inflatables, decorated canoes and one unique alternative watercraft created by Micheal Titus and Bretton Mosher-Clark set out for the approximately four-mile float down the river to the train trestle area. The unique watercraft made of swimming noodles won for most original vessel.

A pine tree and boughs decorated the Pine Tree Cellular canoe as Glen Pond, owner, Heather Scott, manager, and her children Sebastian and Addison Scott pushed off for deeper water. The decorated canoe won best vessel decoration.

Five adults, Dory Diaz, James and Jessica Harris, and Amber and Rustin Paine, dressed for an Hawaiian luau, floated upon inflatables as they accompanied young floaters Austin Paine, Ronan Diaz, Cameron Eustis, Makena Diaz and Olivia Paine, dressed as nerds with ties and large-rimmed glasses.

The Hawaiian attire won first place for costumes. But it wasn’t on the water long before the younger floaters left their elders far behind. The nerds came in first in the inflatable category.

“It took about two-and-a-half hours to float down to the railroad trestle area,” Austin Paine said after the race.  “There were a few low spots to walk across but it was fun.”

Simpler old time fun for younger children and families was offered in Meetinghouse Park. For $1, children received five gold coins to spend on games and treats that cost one gold coin each.

Two draft horses, Tim, 14, and Prince, 8, each weighing 2,350 pounds, gave wagon rides around the downtown area as local historian Paul Mills provided a narrative on different sites along the way.

The sun came out as activities continued through the afternoon, including a 5K road race, street dance and an evening concert in Meetinghouse Park to end the evening.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

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