WILTON — This weekend’s Scarecrow Festival will feature a Pumpkin Car Derby featuring race cars made with pumpkins.

The festival is set for 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and is sponsored by The Wilton Group and Western Maine Community Action’s Freezin’ For a Reason.

Directions for the derby are available at the Wilton Hardware Store, where Manager Jessi Sawyer said nuts, washers and threaded rods to build cars can be purchased for $10 to $12.

“We carry other supplies, such as rope, to modify or decorate the cars,” Sawyer said.

The wheels can be purchased from Betty Shibles and are about $3 each. Shibles also said a level will be needed to construct each car.

Pumpkins cannot weigh more than 20 pounds. Cars will be weighed before the derby. Franklin Savings Bank is donating supplies for up to 20 youngsters to participate in the derby.

Dennis Medeiros is building the track.

Heats of three racers each will be run until a winner is declared.

Betty Shibles said she spoke with Dick and Robyn Mayer from Damariscotta who came up with the idea for the Damariscotta Pumpkin Festival.

“Their Pumpkin Festival is like our Blueberry Festival,” she said. 

Racers should line up at the bridge by Lake Road between 1 and 1:45 p.m. Heats will begin at 2 p.m.

Other events Saturday include WMCA’s Freezin’ For a Reason Polar Bear Plunge at the boat ramp at noon. Proceeds will support WMCA’s Housing and Energy Program.

Face painting and pumpkin carving, with decorating supplies furnished by the University of Maine’s Everyone’s Resource Depot, will be held at the Wilton Congregational Church. Food City is donating pumpkins for carving.

Scarecrows should be brought to the monument for judging /////// at this time.

Black Acres Farm will offer hay rides at the monument. Window painting at downtown businesses, glitter tattoos at Beauty Mark Salon and pumpkin nails at Pro Nails are other activities. Orange and black balloons will be available at Wilton Hardware Store.

At 10 a.m, Fit Girls will hold a 5K race, starting near the bridge.

The Wilton Free Public Library will have pumpkin stories and an activity at 10:30 a.m.

A water balloon catapult and a hip hop class demonstration will be held near KeyBank. Those dressed in costume should meet there to march in the parade to the polar plunge at the boat landing.

A pumpkin pie-eating contest will be held at 1 p.m. at the Wilton Congregational Church, but participants should sign up there by noon.

Lunch can also be enjoyed at Ray Ray’s Cafe or the New Great Wall of China. 

Attendees may instead elect to enjoy the baked potato spread at the Wilton Congregational Church. All proceeds from the potatoes will be donated to the WMCA Housing and Energy Program. The potatoes are being donated by Double G Farms in Blaine, Maine.

Following the Pumpkin Car Derby, contest winners will be announced. Prizes will be awarded for the best scarecrow, best window painting, best costume for the polar bear plunge, best costume in the parade, pie-eating contest and the derby.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net