WELD — Take It Outside Winter Family Fun Day will not be held at Mt. Blue State Park this year.

The popular event is one of several that have been held at Maine State Parks to encourage people to get out and enjoy winter activities in the parks. Mt. Blue typically held its program on the first Saturday in February, but it was canceled in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was not held last year either.

“It was a variety of things,” Bruce Farnham, park manager told the Franklin Journal in a phone interview Wednesday morning, Jan. 25. “Planning started later than it normally does, I wasn’t here when they started planning, and there was still some hesitation because of the viruses. RSV was here, the flu was bad and COVID was still there.”

St. George planned to hold one this year, but it was canceled, Farnham said. Most still are not being held, although one was planned last weekend at Camden Hills State Park, he noted.

Weather has also been an issue this year, Farnham said. There hasn’t been much snow until recently for the ski and snowmobile trails, freezing then slush have created issues for the ice rink, he noted. The rink needs a new ice coat on it but is usable, he stated.

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands cross-country ski equipment and snowshoes trailer will be at Mt. Blue State Park this weekend and next, Farnham said.

Snowshoes, skis, boots and poles in a variety of sizes are available in the trailer for those who don’t have their own or wish to explore a new winter activity. Some ice skates and skating aids are found in the yurt near the ice skating rink.

The expectation is to have things back on track for Take It Outside Winter Family Fun Day at Mt. Blue State Park next year, Farnham said.

More information about Mt. Blue State Park may be found on the Bureau of Parks and Lands website.

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