WELD —  Winter Fun Day is returning to Mt. Blue State Park this year after not being held for several years.

The event, part of Maine State Parks’ Take It Outside program will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at park headquarters at 299 Center Hill Road with sledding also available further up the road. Special park admission will be $1.50 for those ages 12-64 and free for all others.

“Because this event has not run for the last couple years, our goal this year is to build on the solid base of past years and re-establish the Winter Fun Day at Mount Blue,” Casey Smedberg, park manager wrote in an email to The Franklin Journal. “With that in mind, rather than adding new activities, we have chosen to instead concentrate on a core group of activities that have proven to be popular in the past. Should the event be well attended this year, our goal next year will be to continue developing our program, including with the addition of new activities.”

Smedberg noted there will be no lunch served this year. Instead there will be s’more making over an outdoor fire and coffee and hot chocolate while it lasts.

“Because the event has not run for the last couple of years, the decision was made to focus on the activities themselves as we seek to get this event back up and running,” she noted. “We encourage people to take advantage of some of the local food options in the community.”

Smedberg indicated wagon rides and fat bikes to try out will not be available this year.

The Maine State Parks ski and snowshoe trailer equipped with skis, boots, snowshoes and sleds for people to borrow will be at the event. The ice skating rink will be open with some skates available for loan in the yurt. The yurt will also have a warming fire for folks to ward off the chill after spending time outdoors.

Other activities include nature and winter camping displays, sliding and tote sled rides provided by members of Weld Winter Wildcats Snowmobile Club, and a nature walk at 11 a.m. Guided history tours are also scheduled.

“The guided history tour will be offered throughout the day, in accordance with interest levels,” Smedberg wrote. “A sign-up sheet will be provided at headquarters. The first tour will leave at 10:30 a.m. Guests will be invited to accompany the ranger to an old cellar hole known as “The Merwin Place,” where the ranger will give a short talk on the history of the site. Rides will be available on a tow-behind attached to a snowmobile.”

Smedberg noted, “At present, our ski trails are groomed and, along with our snowshoe trails, are ready for use. For those who are beginners, we have shorter trails in the fields around headquarters that are designed to allow them to practice before heading out on the trails. Our snowmobile trails are also open and connected to the larger ITS network, thanks to the hard work of Weld’s snowmobile club.”

Smokey the Bear is also scheduled to be in attendance, accompanied by a forest ranger, Smedberg indicated.

Those interested in the park can subscribe to it’s condition alerts by texting BLUE to 888-514-7527. For other questions, call 207-585-2261 or visit www.ParksAndLands.com.

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