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Madison Smith, of Andover, participates Aug. 1 in the skillet toss event, with a distance of 46 feet, 8 inches, during Andover Olde Home Days. (Bruce Farrin/Staff Writer)

ANDOVER — From a pie eating contest to a backseat sulky driver contest, the 45th Olde Home Days event brought a huge crowd to the downtown over July 31 and Aug. 1 — thanks to some beautiful summer weather.

The theme this year was “A River Valley Playground.”

Katie Chambers, in the seat, and Kiley Gould, nicknamed Winnie the Puny for the event, both of Bethel, participate Aug. 1 in the Olde Home Days backseat sulky driver contest. With Gould blindfolded, Chambers had to tell her “horse” directions that would allow to her collect as many items as she could reach in three minutes. They did pretty well, getting 14 items. (Bruce Farrin/Staff Writer)
Robin Palmer shows off her sticky smile after winning the blueberry pie eating contest July 31 during Andover Olde Home Days. (Courtesy of Diana Nadeau)

Using an event that is popular in Waterford, Olde Home Days held a backseat sulky driver contest where one person is in the seat voicing directions to a blindfolded “horse” with the goal of collecting as many items as they could in just three minutes.

The skillet toss brought even more fun. After a really good heave, Madison Smith, of Andover, was asked if she yelled out a man’s name when she threw the skillet. “No, but my boyfriend should be here. Wish he’d been on the other end,” she joked.

The Smith siblings, of Rangeley, from left, Hunter, 7, Oakley, 4 and Lakely, 5, watch the Andover Olde Home Days parade July 31. (Bruce Farrin/Staff Writer)

During the Andover Olde Home Days parade, World War II military vehicles and tanks were showcased by private collector Larry Costa.

Many of those attending gathered in the afternoon at The Common. People purchased buttons for a various collection of donation prizes.

Other events included the fire department’s chicken barbeque, a flower show, a photography contest, an antique tractor pull and a cornhole tournament.

Later on, spectators ventured to Grimaldi Field to watch the Mowta Speedway Lawnmower Races. The day concluded with a town dance at the Lone Mountain Campground.

Private collector Larry Costa shows off his World War II military vehicles and tanks July 31 during the Andover Olde Home Days parade. (Bruce Farrin/Staff Writer)

Bruce Farrin is editor for the Rumford Falls Times, serving the River Valley with the community newspaper since moving to Rumford in 1986. In his early days, before computers, he was responsible for...

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