WILTON — While snowflakes fell Monday covering everything in white, Shannon Smith is thinking blue.

She’s deep into planning the 6th annual Wilton Blueberry Festival for Aug. 6 as well as its 30th anniversary in 2012.

For this year, she’s already lined up entertainers, free horse drawn wagon rides and the traditional fireworks for the first weekend in August. She’s still working on one other key ingredient, partners who will lend financial support, she said.

Offering 60 mostly-free events over the two-day festival can tally up a bill of more than $40,000, she said.  She still has about $8,000 to raise.  Fireworks, entertainers and other costs quickly add up when the only festival items charged are the road races and food concessions.

All the entertainment, activities and fireworks are offered free to the large crowds who flock to the festival.

This year, there will be one other charged event. The Thomaston Place Auction Gallery will appraise antique items for the public at $10 for one item and $20 for three.

On Friday night, entertainment will bring Birdie Googins, “the Marden’s Lady,” to town for an hour of comedy followed by an hour of music with Debbie Myers, she said. 

Wilton Recreation plans to offer laser tag on Friday at Kineowatha Park, another first for the festival.

Although Western Maine Expo won’t be available for crafters and vendors this year, there is space at Cushing and Academy Hill schools, both inside and out, Smith said.

The fireworks are also in transition this year as the boat ramp won’t be available due to the bridge replacement. The fireworks will go on though, with everything coming in from Canal Street, she said.

She’s optimistic the necessary funds will be raised. The event will go on, she said.

People have become partners by donating funds in memory of someone, as individuals or businesses.

“They just tell me at what level they can help from $75 to whatever,” she said.

Anyone who would like to help partner with this annual summer event is asked to call Smith at 778-4726.

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