PARIS – Oxford County Special Olympics athletes from throughout the county will gather on Saturday, Nov. 8, for the sixth annual bowling tournament and harvest dance.

Starting at noon, teams from Norway, Fryeburg, Rumford, Oxford, South Paris and beyond will roll their candlepin balls at Hobb’s Lucky Lanes. A second session of bowling will follow at 2 p.m.

Athletes of all ages have been training for the past two months at bowling alleys and schools in their home towns. All of the competitors will earn awards for their efforts, and in Special Olympics tradition, all of those awards will be bestowed upon the athletes by area law enforcement officers.

Also a tradition, the tournament will be followed by a harvest dance and banquet. Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School will be the scene, and the culinary arts program and Special Olympics volunteers will offer participants a buffet-style banquet. Favorite dance tunes will follow the banquet.

The success of Special Olympics events is dependent upon the thousands of hours of local community-based volunteer time given each year and the support of private and corporate sponsorships, as well as assistance from the Special Olympics headquarters in South Portland.

Those wishing may become a Special Olympics volunteer, support the program with donations of cash, in-kind services or products or sponsor an event.

To find out more, contact Dawn Pressey at 743-0020. To learn more about how to help Special Olympics at the state level, call 879-0489 or e-mail [email protected].