A logging truck during one of the past parades of the Maine Forestry Museum’s Logging Festival. Contributed photo
RANGELEY — The Maine Forestry Museum is to hold its 40th annual Logging Festival Days on Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17.
The festival is located at the fairgrounds at 221 Stratton Road. Artists, crafters and vendors are planned to be onsite from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Beans will be buried around 4 p.m. for the bean hole dinner to be served on Saturday of the festival. Friday’s admission to the festival is free.
Bean hole supper during a past Maine Forestry Museum Logging Festival. Contributed photo
Friday evening the festivities continue with the 36th annual Little Mr. & Miss Woodchip contest. Boys and girls ages 6-8 are welcome to participate; they can recite a poem or sing a song. The winners will ride in the parade on Saturday.
The competition starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Rangeley Inn and will include music by the Pulled Together Band along with clogging by the Northern Explosion Dance Team. Those who have a child who would like to participate can contact Liz Pimentel at 917-836-1632. Admission to the woodchip competition is free and any donations are appreciated.
Saturday starts at 10 a.m. with the Logging Parade down Main Street. This year’s parade theme is “An Interesting Past, A Promising Future.” People can see loaded big rigs, floats, bands, antique cars and more.
Smokey the Bear will be new this year. Prizes will be awarded for “Best Loaded Truck,” “Most Appropriate to Logging” (logging industry equipment), and “Best Fitting Parade Theme” for floats and other entries.
To register as a parade participant, call parade coordinator Linda Sikes at 207-491-6566.
Logging competition during a past Maine Forestry Museum’s Logging Festival. Contributed photo
Following the parade, there will be a Birling competition (log rolling) at the shoreline in the town park. The fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature more artists, crafters and vendors, clogging performances, music, the famous bean hole dinner, Baxter Brewing beer, wood carving demonstrations, barrel train rides for the kids, and other children’s activities; all children’s activities are free.
Prizes for the Lumberjack and Lumberjill competition, with up to $3,000 worth of prizes, will be awarded this year. People can watch the axe throw, crosscut, underhand chop, bow saw, hot saw and standing block.
Four women are being inducted into the museum’s Hall of Fame as part of the festivities as well.
Saturday admission is free for members, and $5 for adults 18 and older, $3 teens 13 to 17, and free for those 12 and younger for nonmembers.
For more information, call 207-864-3939 or visit maineforestrymuseum.org.
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