Nick Young, left, of Norridgewock watches the flight of his horseshoe as his competitor, Bruce Lambert of Norridgewock waits to throw during the horseshoe competition at the 51st Annual Oosoola Days Celebration at Oosoola Park in Norridgewock on Monday. Ten men and 2 women competed in the event.  Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

NORRIDGEWOCK — For decades, Oosoola Days has marked the end of summer in Norridgewock for locals of this small town.

“It’s brought a lot of town people together,” said Sherri Lewis, a member of the town’s Parks Committee, which organizes the event. “It’s nice to see it grow.”

Now in its 51st year, Oosoola Days offered dozens of mostly free activities and other entertainment Sunday and Monday, drawing hundreds of families to enjoy the summer’s unofficial end with Labor Day weekend.

Sherri Lewis said her grandfather Al Lewis, known to many as “Big Al,” started the tradition that became Oosoola Days with the goal of holding an end-of-summer event that would bring together people in town. What started with a frog race, still one the event’s most popular activities, has since grown into a two-day festival, Sherri Lewis said.

It has been held every year, except for a one-year hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 500 people attended Sunday’s events at the town’s airport, according to Val Trial, another member of the Parks Committee. Hundreds were expected at Oosoola Park on the Monday holiday.

Sunday’s events at Central Maine Regional Airport included a pancake breakfast, plane rides and live music.

Brooklyn Quimby, 2 of Skowhegan and her cousin, Hayleigh Bowler, 10 of Winslow touch a six-foot-long Australian jungle carpet python during the 51st Annual Oosoola Days Celebration at Oosoola Park in Norridgewock on Monday. The snake was shown at the Wildlife Encounters Ecology and Wellness Center exhibit.  Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

The festivities picked up again Monday at 9 a.m. with a parade that began at Mill Stream Elementary School, passed through downtown Norridgewock on Main Street, and finished at Ooosola Park, where activities were held throughout the day.

The parade featured local businesses, elected officials, antique tractors, Skowhegan school cheerleaders, and, of course, the blaring sirens of fire trucks from Norridgewock and several surrounding towns.

At the park, children competed in a balloon race, Hula-Hoop contest, sack race, three-legged race and egg toss. Other scheduled entertainment included an animal show, a juggling performance and the annual frog race.

At noon, the Norridgewock Historical Society planned its “duck drop.” Up to 500 rubber ducks were to be placed in the bucket of a front-end loader, which would drop them on a target, with the closest to the bullseye the winning duck.

Ducks were $5 each, and the proceeds were split evenly between the winner and the historical society.

“It’s a good a fundraiser for us,” said Becky Ketchum, president of the historical society, as she sold duck entries.

Nearby, Kayleigh Brisard was selling homemade jewelry. Oosoola Days was the first time the Mercer resident had sold her jewelry, and Brisard said she appreciated that she could set up a vendor table for free.

Though the festival has a small-town feel, Brisard said it seemed well-organized and growing.

“The vibe I’m getting is that they’re trying to make it bigger, it seems,” she said.

Traci Klinker of Showhegan pushes as her children Natalie Klinker, 1, front and her brother Jackson Klinker, 2, ride in a wagon during the 51st Annual Oosoola Days Celebration at Oosoola Park in Norridgewock on Monday. Joining the trio is the children’s grandmother, Julie Farnsworth of New Sharon.  Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

The town has been investing in its recreation infrastructure. Recent upgrades at Oosoola Park, where Monday’s festivities were held, include a new dock, a self-service kayak and paddleboard rental unit and new playground equipment.

A goal of the improvements, town officials said earlier this summer, was to embrace the town’s connection to the river and economic opportunities while retaining the rural character of Norridgewock.

Lewis said Monday she was happy with how many people were taking part in an event intended to be for everyone to enjoy.

And the weather over the two days cooperated, with mostly clear skies and temperatures in the 70s, the air cool and crisp in the shade.

“We’ve had some great weather,” Lewis said.