Mapleton gears up for really big weekend
New attractions plus old favorites equals fun ‘Daze’ for everyone
Special to The Star-Herald
Plans for the 22nd annual Mapleton Daze festivities are falling into place, according to committee chair Julie Powers.
The brochures that are published each year are now available at all Mapleton “hot spots,” including Tenney’s Country Store, The Pizza House and Mapleton Diner. The committee approached the fifth-grade teachers at Mapleton Elementary School earlier this year to enlist the help of their students with a brochure cover design. Drawings were completed and submitted to the committee and the winning design was created and drawn by fifth-grade student, Mari Shaw, the daughter of Robert and Paula Shaw. The design features all things popular to the area: moose, pine trees, maple leaves, and potatoes.
The committee has once again worked very hard to add new attractions to the weekend while bringing back the “old favorites.” Some of the new activities will include an entire new set of games for the children and a unique obstacle course. Bungee bull riding will return, as will the popular inflatable jumping castles.
The pool party that hasn’t been on the schedule since 2002 has returned this year and is scheduled for Saturday night. Saturday afternoon will feature a brand new event at the pool field. Teams of six or more will be challenged to a series of mini challenges and the final two winning teams will compete in a softball game. The successful team will be awarded the first “Maple Leaf Cup.”
Numerous food booth vendors will be on hand during the weekend to tempt attendees’ taste buds. Several non-profit groups will be working hard to raise funds for their various causes. Included in those groups are the Presque Isle FFA Chapter, Presque Isle Youth Hockey, Mapleton Baptist Youth, Mapleton Methodist Women, Haystack Historical Society and a student-led organization of social workers from the University of Maine at Presque Isle who are raising funds to take a trip to Tanzania, Africa.
The Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce has generously sponsored two items this year. They have sponsored the sale of the annual T-shirts and are working in conjunction with the Aroostook State Park and Bureau of Parks and Land to lead a guided hike on Haystack Mountain Sunday morning. Free safety kits will be provided to the first 100 hikers, compliments of ACAP Healthy You, Poland Springs and TAMC.
The schedule of events for this year’s Mapleton Daze is as follows:
7 p.m. Woodie Waddell Memorial Cribbage Tournament at the Lions Hall. Fee is $2. Sign up at the door. Bring board and cards if possible. Singles welcome.
7 p.m. Beano at the Lions Hall. Donations accepted.
7 p.m. Viewing of silent auction items to benefit the Chapman Ridge Runners. (Thursday through Saturday)
5-7:30 p.m. activities include:
Chicken Barbecue. The Lions Club will be serving supper at the Elementary School parking lot. One-half barbecued chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, roll and beverage. Takeout will be available.
Homemade pies and coffee. $2 per serving of pie and coffee only 50 cents. Sponsored by the Mapleton United Methodist Women. This event has become a very tasty annual tradition.
Homemade ice cream will be on sale during the evening. Sponsored by the Mapleton United Baptist Youth Group. $1 per scoop.
Mapleton Daze T-shirts will be available in limited supply and may be purchased in advance while supplies last at Tenney’s Country Store as well as on site at the Mapleton Elementary School during the festival. Sponsored by Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce and Tenney’s Country Store.
Silent Auction Items available for bids. View items at the Lions Hall. Sponsored by the Chapman Ridge Runners.
6-8:30 p.m. Jumping Castles and additional inflatable attractions.
6:30 p.m. Survivor Contest for ages 13 and up. Sponsored by the Pizza House. Hosted by the Mapleton Boy Scouts.
7 p.m. Scavenger Hunt for all kids at the bike drawing table. Sponsored by the Mapleton Fire Department. Smoke House sponsored by the Mapleton Fire Department.
Fireworks 3-D glasses will be on sale for $1. Proceeds will benefit the Mapleton Baptist Youth Group.
Dusk: Fireworks display. (Rain date is Saturday night – same time, same place).
Movie Night featuring “Shorts” following the fireworks behind the school. Bring chairs or blankets. The Mapleton Baptist Youth Group will also be selling popcorn.
6:30-9 a.m. The Gloria M. McPherson Memorial Breakfast will be served by the Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club in the Lions Hall. Open to all. The menu will be eggs, ham, hash, baked beans, biscuits, coffee and juice. Silent auction items will be available for bids.
9 a.m. Mapleton Daze Fun Run. Registration starts at the school. The race will begin at 9 a.m. and is for all ages. Sponsored by County Physical Therapy, LLC.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Lions Hall will be open with past Mapleton Daze albums for reminiscing.
9:30 a.m. Parade down Main Street, sponsored by Savings Bank of Maine. Participants should line up on the Dudley Road by 9 a.m.
9:30 a.m. A bike parade will start at the Pool Road and lead the Mapleton Daze Parade through town. Participants should be at the end of the Pool Road by 9 a.m. to organize. Medals will be awarded for the best decorated bike/trike/stroller or wagon in four age categories. Strollers or wagons age 2 and under. Bikes ages 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Haystack Historical Society Building will be open. Homemade Pie and Ice Cream Sale. There will also be a special photo display this year of the Pythian Sisters by Gertrude Christie. The Pythian Sisters were once a very active service club in Mapleton and through their generosity helped many local people in need.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Maple Meadow Farm Festival. A celebration of country camaraderie. 830 Mapleton Road, Route 163 West, three miles from Presque Isle. Featuring antiques, fine crafts, good food, live music and wagon rides, demonstrations of horse-powered farming and antique tractors. Free admission. Contact Miriam Gregg at 764-6450 for more information.
All activities to be held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the school yard. Petting Farm sponsored by the Nickerson Family, free pony rides, children’s games (NEW), operated by the Presque Isle Girl Scouts; jumping castles, bungee bull riding, obstacle courses (NEW), food booths selling hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, pizza, dough boys, sausages, cotton candy, shaved ice, chips, drinks and much more.
11:15 a.m. Watermelon Eating Contest. Sponsored by Friends Market. Prizes will be awarded in three age groups (7 and under, 8-12 and 13 and up).
11:45 a.m. Hula hoop contest in center of the school yard. Prizes will be awarded. In memory of Carroll “Papa” Langille, Sr.
Maine State Police Canine Demonstration behind the school.
Noon. Giant haystack with hidden prizes, sponsored by the Presque Isle Rotary. Four age groups (4 and under, 5-7, 8-10 and 11-12).
Noon-2 p.m. Horse-drawn wagon rides will be given for the whole family. Provided by the Putnam Family.
12:45 p.m. Raffle for girls and boys bikes and girls and boys wagons will be drawn at the bike table in the school yard.
1 p.m. Horseshoe tournament. Call Danny Brettonat 764-0855 in advance for registration. There will be a $5 entry fee and it will be a “winner-take-all” tournament.
NEW – Family and Friend Maple Leaf Cup Challenge. Mini challenges including a three-legged race, egg toss, etc. Final two teams will compete in a softball game. Each team competes to win the Maple Leaf Cup. Location: pool field. Teams of 6 or more members.
Popcorn, hot dogs, and soda available for purchase. Sponsored by the Mapleton Methodist Church.
2-8 p.m. Music festival on Main Street featuring Randy Michaud, Wendell Hudson, Donna Nelson, the Pink Ladies and more.
Winners of the Chapman Ridge Runners Silent Auction will be announced at the Gazebo.
5-6:30 p.m. Baked Bean and Ham Supper sponsored by the Presque Isle High School Class of 2011 will be served at the Lions Hall. Tickets are $3 for children 12 and under and $6 for adults. The meal also includes potato salad, coleslaw, dinner roll and dessert. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
6:30 p.m. Alumni Banquet at the elementary school. Advanced reservations only.
7-9 p.m. Pool party.
6-9 a.m. NEW – Haystack group guided hike. Sponsored in part by the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce, Aroostook State Park and Bureau of Parks and Land. Free safety kits will be provided to the first 100 hikers, compliments of ACAP Healthy You, Poland Springs and TAMC.
7 a.m. Sunrise Service will be held at the Gazebo with Nathan Gardiner and friends. Rain location at the Lions Hall.
7-10 a.m. Breakfast at Mapleton Diner. The wait staff will be members of the Presque Isle FFA Chapter.
9 a.m. Jerry Dow and Merlyn Buck Memorial Walk. Pledges will go to the alumni scholarship fund. Meet in front of the Lions Hall. Call Katie Buck at 762-7891 for information.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ATV Poker Run sponsored by the Mapleton ATV Club. Registration is by the Gazebo. Call Clayton Craig at 764-0092 for more information. It will be a 35-mile ride. Several nice prizes will be awarded.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Maple Meadow Farm Festival continues.
