Fireworks cap busy July 4th week

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
FIERY DISPLAY — Fireworks bloom over the Houlton Community Park Sunday evening, capping a four-day extravaganza.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Once again, it was a festival to remember as the 2010 Houlton Agricultural Fair closed Sunday evening with a spectacular fireworks display viewed by thousands.
    The heat wave that gripped much of the state Saturday and Sunday put a bit of a crimp on attendance, according to Paul Cleary of the Houlton Fair Association.
    “We were hoping for a little bit more in attendance, but we did alright,” Cleary said. “The two fireworks shows were a real plus. Everyone we have spoken to was really happy with the shows. We heard comments that Sunday’s show was probably the best we have ever had. That’s a great compliment for the fair.”
    Cleary estimated that the four-day event, held at Houlton Community Park, drew an estimated crowd of 11,300 people. The fair started out with better-than-expected attendance on Thursday for “Kid’s Day,” but heavy downpours in the afternoon prevented the fair from setting a record for first-day attendance.
    The Demolition Derby on Saturday was once again one of the largest draws during the fair as more than 1,000 spectators lined the hill to watch cars collide in a no-holds-barred event.
    “The derby was probably one of the smoothest ones we have ever had,” Cleary said. “The derby was easily one of our biggest draws for the fair.”
    As is the case with the fair every year, weather played a large role in attendance Saturday and Sunday.
    “People have to decide if they want to go to camp or go to the fair,” Cleary said. “I always joke that perfect fair weather is 74 degrees and cloudy.”
    Cleary said Kachunga and the Alligators was another popular attraction as were the local entertainment each evening.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
STACKEM UP — Ty Fein, grandson of Don and Marion Collins of Houlton stacks Oreo cookies at the fair.
    “The local bands did a great job of entertaining,” he said. “I think the local bands have a great attraction, so that is something that we will continue to do.”
    The annual July 4th parade drew scores of residents, both current and former, to downtown Houlton.  And for those who could not attend in person, a bit of creativity was involved. Jessica Potter of Danforth watched the parade with her son Lucas and a cardboard cutout of her husband, Sgt. Timothy Potter, who is currently serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
    Results from some of the many contests held at the fair are as follows:
Thursday Contest Winners
     Oreo Cookie stacking contest (8-years-old-and-under) — 1, Austin Winslow; 2, Isaac Gurson; and 3, Hudson Bradbury. 9-13 years old — 1, Piper Flewelling; 2, Liam Bijolle; and 3, Mitchell Grass.
Friday Contest Winners
    Kid’s Eel Contest — (Heat 1) 1, Kelly McLaughlin; 2, Ares Rattay; and 3, Noah Blake. (Heat 2) 1, Malachi Cummings; 2, Colby Jessie; and 3, Faith Jessie. (Heat 3) 1, Samuel Geary; 2, Ethan Merritt; and 3, Macenzie Hipsley.
    Egg Toss — 1, Dillon Jurson and Coreen Jurson; and 2, Noah Blake and Ian Goetsch.
    Softball Contest — 1, Noah Blake; 2, Cole Winslow; and 3, Jim Bartlett.
    Kiddie Tractor Pull —Under 45 pounds 1, Amelia Callnan. Under 60 pounds, 1, Kaden DeMerchant 2, Evelyn Beevers; and 3, Will Ledbetter. Under 75 pounds, 1, Cameron Callnan; and 2, Hannah Harris.
    Soccer Kicking Contest — 1, Amelia Callnan; 2, Cameron Callnan; and 3, Coreen Jurson.
    Hackey Sack Contest — 1, Devin McLaughlin and Ian Goetsch; and 2, Colby Callnan and Cameron Callnan.
Saturday Contest Winners
    Skillet Throw— Ladies, 1, Nancy Gervais; and 2, Kyleigh DeMerchant; and Men, 1, Dustin DeMerchant; and 2, Kaden DeMerchant.
    Egg Toss — 1, Kimball Putnam and Clairee Putnam; and 2, Colby Callnan and Bethany Callnan.
    Salsa Chugging — 1, Reggie McGary; 2, Luke Gagnon; and 3, James Palmer.
Demolition Derby
    Regular Derby — 1, Emery Lincoln; 2, Tim Williams; 3, Leonard Wilde; 4, Mike McAfee; and 5, Bryant Farrar.
    Compact Derby — 1, Daniel Wallace; 2, Emery Lincoln; and 3, John Cummings.
    Fire Department Derby — 1, Oakfield (returning champs); and 2, Linneus.
Sunday Contest Winners
    Parade — Best Commercial, Andy’s IGA; Best Non-Commercial, Houlton Fire Department; Best Walking, Fireman Fred; Best Agricultural, Bartlett Farms Antique Tractors; Chairman’s Choice, Church in Action.
    Pie Eating Contest — Heat 1, Colby Callnan; and Heat 2, Andrew Cummings.
    Moxie Chugging — 1, Reggie McGary; 2, Tom Greiner; and 3, Alexis Copeland.
    Egg Toss — 1, Colby Putnam and Jared Boyle; 2, Bethany Callnan and Colby Callnan.
    Basketball Contest — 1, Jacob Pelkey; 2, Cameron Callnan; and 3, Colby Callnan.