Portage Lake Summer Round Up
to be held this weekend
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
The Portage Lake Summer Round Up is scheduled to take place from Friday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 19. The weekend-long events will kick off Friday at 5 p.m. with a town potluck barbecue at the Pavilion.
There will also be a Luminary Memorial Ceremony at dusk after the town barbecue at the Pavilion on Aug. 17. Purchase a luminary bag for $2 each. Bags are available at the Town Office or at the Pavilion before the event. Decorate the bag with your loved one’s name. Candles will be lit from within the bag and each name will be read with the ringing of a bell in honor and in memory of your loved one.
Saturday, Aug. 18
10 a.m.—1 p.m. The Whoopie Pie Festival hosted by the Portage Lake Tourism Committee will be held. There will be whoopie pies available for sample and for purchase.
3 p.m. The Motorcycle Rodeo will begin on the Town Office grounds. Hosted by the Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club, this event is always exciting and a lot of fun. Open to all on a motorcycle (all style bikes welcome!), the rodeo events test your skills as a rider while letting you show off your ride. Come as an individual or make a plan with your fellow riders for the day. Portage Lake is a great destination for your Saturday ride!
4 p.m. The Pig Roast, also hosted by the Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club, begins on the Town Office grounds to coincide with the rodeo. This is a local favorite! The food is always delicious and it’s a great time to see your friends and neighbors.
6:30—8 p.m. The Canoe Carry at the Lake. This has quickly become a favorite event honoring the Native history of the area. Come out to witness this unique event. It’s something special.
8 p.m./Dusk Fireworks. The long-awaited fireworks display will take place at the lake. The fireworks are hosted by the Portage Lake Tourism Committee.
8:30/9 p.m. Dance at Dean’s. Following the fireworks, the Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club will host a dance at Dean’s until closing. Live music will be supplied by Common Crossing. What a great way to unwind after the day’s events.
Sunday, Aug. 19
Noon Town Parade. The town parade will begin on the hill at St. Peters and will proceed down Main Street. Immediately following the parade, there will be a Civil War Dedication (held at the Veterans Memorial) with the 20th Maine Re-Enactors. The Historical Society organized the ceremony to honor our hometown Civil War veterans by respectively adding their names to the town’s Veterans Memorial Wall from where they had been previously absent. All veterans, no matter the branch of service or when served, are invited to come to Portage Lake for this unique and special dedication.
2 p.m. Un Bon Vieux Temps (French Foods Potluck) will be held at the Pavilion featuring Blistered Fingers Blue Grass Band. This is going to be an awesome afternoon. The band never fails to deliver a great show filled with fantastic sounds. Bring your own lawn chairs for seating (when you’re not dancing) and enjoy a summer’s evening at the lake.
Choose one or all of the events to attend! It’s shaping up to be a super fun weekend filled with lots of family friendly events. All events are open to the public. The town invites and encourages all to attend. Why not come out to the lake for the weekend?
Ongoing events
The Portage Lake ATV Club will meet every first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office. All are welcome to attend. Contact Rena Belanger for membership or more information at 435-2780.
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens meet the first and third Thursday at noon for a potluck luncheon at the LeBlanc Junkins VFW Post 9699 on the Portage Road with a meeting to follow. This active and growing club of senior citizens also takes trips to various restaurants throughout The County, hosts cookouts, enjoys guest speakers and entertainment such as musicians. For more information, contact Roberta Savary at 435-6422.
The Portage Lake Over 50’s Club lunch is held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at the Town Hall. All individuals 50 and over are invited to attend and can bring a potluck dish to share. For more information, contact Wilza Robertson at 435-6211 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
The Red Hat Loonies of Portage Lake meet the second Thursday of every month at Dean’s Motor Lodge. Membership dues are $2. Come and have a great meal and a great time, too! For more information, contact Rachel Stevens at 435-6358.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 435-8232 or Feenhop@aol.com.
