MAPLETON, Maine — This weekend marks both the annual Mapleton Daze festival and the Farm Fest at the Gregg Family Farm.
With the help of their sponsor, the Mapleton Lions Club, the Mapleton Daze Committee will be kicking off their events with a new feature. The Bike Coalition of Maine and the Bike, Board and Ski Shop will be hosting a bike rodeo in the Mapleton Elementary School yard tonight (June 25) from 6-8 p.m. To help promote bike safety, the Coalition will be teaching children bike safety and techniques for on- or off-road riding. Those attending with their own bicycles will have the opportunity to test their skills on the rider course. Thirty-five bike helmets will be given out during the evening.
The same traditional events will also take place throughout the weekend including the Woodie Waddell Memorial cribbage tournament, Lions Club chicken barbecue, fireworks display, parade down Main Street Saturday morning, followed by a Shine ’n Show Classic Car Show.
In addition to the “old favorites,” the Committee has worked very hard to introduce new activities. The Mapleton Parent Organization will host a kids’ costume parade Friday night, The Pizza House is sponsoring a whoopie pie baking contest Saturday at the Haystack Historical Society museum, the UMPI Disc Sports Club will hold a dodgeball tournament late Saturday afternoon, and the Mapleton Fire Department will host a Jaws of Life demonstration Sunday morning. In between these new events are numerous other activities for the young and young at heart.
One major change is the location of several of the events on Saturday. Starting at 11 a.m., immediately following the 10 a.m. parade, activities will be taking place at the Mapleton Community Pool, unless otherwise noted. The pool will be open for swimming in conjunction with the other scheduled events and multiple food vendors.
To get a complete listing of all the events, schedules can be picked up at any Mapleton business.
Saturday, June 28 marks the start of the annual Maple Meadow Farm Festival at the Gregg Family Farm on the Mapleton Road. An opening ceremony with a drumming and blessing will take place at 10 a.m. According to their website, “This event generates excitement and enthusiasm in our community with participants and visitors from all over the state. It is a true celebration of country camaraderie on a working farm.”
Promoting a “fun, family-friendly weekend,” visitors can, at no charge, visit displays on wood milling, horse shoeing, hay bailing, horse dentistry and chainsaw carving. There will also be a pottery demonstration, information on bee keeping, antique appraisals, live music, and kids will enjoy the tractor train and horse-drawn wagon rides along with a play area created just for them!
Farm Fest runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Sunday also marks the return of the Farm Fest 5K Milk Run. Participants for the 3.2-mile run can register at the Maine Dairy Board Promotion Booth on Saturday, or online at www.raceit.com.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit the Gregg Family Farm website at www.maplemeadowfarms.com or follow them on their Facebook page.
