Mapleton, Maine — The Crown of Maine Balloon Fest will arrive next week starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, and will end Sunday, Aug. 25. after that morning’s flights.
The Mapleton Lions Club continues to be a gold level sponsor and invites everyone to attend the event. Organizers anticipate seven mass balloon launches over the four days, live music concerts, two night balloon glows, tether balloon rides, children’s activities and a youth firefighter muster, among other activities.
As part of the Balloon Fest, the Presque Isle Elks Club will host a pancake breakfast at their lodge on Main Street from 7 to 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, August 24. Members of the public can meet the pilots, who will be glad to answer questions about their flying experiences and how their hot air balloons work. The breakfast is open to the public.
Also this year more than 50 craft and business vendors will be set up in The Forum.
The Lions Club will sell sausage sandwiches, doughboys, burgers, red hot dogs and fresh-cut fries Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening. This is the club’s last fundraiser for Lions charities for the year. All are encouraged to come support the work of the club that supports the Mapleton Boy Scout Troop, Mapleton Christmas lighting, recreation department, purchase of eyeglasses for the needy, Mapleton Daze and college scholarships, among others.
Fiddlers at Lions Hall
The Wednesday Evening Fiddlers will return to Mapleton at 6 p.m. on Thrusday, Aug. 15.
The Haystack Historical Society will host the fiddlers at the Mapleton Lions Hall. At last year’s Wednesday Evening Fiddlers evening, the audience experienced a delightful music program.
The Haystack Historical Society and the Mapleton Lions Club appreciate the willingness of the fiddlers to allow both organizations to split the donations accepted at the door. Additionally, the society appreciates the Lions’ willingness to waive the hall rental fee in lieu of splitting the donations received.
There will be light homemade cookies and brownies and Coca-Cola refreshments for sale to benefit the museum.
The Wednesday Evening Fiddlers consist of 20 or more musicians who meet regularly and enjoy playing music together. Soon after their early beginnings, they needed to find venues at which to perform and share the results of their weekly rehearsals. In the process of finding venues, they began to help various organizations.
Garold Hanscom, general manager of the Wednesday Evening Fiddlers, said they are pleased to be able to help organizations like the Haystack Historical Society and the Mapleton Lions Club by putting on musical shows that are enjoyed by all who attend.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
