HOULTON, Maine — Sub-zero temperatures on Saturday night did not stop the winter hardy from enjoying the slated Moosestompers events like sledding and snowmobile rides.
For the 29th year, the Moosestompers three-day weekend, Houlton’s last outdoor winter shindig before spring, drew families from the region for sledding, cross country skiing, ice fishing, bonfires, hot chocolate, fireworks and a full day of kids fun on Sunday.
“The lakes were packed on Saturday for the fishing derbies,” said Nancy Ketch, the town’s community development director. “And the Temple Theater had three times as many people for the free matinee. And several kids went ice skating for the first time. .”
Houlton’s legendary winter festival kicked off Friday with ice skating at the John Miller Civic Center followed by a moonlight snowshoe hike at the Military Street Baptist Church/Church On The Hill.
Saturday night was the coldest of the three days with temps hovering about 10-degrees Fahrenheit below zero. But not a Moosestompers record. A few years ago, temperatures were below Antarctica on Saturday, causing planners to cancel Moosestompers for the day.
Nonetheless, Saturday night’s weather did not stop kids from making run after run up and down the Derby sledding hill.
Most of the events Moosestompers have come to count on returned this year, with the hay wagon and toboggan rides, ice skating, the half-dollar scramble, the sawdust prize search, Seiders Variety Store Moosestompers Saturday fishing derby, with cash prizes, hockey games, free family matinee movies at the Temple Theater and the traditional snowdance in Community Park.
According to Ketch, on Sunday town crews dropped the pile of sawdust in preparation for the kid’s prize scramble and when they went out to begin the event, there was a huge crowd ready to search the pile.
Revived this year is the snowmobile light parade around Community Park before the fireworks display on Saturday night and cars started lining up for the parade and fireworks nearly an hour ahead of the slated time.
The lighted sleds traveled me across the fields in figure-eight patterns while onlookers stayed toasty in heated vehicles.
The ever-growing number of sponsors makes it possible for families to have a day or evening filled with fun winter events for free.
“It’s a real combined effort to pull this off every year,” she said.
