HOULTON, Maine — Houlton’s annual Moosestompers winter festival will kick off next week with traditional favorites like Derby Hill sledding, a moonlight snowshoe walk, fireworks and a half-dollar scramble for kids.
In its nearly 30-year run, generations of families have returned to the traditional end-of-winter blow-out, that comes just days after Punxsutawney Phil predicts spring’s arrival.
Arctic blasts, snowstorms or other February weather surprises do not stop the regulars, who come no matter what the weather. And there’s always a cup of hot chocolate waiting at the bottom of Derby Hill for those willing to brave the elements.
So far, this year’s National Weather Service predictions are good with temperatures from single digits to mid-20s, some sun and no snow.
Most regulars look for the events they loved as kids so they can share them with their children, organizer Nancy Ketch, Houlton’s new interim town manager, said.
“People come up to me and say, ‘I loved that when I was a kid,’” Ketch said, adding that she loves the fireworks.
Mooststompers will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, with a free skate at the John Millar Civic Center and an 8 p.m. moonlight snowshoe walk at the Military Street Baptist Church, also known as Church on the Hill.
Moosestompers will run through the weekend, ending on Sunday, Feb. 8, after a full day of kid-centered events and activities.
Saturday will get off to a brisk start before the sun rises at 6 a.m. with the Meduxnekeag Ramblers Littleton breakfast and the Moosestompers Fishing Derby on Nickerson and Drews Lakes and Mill Pond. Registration and weigh-ins are at Seider’s Variety Store in Hodgdon.
There’s also a free fishing derby from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday for kids under 16 with free bait and hotdog lunch on Drews Lake only. In town, the Temple Theater will host a free matinee.
Organizers brought back the Community Park lighted snowmobile parade last year. The elaborately lighted and decorated sleds will zoom across the fields, and if fireworks watchers come early and line up along the fence by the ball fields, they will see the sleds, Ketch said.
There will be prizes for best decorated antique sled, best kids sled and best all around.
Sunday will be Kids Day and highlights include more sledding, the snow dance, the sawdust toy search, hayrides, a free Temple Theater showing of “Ice Age,” and the half-dollar scramble as kids dig through snow piles filled with 900 half-dollars.
Ketch, who has been organizing the event for years, said she loves to see everyone together having fun.
