RANGELEY – After 35 years, the annual logging festival held on the last Saturday of July has been canceled, but the Maine Forestry Museum’s Little Miss and Mister Woodchip Contest on Friday, July 29 and the 36th Annual Logging Festival Parade on July 30 will be held.
According to the museum’s announcement, the daylong Logging Festival, which traditionally held lumber competitions, art and craft vendors, a bean hole supper, demonstrations and entertainment, was canceled due to a lack of volunteers willing to organize it. The Maine Forestry Museum was formerly called the Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum.
“We, Maine Forestry Museum, regret to inform you that the Logging Festival field day only on July 30 has unfortunately been cancelled due to lack of manpower, ultimately leading to lack of organization that takes many months of planning to put on a festival of this magnitude. It takes a solid 30 volunteers to put on an event of this magnitude.”
Liz Pimentel, who is coordinating the Museum’s Woodchip Contest set for Friday night, wants everyone to know the contest will be held despite the cancellation of the Logging Festival on Saturday.
The Little Miss and Mister Woodchip Contest, for girls and boys aged 6 to 8, will be held 7 p.m. on Friday, July 29 on the Forestry Museum grounds at 221 Stratton Road (Rt. 16) in Dallas Plantation.
The young contestants will sing a song or recite a poem or they may choose a favorite or write their own. Other performances, such as dancing or playing musical instruments, will not be accepted toward the competition, she noted. Every Woodchip contestant receives a prize.
The boy and girl who are named Little Miss and Mister Woodchip will have the honor of riding in a float in the Forestry Museum parade on Saturday.
The 36th Annual Logging Parade at 10 a.m. starts at The Rangeley Inn and travels along Main Street through town. This popular parade showcases logging equipment from the surrounding areas.
To enter children in the Woodchip contest, contact Liz Pimentel (917-836-1632).
Everyone is invited to attend this Rangeley tradition. New this year will be the clogging groups InClogNeato and Triple C Dance Team performing. Bluegrass music by the Pulled Together Band will also highlight the evening. Admission for adults is $5 and children under age 18, $1.
The Maine Forestry Museum, located at 221 Stratton Road, opens Wednesday through Sunday from 11-5 p.m. For more information about the Museum and its events, call 864-3939 and visit the Museum facebook page and website: http://rlrlm.org
Don’t miss InClogNeato, I hear they are pretty good…
young folks would rather play electronic games than volunteer, it’s everywhere!