Washburn Festival events begin today

WASHBURN — The annual Washburn August Festival will offer a number of events beginning Friday, Aug. 16, continuing through Sunday, Aug. 18.

The festival will begin with an alumni banquet Friday, Aug. 16, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. A social hour will be held at 5 p.m. followed by a potluck supper at 6 p.m, and a dance from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Washburn District High School.

Activities offered Saturday, Aug. 17, will include arts and crafts displays, a 10 a.m. parade, and turtle rides from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the town parking lot.

Flea markets will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Salmon Brook Museum and the Aroostook County Historical Barn, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bud Umphrey’s barn on Main Street. A plant show will begin at noon at the Washburn Memorial library.

A radio-controlled airplane flying demonstration and horseshoe tournament will take place during the day at the high school.

Activities on Sunday, Aug. 17, will begin with a quilt show from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the town library. Afternoon offerings will include a cooking contest at the Civic Center, an antique car display at the Post Office, a taxidermy display at the town’s parking lot, and a National Guard howitzer display.

Activities offered to children will include a frog-jumping contest at noon at the recreation center, a diaper derby at 1 p.m., a baby parade at 1:30 p.m., a doll parade at 2:30 p.m. and a children’s bicycle parade at 3 p.m., all at the town park.

The Washburn Fire Department will offer a chicken barbecue at 11:30 a.m., a dunking booth at noon, and a haunted house from 1 to 4 p.m. at the fire station.

Animal events will include a pedigree dog showcase from 2 to 4 p.m. near the town parking lot, a children’s pet show at 1 p.m. near the library, and horse and pony rides from noon to 4 p.m. on School Street.

A skateboard competition will be held at 1 p.m. at the high school parking lot, and a radio-controlled car race at the elementary school parking lot.

Health information, a blood pressure clinic, and free ice cream will be provided at the Washburn Health Center parking lot.

A boys soccer fund-raising exhibition game between Washburn and Caribou high school teams will be held at 2 p.m. at the elementary school in Washburn.

The Methodist Church will hold a bean-hole-bean supper from 4 to 6 p.m. at the fire station. A variety show titled “Tribute to Loring Air Force Base” will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the high school.

Events on Sunday will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a 2.9-mile road race. A car stereo sound-off will be held at 10 a.m. behind the high school. St. Catherine’s Church will offer a brunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the fire station.

The historical barn and museum will be open from noon to 5 p.m. A gospel concert will be held at 2 p.m. at the high school. A kite flying contest and picnic supper will be offered from 4 to 6 p.m., and there will be a water slide from 2 to 4 p.m. behind the high school.

A tennis and softball tournament, and a hunter’s fun shoot will be offered Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17 and 18. The tennis tournament will be held at the high school tennis courts, and the softball tournament at the Wade Road Little League fields. The fun shoot will be held at the Presque Isle Fish and Game Club on the Parsons Road in Presque Isle. Times have yet to be announced.