Houlton winter festival planners think winter

HOULTON — If Mother Nature cooperates and lets Old Man Winter stay for a while, Houlton will hold its first Moose Stompers Weekend Feb. 7-9.

“Everyone felt we really needed a winter activity,” said Nancy Ketch, executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, one of the sponsors. “It’s a chance to have fun with winter. We haven’t had anything in five years.”

In the past, warm temperatures, rain, and lack of snow have forced the cancellation of similar winter programs. Ketch said that this year, snow is being stockpiled at Community Park so that if nature decides not to cooperate, event organizers can proceed pretty much as planned.

Activities will begin the evening of Feb. 7, with the “Moose is Loose” sale from 5 to 8 p.m. The event, which is sponsored by the local Retail Trade Board, will give shoppers the opportunity to receive discounts on purchases, according to the value of a “moose card” they draw at random.

From 5:30 to 7 p.m., a spaghetti supper will be held at the Linneus Sno-Sports snowmobile clubhouse in Linneus. There will be public ice skating from 6 to 8 p.m. at the John Millar Arena in Houlton.

Activities scheduled for Feb. 8 will begin with a breakfast at the Meduxnekeag Ramblers snowmobile clubhouse from 8 to 10 a.m. in Littleton. At 9 a.m. there will be a snowmobile trail ride from the Smoki Haulers clubhouse in Oakfield to the Linneus Sno-Sports clubhouse. From there, riders will proceed to Community Park in Houlton where a wide variety of activities will start at noon.

One highlight will be the snow cross, the winter equivalent of a motocross race with a snow-covered obstacle course for snowmobilers to test their skills. Racers in several different classes will be timed.

For those who prefer the challenge of speed, there will be a radar run at the York’s of Houlton car dealership on North Road.

Registration will be required for the snow cross and the radar run.

Others activities on Saturday include a dog sled race, a potato-carry relay, a potato-peeling contest, snowshoe races and log sawing. There also will be sliding for children on a man-made hill at Community Park, sleigh rides and public ice skating at the arena.

During the evening, there will be an ice-skating dance for teen-agers from 8 p.m. to midnight at the arena. There will be a snowsuit ball from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Lounge Downunder at the Shiretown Motor Inn.

On Feb. 9, there will be sliding and snowmobile rides for children and a whiffle snowball tournament at the park. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, as well as prizes for best sports and craziest costumes.

Cross-country skiing activities will be held in the afternoon. Public ice skating will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. and family-night skating will be offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the weekend’s activities, call the Chamber of Commerce office at 532-4216.