Ideal weather credited for success of Brewer, Orono festivals

BREWER – Jaimee Knowles held her 10-month-old cat Dukey (pronounced doo-key) outside Brewer Auditorium at the conclusion of a pet parade and contest at the second annual Brewer Days on Saturday. The silver tabby sported a witch’s hat and won first place in the cutest costume category at the Saturday-morning event.

The sun shone down on about 30 people who put their dogs, cats and birds on exhibit for the chance at a blue ribbon for pets that ranged from a yellow cockatiel to yellow Labrador retrievers in human bathing suits.

The well-attended event portended success for the rest of the day, and officials estimated that 1,500 people attended festivities that ranged from a spaghetti supper Friday night to a business exposition Saturday inside Brewer Auditorium.

Attendance also was high at the Orono Village Festival about 10 miles up the road Saturday where hundreds of people visited craft booths, international tables and watched entertainment on the Mill Street stage.

The two communities took advantage of ideal weekend weather to stage festivals for hometown crowds.

Placing first in other pet parade categories were: best matching costume, Garrett Campbell and his cockatiel Max; best pet costume, Robert and Lynn Boulier with Merlin; and funniest costume, Theresa Copeland and Camden Amoroso with yellow Labs Ava and Saunder dressed in bathing suits. The most patriotic pooch was Daisy, owned by Christine Willette of Brewer.

Other contest winners were: Citizen of the Year, Charles “Dusty” Fisher. The trivia contest winner, who will enjoy a trip to New York City, was Marcia Barstool of Brewer.