Egg festival attendance curbed by weekend rain Pittsfield organizers say crowds down 25%

PITTSFIELD – Saturday rains dropped the gate at the 34th annual Central Maine Egg Festival by about one fourth, organizers estimated Monday, compared to record crowds at events held earlier in the week.

A final accounting of profits and losses won’t be available until the Egg Festival Committee’s September business meeting, according to Sheri Davis, publicity chairman, but anecdotally, most vendors said attendance slumped with the rain.

“On Saturday, from 11 [a.m.] to about 2 [p.m.] we had the biggest crowd ever,” Davis said. Crowds were four or five people deep in places along the mile-and-a-half parade route.

Many of those people streamed into Manson Park after the parade for the festival’s largest-ever craft fair and other events, including horseshoe tournaments, dog contests and the popular carnival.

“Traditionally there is a lull in the afternoon followed by huge crowds again at night. But when the rains started, the people didn’t come back,” Davis said.

The local Kiwanis Club, which sponsors the carnival and fireworks, may have really lost money.

“I think we might be $30,000 in the hole,” Bill Varney said Saturday night as tents began shutting down.

Davis – who commented Monday “I don’t know what sleep is” – said the committee will meet in September for a final accounting and to choose next year’s theme.

This year, the theme was “Super Heroes” and winners in the Big Parade were:

. Individual: Central Maine Lawn Chair Drill Team.

. Small business: Nexus;

. Big business: Shop ‘N Save;

. Organization: Daisy Scouts. The Scouts also took the overall traveling trophy.

Davis said any community member interested in offering a theme idea or volunteering for next year’s special anniversary festival should come to the September meeting, which will be announced later.

BDN reporter Sharon Kiley Mack is a member of the Central Maine Lawn Chair Drill Team.