CORINNA – Misty skies and wet, mushy fairgrounds did nothing to dampen the spirits of hundreds of people this weekend who attended Corinna Old Home Days, the third year of the celebration.

Four days of activities included concerts, a play performance by the Levi Stewart Players, a road race, an art show, an agricultural fair, a fishing derby, a quilt show and lots of live music.

The firefighters’ chicken barbecue dinner and horse-drawn wagon rides were popular, as were the food vendors that offered fare such as homemade ice cream, pizza and strawberry shortcake. For the more adventurous, there were adult piggyback races and a frying pan throwing contest.

But above all, the activities provided an excuse for people to come home and visit. The parking areas were filled with the evidence. License plates hailed from Vermont, Florida, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island, among others.

“I live in Garland now,” Joan Hartford said, as she kept an eye on the pie contest entries. “But I lived in Corinna for more than 20 years and I know everybody. I work part time in the town office now and they love it when it comes to the records because I know who is related to who, who used to live where.”

Mark Carter took the long way to get to Corinna. He retired from Rhode Island, moved to Dexter and then took a job with the grounds crew in Corinna. “This is a great event to bring people together,” he said.

Co-worker Ed Belisle agreed. “People can gather for friendship; people can meet people.”

Paul Moulton said it was a time of gathering, a time for people to reunite and catch up with each other.

Patty Drandle of Skowhegan, who said she lived in Corinna for only a short spell 10 years ago, said she was having a great time. “I’ve met people that I haven’t seen in years,” she said. “This really is a homecoming.”

Trying to corral a couple of active children, Leslie Smith of Wiscasset said she comes to the event because of the old-fashioned air of things. “It’s lovely, sort of like times gone by with the horse rides and the firemen barbecuing and the homemade ice cream,” she said. Her children had participated in egg-in-a-spoon races and hobbyhorse races.

“Even if it pours, this is a whole lot better than sitting in front of a television all afternoon,” Smith said.

Despite sporadic sprinkles, children ran in races and petted goats and miniature donkeys, while parents gathered in small groups and talked.

On Sunday, the road race was held and the Pleasant Street Christian Church held a gospel concert in the auditorium.

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