HOULTON, Maine — The moose will be loose once again this weekend as part of the 22nd annual Moosestompers winter carnival.
Moosestompers weekend is billed as three days of winter fun for the family and features a variety of activities for children and families to enjoy together. Returning favorites include the Hogan Tire Skate Night, sliding under the lights on Derby Hill in Community Park and the ATV/UTV/Snowmobile Light Parade scheduled for Friday evening.
“All of the old favorites are back, but we also have a few new things too,” said Nancy Ketch, Houlton’s community development director and one of the organizers for the winter carnival.
One of those new events is a free fishing derby for children on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As part of the regular fishing derby, youth under the age of 16 will be eligible to participate in a derby on Nickerson Lake. The event includes free bait, traps for those who need them, and hole drilling by adults. A free hot dog lunch will also be offered.
Friday night’s full moon should make the Moonlight Snowshoe Hike at the Military Street Baptist Church and sliding on Derby Hill all the more fun.
Saturday’s activities will again include the Meduxnekeag Ramblers Breakfast, Moosestompers Fishing Derby, Wild Katahdin Trust Snow Run and Half Dollar Scramble. In addition, the Giant Sliding Hill will open and sliding races will be held. Horse drawn sleigh rides, hay rides and snowmobile rides will all be available and the Houlton Rec Department’s Cross-Country Ski Trailer will be on site.
Other activities on Saturday include the Sawdust Prize Search, public skating, basketball and hockey games, antique and vintage snowmobile display, the Snowdance and the giant bonfire. People can move inside for the evening for supper at the First Baptist Church (Court Street), a concert, cookies and coffee event at the Wesleyan Church and the Moosestompers Ball at the Downunder Sports Pub featuring Ted and the Boys.
Sunday will feature the sliding hill, cross country skiing, a matinee at Temple Theater, public skating, stick time and open gym and game room at the rec center. Some additional activities are still being finalized.
Hosting an outdoor celebration in February is never an easy task. There is a fine line between having enough snow for all of the snow-themed events and having too much snow in the form of a blizzard. Plus, one never knows if an arctic blast will send temperatures spiralling below zero.
“Moosestompers is a chance to get outdoors, defy the elements, and try to make the most of winter,” Ketch said. “We can all take what is good about winter and have a good time.”
Moosestompers was introduced in 1997 under then Town Manager Alan Bean, who took the idea from the event held on Loring Air Force Base. Prior to 1997, a winter carnival called the YamaFest and was held in the area where Walmart and Hannaford are now located.
For more information, or for changes to the schedule, visit the Moosestompers page on Facebook.
