FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Hundreds of people from across Aroostook County lined the sidewalks of Presque Isle and Main streets in Fort Fairfield on Saturday, setting up folding chairs in the shadiest spots they could find on the humid day and eagerly awaiting the start of the annual Maine Potato Blossom Parade.
The crowd cheered when the procession of antique cars rode down Presque Isle Street, which signaled the beginning of the hourlong parade. Many businesses and community organizations used their creative touches for floats that had both children and adults smiling, such as Pines Health Services’ “Seuss mobile” that featured beloved character “The Cat in the Hat,” the Van Buren pageant queens’ Hawaiian-themed paradise, and the Aroostook River Fish and Game Club’s forest-themed float that proclaimed “We Live Off the Land in Aroostook County.”
As the parade progressed, children ran into the street to grab candy that people tossed from the floats and watched excitedly as folks from the local Shriner’s club showed off their go-cart driving skills. The Shriner clowns also made appearances and delighted children of all ages.
The event was a family affair for Joan Anderson of Presque Isle, who attended with her sons Tom Anderson of Presque Isle, Justin Anderson of Georgia, and James Anderson of Fort Fairfield, and he daughter Janice Walsh of Fort Fairfield, along with Walsh’s children MacKenzie Pictou, 5, and Ethan Willard, 9, and James Anderson’s wife Jamie and children Oliver, 4, and Mason, 2.
“I’ve always loved parades, especially all the floats,” Joan Anderson said. “The festival has been a great way for our family to spend time together.”
Both Pictou and Willard said that they enjoyed seeing the Shriner clowns in the parade and grabbing all the candy they could get.
“We went to the swimming meet and the inflatable bounce house,” said Walsh about other festival events they had attended. “It’s a good time for us to spend together doing different activities.”
On average, 35,000 people attend the Maine Potato Blossom Festival every year and this past week brought a host of fun, family-friendly activities that included musical performances, a baby and bike parade, a tribute to military veterans, historical blockhouse tours, food contests and tournaments and pageants.
Among the guests during the Potato Blossom Parade were U.S. Sen. Angus King, who also met with owners of Buck Farms in Mapleton and Michaud Farms in Fort Fairfield to discuss ways for farmers to diversify their crop selection and energy production. The yearly festival takes place during the potato blossom season and serves as a time to honor Aroostook County’s agricultural heritage.
“Maine’s farmers are the foundation of our state’s rural communities, with a long and proud tradition of producing superior agricultural product,” said the independent senator in a press release issued before his parade appearance. “Both Buck Farms and Michaud Farms are willing to embrace new opportunities, whether it be shifting to different crops to capitalize on market demands or utilizing new technologies to reduce costs.”
King has supported many legislative bills that aim to create opportunities for farmers across Maine communities, including a provision that aims to help the Cooperative Extension better understand the needs of small farmers, veteran-owned farms and ranches and specialty crops.
After the parade, many individuals stayed in town to enjoy late afternoon activities that included a tater tot eating competition, antique tractor pulls, a horse show and the Maine Potato Blossom Queen Pageant. The festivities concluded on Sunday with, among other events, the Spud Cycle Bicycle Race and Tour, performances from singer/songwriters Jacob Graham, Travis Cyr, Putnam Smith and Ashley Storrow, and fireworks on the Aroostook River.
(Photos by Melissa Lizotte)
