CARIBOU, Maine — The first DustBowl will be held in Caribou and at Spud Speedway, much in the tradition of the successful SnowBowl.
A kickoff banquet for sponsors and guests will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Evergreen Lanes, with the event opening to the public from Friday, Sept. 15, to Sunday, Sept. 17.
The DustBowl will feature three days of different entertainment venues for locals and visitors from outside Aroostook County to enjoy. The event wants to attract visitors from outside of Maine to come and visit Caribou.
“We are bringing people to Aroostook County,” said Troy Haney, owner of Spud Speedway. “It’s good for the entire state of Maine because as people come from all over New England to Caribou, they travel up the interstate.”
A scarecrow decorating contest began on Sept. 1 with entries due by 5 p.m. Sept. 13 and the winners will be announced on Sept. 14. The themes for the scarecrows will be traditional, humorous, most unique, business and best DustBowl Theme.
Events for the DustBowl will open to the public at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, at the Caribou Wellness & Recreation Center on 55 Bennett Drive. It will host a Pumpkin Drop at 6 p.m. and RaveX Stunt Show at 7:30 p.m.
The pumpkin drop is a fundraiser to raise money for the Future Farmers of America.
Grass Drags will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16, with the gates opening to the general public at 9 a.m. and the drags will kick off at 10 a.m. The Grass Drags will take place at Spud Speedway on a hard-packed dirt surface.
Later in the evening a Laser Light Show will be held at 7 p.m. and a Drive-In Laser Light Show that costs $20 per car load will happen at 9 p.m.
Other activities will include zip lines for from Friday to Sunday.
On Sunday, Sept. 17, an ATV Mountain Ride will meet at the Aroostook Centre Mall and leave at 10 a.m. for a ride to Mars Hill Mountain. A car show will be held on the track at Spud Speedway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the unveiling of the truck and tractor pull track will happen at around 1 p.m.
Later on Sunday, a Burnout Competition will take place at 2 p.m., Maine Outlaw Midget Series and Enduro Tour Race will happen at 3 p.m., and a Demolition Derby will cap off the DustBowl at 4 p.m.
Around 20 different food trucks will be featured at the event from around the state, said Jim Gamage, co-owner of Spud Speedway.
“We’re on par to do about 25 to 30 events next year,” Gamage said. “I think [Spud Speedway] is tremendously important because it’s an excellent economic driver.”
Every ATV and Snowmobile Club can set up shop for a free vendor at Spud Speedway for raffles.
