The Maine Forestry Museum recently held its 42nd Annual Logging Festival Days on July 14 and 15, captivating both newcomers and long-time attendees. The festival, a regional celebration, commenced with a vibrant Logging Parade down Rangeley’s Main St., followed by a two-day extravaganza at the Museum’s fairgrounds.

Throngs of people lined Main St., eagerly awaiting the parade’s commencement. Adults clapped and cheered, while children erupted with excitement as the parade floats rolled by. Among the crowd favorites were vintage cars, the mesmerizing performance by the Northern Explosion Dance Studio dancers, and a remarkable individual showcasing impressive pogo jumping and jump roping skills. Volunteers distributed commemorative window thermometers, and lucky individuals managed to snag coveted Saddleback frisbees or stickers, while children gleefully caught candy and pencils tossed from the floats.

The festival unfolded over two days, with Friday’s focus on highlighting artists and crafters. The Bob Greene band provided lively entertainment, and attendees relished in the tradition of burying the beans, a ceremony in which beans are cooked overnight by surrounding them with coals. Vendors, including the Baxter Brewing Company, Roxytique Boutique, and Hen Jewelry, offered a diverse array of candy, jewelry, toys, wooden carvings, and stained-glass art.

Saturday morning marked the culmination of the event with the grand parade, themed “Woodstock in the Woods.” Children eagerly anticipated being sprayed with water from the fire truck, while the BMC Diving Scuba truck soaked the crowd with water as people donned scuba gear. The vibrant, sun-drenched day was accentuated by vendors and volunteers sporting tie-dye shirts, embracing the Woodstock theme. The parade’s winners included McLucas Logging and Chipping for Best Loaded Truck, GCA Logging for Most Appropriate to Logging, and Allied Realty for Best Fitting Parade Theme.

Following the parade, the festival swung open its gates and commenced the Hall of Fame Inductions ceremony at the fairgrounds. This year’s inductees included GCA Logging, a renowned company praised for its professionalism and sustainable forestry practices, as well as the Adams family – Aaron, Andrea, and Joshua – who played a pivotal role in the success of GCA Logging. Tim Martin, a seasoned logger, was also honored for his contributions to the field.
Festival-goers had the opportunity to explore the Maine Forestry Museum, where logging equipment and tools were showcased alongside exhibits from the Maine Forestry Service and a collection of Penobscot Native Artifacts. The museum boasted an impressive assortment of wooden carvings and Smokey the Bear memorabilia, who made a memorable appearance in Friday’s parade.

Post-ceremony, attendees indulged in a plethora of activities, including a lively beer garden, a scrumptious cookout featuring sausage and biscuits, and various children’s amusements. Under the shade of a tent, visitors could enjoy performances by the talented dancers from the Northern Explosion Dance Studio, who tapped in unison on a trailer bed towed by the parade truck to many songs, most notably Kook and the Gang’s “Celebration”.
The festival also showcased thrilling competitions such as axe throwing, hot saw, crosscut, bow saw, underhand chop, and an exhilarating fire-starting challenge. Spectators were thoroughly entertained by the participants’ skills and determination.

Scott Stevens, the president of the Maine Forestry Museum, was proud of the turnout, stating: “We are grateful for the good weather and the strong turnout to the Logging Festival. We were excited to gain several new sponsors this year and we are thankful for the sponsors who have supported the Maine Forestry Museum consistently over the years. We could not operate the museum without their support.”

For some, this marked their inaugural experience at the Logging Festival Days, and they were pleasantly surprised by the event’s sense of community and the joy it brought to their families.
This was my first year, and I couldn’t have been more surprised at the community feel of the event as well as the pure enjoyment I had with my family. We will definitely make this an annual event for our family.

Rebecca Richard