WILTON — The threat of thunderstorms Friday, Aug. 4, dampened the beginning of the Wilton Blueberry Festival but for the most part the rain never materialized leading to well-attended activities throughout the weekend.

Five year old Zachary Frost of Vermont smiles Friday afternoon, Aug. 4, after a firetruck ride during the Wilton Blueberry Festival. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

Around 11:30 a.m. the United Methodist Church still had tables laden with pies and other baked goods. However, only a few lobster roll bag lunches remained.

Long lines began to form before 1 p.m. Friday near the monument for the firetruck rides. Retired deputy chief Tom Doak said the number of people who could be given a ride depended on the truck. “Five people can fit in the ladder truck, three or four in the engine,” he noted.

Five year old Maisy Jodrey of Wilton samples her cotton candy Friday evening, Aug. 4, at Monument Square during the Wilton Blueberry Festival. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

Lilyana Frost and her brother, Zachary Frost were among the first to be helped into the ladder truck. Their grandparents are Bruce and Earline Frost of Wilton, their dad Bruce Frost said.

“We are back visiting nana,” he noted. “Three years ago Lilyana participated in the fun run, this year will be Zachary’s first time.”

Jaelynn and Zyon Johnson along with dad Brian Johnson took places in the ladder truck.

“What a blessing that they do this,” Jessica Johnson, mom of the Wilton family said. “Oh my gosh! Oh what a moment.”

Katherine Mitchell looks down at her children, two year old Finnegan and one year old Mallory while dad Forest Mitchell stands beside her Friday evening, Aug. 4, during the Wilton Blueberry Festival. The family from Farmington was hoping the rain would hold off for the street dance. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

Evelyn and Ryker Cote’s dad is on the Wilton Fire Department, were waiting for a truck ride. Afterwards they and their cousin, Phoenex Madore of Madison, were given plastic fire helmets.

Grace, a woman with the Maine Office of Tourism said she had been assigned to the lakes and mountains region Friday.

“On a rainy day, the Wilton Blueberry Festival is the best event,” she stated. “The $20 lobster roll bag lunch was a great deal, was fabulous.”

Five year old Cooper Taylor of Wilton strikes a pose Friday evening, Aug. 4, in front of the Civil War Monument while waiting for the street dance to begin. The dance was the last event on the first day of the Wilton Blueberry Festival. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

Friends of Wilson Lake [FOWL] cancelled the boat rides scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Later Friday FOWL President Sandy Muller spoke by phone with The Franklin Journal. The decision to cancel the rides was because of the predicted thunderstorms, she noted. There is a liability issue if something should happen when we take a boat load of people out, she stated.

“We feel really badly we had to cancel,” Muller added. “It isn’t because we are afraid to get wet.”

At 4 p.m. the congregational church had sold out of hot dogs and finger rolls, 45 tickets had been pre-bought for the chicken barbecue, member Allen Kaplan said.

By 6:30 p.m. many had gathered in monument square where several food trucks were doing a brisk business ahead of the street dance.

Katherine and Forrest Mitchell of Farmington brought their children, Finnegan and Mallory. “We came over to check it out, get food from Freedom Forage, enjoy the music,” Katherine said. “Hopefully the rain holds off.”

Lorraine Tanguay of the Kora Shrine Buccaneers waves to to the crowd in downtown Wilton at the annual Blueberry Festival on Saturday, Aug 5. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

On Saturday, Aug 5, the threat of rain was nowhere in sight, leading to hundreds flocking to the streets of downtown Wilton for pancakes, pies, vendors and a whole host of other activities.

The day started at 7 a.m. with the Lions Club’s annual blueberry pancake breakfast that was offered until 10. Over by the Wilton Public Library, Tyngtown Club had almost 100 blueberry pies for sale at $20 a pie.

The money from the pie sales will be allocated to various charities that will be selected by the organization. Almost all the pies were gone before the parade had even begun.

Skowhegan Savings Bank’s mascot Trustee the Tree, worn by Matthew Dubord, marches in the annual Wilton Blueberry Festival parade in downtown Wilton on Saturday, Aug. 5. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

Parade lineup began at its projected time of 8:30 a.m., but the parade itself was delayed until 10:30.

The Kora Shriners divided themselves into multiple groups, each with a different theme. The Kora Motor Corp road vintage cars in the parade, while the Kora Cycle Corps darted around on mini-bikes. One group, the Kora Log Rollers, had their go-carts modeled after semi-trailer trucks.

Several floats embraced the Hawaiian luau theme, with Harris Septic Services, Farmington Baptist Church, PCL Services and the Farmington Area Youth Cheer Wild Catz donning grass skirts and colorful wreaths while riding atop floats decorated with tiki statues and and inflatable palm trees.

Skowhegan Savings Bank’s mascot Trustee the Tree marched in the parade, while the Mt. Blue High School Field Hockey team showed off their hockey stick skills by bouncing a ball on the end of the stick while marching in the parade.

The winning float of the parade went to Revolution Cheer, with Thomas Performing Arts Center taking second and Franklin Saving Bank coming in third.

The parade came to a close at 11:15 a.m., leaving the crowd to a fun filled day with activities left and right. Over by the Western Maine Play Museum, the museum staff had several activities available for kids, including face painting, balloon animals, oversized tower blocks and chalk for coloring on the sidewalk.

The Kora Cycle Corp rides around in circles on mini-bikes for the crowds at the Wilton Blueberry Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5.  Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

Meanwhile, at the Wilton Farm and Home Museum, Richard Corey regaled guests with an exhibit on Sylvia Hardy, Wilton’s giantess. According to Corey, this year celebrates Hardy’s two hundredth birthday. In the basement, Stan Tilton of Western Maine Blacksmith Association gave a demonstration of blacksmithing by heating and forging a metal rod.

Mike Malik just moments from being bucked off the mechanical shark at Kineowatha Park on Saturday, Aug. 5. Families could walk or catch a shuttle to the park to join in on the festivities as part of the annual Wilton Blueberry Festival. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

At Kineowatha Park, kids and adults could engage in a whole host of activities, such as climbing a rock wall, running through an inflatable obstacle course and even riding on a mechanical shark. MBHS’s own Blue Crew were also in attendance, selling root beer floats and showing off their robots to the crowd. RSU 9 board of director Anthony Creznic called the demonstration amazing.

Fireworks burst forth Saturday night, Aug. 5, over Wilson Lake in Wilton to conclude Wilton Blueberry Festival activities that day. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

Saturday evening the fireworks started promptly at 9 p.m. and lasted 19 minutes with very few breaks between the rocket bursts. There were several instances where the crowd thought the finale had occurred because so many went off at once.

The weekend came to a close Sunday morning with an ecumenical church service in Bass Park.

Wilson Lake and the mountains behind it gave a perfect backdrop as organizer Renee Woodard and others were recognized for their efforts in making the weekend such a resounding success.