Maine WinterFest and Derby
The first annual Maine WinterFest & Derby merges Freeport’s WinterFest and Sebago Lake’s DerbyFest to full family wintersports fun, competition and entertainment
The Maine WinterFest & Derby features all kinds of wintersports activities, plus some unusual races, ice sculpting and other events.
In Maine, Freeport’s WinterFest and Sebago Lake’s DerbyFest have merged to form the Maine Winterfest & Derby. It will run February 23-25, 2007.
The fest offers Maine residents and visitors a three-day extravaganza filled with races, ice fishing, snow and ice sculptures, food, entertainment and even swimming, all in the name of charity. The family-friendly event will offer activities for all ages and prizes for contest winners.
Cost of admission is $5 per day for adults and $1 per day for children under 12.
Presented by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club and the Maine Snow & Ice Sculpting Foundation, the event raises funds for a variety of Maine charities, including Camp Sunshine and the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.
"For the price of a movie ticket, you can come to the festival, stay all day and be entertained. You can’t top it," said Tom Noonan, co-director of Maine Winterfest & Derby. "Families can stay all day and have a blast."
Some of Saturday’s scheduled activities include:
- the Hooked on Fishing tournament for kids 12 and under
- the lighting of the dragon slide ice sculpture, a larger-than-life fire-breathing dragon with a slide for a back and tail
- ice racing, featuring competing cars and motorcycles starts under the lights
- the state’s largest ice fishing tournament, the Togue Tourney, is February 24-25 and offers $40,000 in prizes. Registration forms are available online and awards will be handed out on Sunday at Camp Sunshine.
- Ice skating, dog sled rides, snowboard exhibitions
- perusing the wares at the "Ice Mall"
- the 4th Annual Shaw’s Polar Ice Dip to benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.
- the "So You Think You Can Dance" contest, held at the Point Sebago Restaurant at 7 p.m.
Sunday’s festivities include:
- the Sebago Lake Snowmobile Speedrun, where competitors go against the clock
- the Sebago Lake Cross Country Ski Race is a 10-kilometer loop through Point Sebago
- the Ice Shack Contest, an ongoing event that awards the best huts on the ice
- The Point Sebago Resort will be the central location for festivities.
Arriving by alternative transportation, such as snowmobiles, is highly recommended.
For more information and a full schedule of events, www.icefishingderby.com or www.mainewinterfest.com.
