Dog Days of Winter and sled races set for Jan. 28-29

BROWNVILLE JCT — On Saturday, Jan. 28 the town of Brownville and the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club will present the eighth annual Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race & Dog Days of Winter event. The activities take place at and around Railroad Avenue, and the event continues on Sunday, Jan. 29.
Saturday begins with breakfast at the American Legion on Railroad Avenue starting at 5 a.m. and going through 9:30 a.m. Mushers arrive from 6-8:30 a.m. and equipment checks will take place from 8-9:45 a.m. A drivers meeting is set for 9 a.m.
Dog sled teams will start the 30-mile race at 10 a.m., departing from the edge of Railroad Avenue with teams scheduled to be on the trails until the middle of the afternoon. The 30-mile trail is a scenic out and back course, traversing varied terrain. Race entry forms can be found at www.mainesleddogclub.com. At 10:30 a.m. a shorter 20-mile race commences.
The Brownville Snowmobile Club maintains the trail, assists with marking the route and is providing sweep sleds for the safety of mushers. The Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club is manning radio communications safety checkpoints along the trail.
A mushers’ fun run starts at 11 a.m., and lunch will be served at the American Legion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Dog Days of Winter will include a number of other free events during the early afternoon along Railroad Avenue, such as turkey bowling sponsored by the American Legion; snow art competition, also sponsored by the American Legion; indoor arts and crafts hosted by the Brownville Recreation Department; a mushing board game hosted by the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club; snow sledding sponsored by the General Store and More; and the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club’s one-dog event as participants of all ages are invited to try their hand at mushing.
The day will conclude with a public dinner and musher awards ceremony sponsored by the Brownville JunctionUnited Methodist Church and taking place at the American Legion from 3-5 p.m.
On Sunday, Jan. 29 the Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race & Dog Days of Winter continues with another 20-mile fun race at 9 a.m. and an awards ceremony following the competition.
For more information, please go to www.trcmaine.org/dogdays, www.mainesleddogclub.com or the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club Facebook page.