Guilford’s Piscataquis River Festival returns Saturday

GUILFORD — The 13th annual Piscataquis River Festival returns on Saturday, July 29 with a day of events in the downtown area. The 2017 festival features a theme of “Once Upon a Time.”

This year’s Piscataquis River Festival begins with breakfast served at the Guilford United Methodist Church at 7 a.m.

Friends of Community Fitness has a pair of road races, with a free Kids’ Fun Run starting at 7:30 a.m. and then the Fitness 5K beginning at 8 a.m. with registration for both prior to the starting guns from the downtown athletic field. This year’s 5K will follow a reverse route, facing traffic, from many prior festival races.

The Piscataquis River Festival “Once Upon a Time” parade through town starts at 9:30 a.m. as local businesses, organizations and others create their best floats to tie in with the theme. The procession departs from the Elm Street boat landing, crosses the Piscataquis River bridge and travels down Water Street to end at the festival grounds.

At 9 a.m. the Guilford Memorial Library’s book sale begins and runs until noon.

The bounce house and McKusick Petroleum water slide are set to be up and running by 10 a.m., with the food and craft vendor sales also starting at 10 a.m.

Live music with the H.J. Crosby Bands starts at noon at the gazebo.

A softball tournament on the Dave Gaw Diamond to benefit Angels for Education is set for mid-day, with details to be announced on the “Angels for Education” Facebook page.

Table manners will not be required at the 1 p.m. Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union’s pie eating contest.

Music on the sound stage with Triple Threat starts at 1 p.m. and Taylor Road will perform contemporary and country music from 5-9 p.m.

Getting one’s ducks in a row will be quite handy at the 3 p.m. rubber duck race on the Piscataquis River.

Once the sun sets, a fireworks display over Guilford will take place at approximately 9 p.m.

For more information, please see the Piscataquis River Festival page on Facebook.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PISCATAQUIS RIVER FESTIVAL — The annual Piscataquis River Festival in Guilford features a parade through town during the middle of the morning and a past procession featured a color guard made up of members of Boy Scout Troop 61 of Parkman leading the way. This year’s festival will feature a day of events on Saturday, July 29, including a parade at 9:30 a.m. with activities based around a theme of “Once Upon A Time.”