Guilford’s Piscataquis River Festival returns on Saturday

GUILFORD — The 14th annual Piscataquis River Festival returns on Saturday, July 28 with a day of events in the downtown area.

This year’s Piscataquis River Festival begins with breakfast served at the Guilford United Methodist Church from 7-9 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.

Festival organizers are looking to hold a “Stretcher Challenge Race,” starting at either 9 or 9:30 a.m. by the baseball diamond (details to be finalized as July 28 approaches).

The Piscataquis River Festival parade through town starts at 9:30 a.m. as local businesses, organizations and others create their best floats. 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 book sale begins and runs until noon.

The bounce house and 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.

Touch-a-Truck will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and live music with the H.J. Crosby Bands starts at noon. Taylor Road performs from 1-5 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. Honky Tonkers take to the stage.

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

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
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GUILFORD — A parade from outer Elm Street to the downtown athletic field helped celebrate last year’s Piscataquis River Festival in Guilford. The float for Northwoods Healthcare/Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital recreated characters from the animated children’s film series “Toy Story.” The 2018 festival will be this Saturday, with the parade starting at 9:30 a.m.