Potato Feast Days are here

By Jane Torres
Special to the Houlton Pioneer Times
    HOULTON — It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since our last Potato Feast weekend. Here we are, the third weekend in August, surrounded by beautiful fields laden with huge plants just waiting for the diggers to fire up and roll into the fields. Time to celebrate our rich heritage with our 53rd annual Potato Feast brought to you by the Houlton Chamber of Commerce.
    The kick off will be on Friday the 17th at 5 p.m. with the first annual lobster feast in Monument Park, sponsored by The Bank of Maine and hosted by the board of directors of the Chamber and the employees of The Bank of Maine. The meal will feature a 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 lb. steamed lobster with Houlton Farms Dairy butter, a baked potato with assorted toppings, corn on the cob, chocolate chip cookies and a beverage. For those not feeling quite as adventurous, there will also be grilled hot dogs. Whatever your tastes in food there will be live music from the amphitheatre by Ted and the Boys starting between 6:30 and 7 p.m. and playing into dusk, so grab the family and a blanket and enjoy the show.
    If you have never seen the Doll and Wagon Wrangler Parade you have been missing a great event that has been a tradition in Houlton for years. At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, the little ones line up in front of the Chamber office at 109 Main St. with doll carriages and wagons led by Tim the Tuneman who does a great impression of the Pied Piper. They follow him down Main St. and around the square and back to the Library where they have juice and cookies and participate in a coin scramble sponsored by Buildings Etc. and Machias Savings Bank.
    On Saturday the fun continues with a craft fair in Monument Park that has gained in popularity in the past few years. There are some vendors who are selling product even as they are setting up their tables, so if there are certain items you are looking for you might want to think about coming early. From the craft fair, make your way down into Market Square, taking time to check out the sidewalk sales that the local stores have hosted for the past few years. Then stop at the Community Market for homegrown and homemade products straight from Aroostook County. As a special treat the Upthere Wood Turners are bringing three lathes to demonstrate their skills and to show us all what a wonderful hobby this can be for the public.
    The Southern Maine Agricultural Museum will be bringing antique potato-picking equipment to the downtown area and Jon Miller is gathering some antique vehicles to be displayed in the Temple Theatre parking lot. A special appearance by Houlton’s very own Cam Clark of fire juggling fame makes all the more reason to bring the family and wander throughout the town.
    If that isn’t enough then check out the Friends and Needles Quilt Show at their new venue, The Houlton Higher Education Center. Lots of parking, mega talent and many friendly people who will inspire you to go home and put together your own quilt!
    So come to Houlton this weekend and celebrate your heritage with friends, family and loved ones. It truly is the way life should be!