LIMESTONE, Maine —Limestone’s celebrating the end of October with a Harvest Festival, and organizers have made certain to include something for everyone. There’s even an Apple Pie Baking Contest with the all-American dessert slated for sharing with those in attendance after the judging.
The Apple Pie Baking Contest takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Limestone/Caswell Historic Society Museum from 5 to 6 p.m.
What a better way to preemptively work up an appetite than dancing the evening away to Turning Point at the Limestone Country Club on Oct. 22, sponsored by the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce. The band was originally scheduled for the Street Dance during the town’s Fourth of July Celebration, which was rained out. Tickets will be $5 for the 7 to 11 p.m. concert, with proceeds going to support the town’s 2012 Fourth of July Festivities.
The concert is the first of two events held at the country club; on Sunday, Oct. 23 there will be a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament with a $50 buy in, sponsored by the chamber as well. The games kick off at 2 p.m.
With celebration of the harvest comes an increasing emphasis on the harrowing holiday that comes in late October, and staff at the Limestone library are helping set the mood with a Spooky Story Hour on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m.
Knowing that some of the best stories have yet to be written, officials with the library are also encouraging young minds to pen their own scary stories and enter the Spooky Story Contest; stories may not be longer than two double-spaced type written pages or 500 words and need to be submitted by Friday, Oct. 21.
But artistic expression begins far before linguistic skills fully develop, which is why the library’s Creepy Coloring Contest engages young artists at the Pre-K level and up. Coloring entries also need to be submitted by Friday, Oct. 21.
Many events have been coordinated to engage all ages, like the Family Harvest Dance starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Limestone Fire Station. Tickets are $3 per person or two tickets for $5.
Saturday, Oct. 29 is looking to be a particularly spooky Harvest Festival morning, with a Witches Tea for girls from five- to 10-years-old from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the Limestone Recreation Center with $1 admission, and a Monster Bash for boys from five- to 10-years old from noon to 1:30 p.m. with $1 admission from the rec. center as well.
Saturday night on Oct. 29 is full of fun as well, with a Harvest Carnival from 4 to 6 p.m. with games and prizes for participants of all ages.
The culmination of a month-long celebration, Halloween activities conclude with Trunk or Treating and a Haunted House coordinated by students and faculty of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics. Students and Faculty have been creatively preparing a terrifying conversion of the MSSM dorms into a bone-chilling Haunted House for those that dare enter. The Haunted House starts at 6:15 p.m, with Truck or Treating held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Trunk or Treating is Limestone Recreation Director Amanda Brooker’s favorite Harvest Festival event, as last year’s costumed celebration was a scary success. Last year there were 15 businesses and community members that signed up to furnish the treat aspect of Trunk or Treat, and Brooker is hoping for the same number this year.
Brooker also mentioned that the appeal of Trunk of Treat is an increased level of safety for youths enjoying the holiday.
“It’s a nice, well-lit area filled with fun people from the community and candy that’s all been checked before being handed out,” she said.
Pre-sign up is a necessity for businesses, community members and non-profit groups to participate in Trunk or Treat. There’s a $5 per-vehicle entry and applications must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 21.
For additional information regarding events offered during the Harvest Festival, visit the Limestone Recreation Department’s Facebook page.
