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The Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 14th Annual Katahdin Area Wooden Canoe/Arts Festival August 14, 2010 at the Medway Recreation Complex in the town of Medway. This year's festival was proudly sponsored by Patrick Hunt, Gerald Pelletier, Inc., Randy and Anne Jackson, Katahdin Federal Credit Union, Eastmill Federal Credit Union, Millinocket Regional Hospital, Hannaford Brothers, Pangburn Family IGA, Brookfield Power and Orvis.
The Wooden Canoe Festival was derived from a small group of local people interested in our outdoor heritage and continues to attract wooden canoe and outdoor enthusiasts from far and near. The 2010 Festival kicked off at 9:00 am on the beautiful banks of the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Canoe building demos by nationally renowned Jerry Stelmok and Rollin Thurlow were presented as well as a demonstration of Native paddle making by Barry Dana. There was also Native basket weaving, wood crafts and canoe boatyard sales. In the water the festival offered scenic float plane rides, canoe demos and flat water canoe races. Other attractions included music all day by the Doughty Hill Band, Spirited Folk and Mark "Guitar" Miller. The day ended with a delicious chicken Bar-B-que supper sponsored by Hannafords. This year's festival brought back the popular "Taste of Katahdin." Lunch goers sampled tasty dishes from 9 of the area's restaurants. Restaurants participating were Effie's Bakery, Grassroots Catering, River Drivers, Scootic Inn, Subway, Pelletier Family Logging Restaurant, Soup to Nuts, The Aerie and The Applachian Trail Cafe. Money earned thru ticket sales was donated to the Medway Centennial + 35 celebration which was held August 13-22. For anyone bringing a wooden or canvas canoe free evaluations were given regarding when it was made, where it was made and the value. Anyone who brought a wooden canoe was eligible to enter for prizes, including paddles, canoe building materials and a $200 gift certificate from Orvis. Plans are already underway for 2011's Wooden Canoe Festival. The tremendous success of this year's event has ensured the growth of this festival into a Northeast regional destination event, which will display to others the many unique features of our woods & waterways. If you or your business would like to support this important cultural heritage event please consider the following levels:
For more information on being a sponsor, please contact the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce, 1029 Central St., Millinocket, ME 04462. 207-723-4443 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
