LOOKING AHEAD

For information about how to donate to next year’s Sebago Days Festival, contact Kate Smith at 787-4000, or Ann Burns at 787-2489.

Food, music, crafts, rides and games lined the midway in downtown Sebago as residents and vacationers alike enjoyed the 28th Annual Sebago Days Festival last weekend.

“We have never missed a parade,” said West Baldwin resident Gordon Milliken. “We have been coming to the parade as long as they have been having it.”

The festival kicked off Thursday night at Sebago Elementary with a teen dance. On Friday morning the midway opened offering a yard sale, carnival rides, a kiddie parade and various demonstrations, including a canine demonstration by the Maine State Police. Later in the day, artist Gene Bahr of Wildlife Creations performed an eclectic mix of old country and rock ‘n’ roll with his band Phoenix IV. This marked the seventh year Bahr has played at Sebago Days, and he thinks this year may have marked the biggest turn out yet.

“It was a real good crowd,” said Bahr. “It seemed like everyone from town was there. Of course, they always have a fantastic fireworks display that people come for.”

According to Sebago Days Committee member Ann Burns, Friday night’s fireworks display drew almost double the amount of people from last year.

“Usually we have 600 people or so at the fireworks,” said Burns. “This year we had over 1,000.”

The fireworks was not the only event to draw a big crowd, Saturday’s chicken and lobster barbecue, hosted by the Lions Club, sold all 260 dinners.

“It was very good this year,” said club president John Polito. “We sold out.”

Burns and fellow committee member Kate Smith credit the increase in attendance to the addition of carnival rides.

“We expected a bigger crowd this year because of the mechanical rides,” said Burns.

Smith agreed.

“I think the addition of carnival rides really brought more people to the midway,” said Smith. “Well, that and the great weather.”

After the barbecue festival patrons were treated to a wide range of performances, including an exotic belly dancing demonstration by Imari and the Sahara Desert Dancers.

“We love doing festivals,” said dance instructor Imari, who will next perform at the Balloon Festival in Lewiston. “Sebago Days is a lot of fun.”

At the end of the weekend the Sebago Days Committee had raised close to $4,000 in seed money for next year’s festival.

“It is important that we raise as much money as we can,” said Smith. “It costs about $10,000 to put on the festival, which we have start planning in November.”

Unlike most town festivals, Sebago Days is not sponsored by the town, but by the Sebago Days Committee, a separate entity of 12-15 volunteers.

“The committee is so wonderful to put this event on for our town,” said Sebago Town Manager Robert Nicholson. “They receive minimal help from the town’s public works department.”

Nicholson believes events like Sebago Days are what community is all about.

“It is just a great event,” said Nicholson. “It gives people time to take a break from work and spend some time with each other. It’s just an amazing thing.”

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