
The Pejepscot Sno Chiefs snowmobile club will host its 19th annual “World’s Greatest Sleigh Rides” charity event, to benefit the Pine Tree Handicapped Society, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in fields off Route 125 in Lisbon Falls.
Members of the Farmers Draft Horse, Mule and Pony Club help make the event possible by bringing several teams of horses — and their sleighs, of course — to give folks sleigh rides through fields and woods. The horses are Belgians, Percherons, Shires, Halflingers, Fjords, and Mammoth Jacks, and others.
The array of sleighs includes antiques that have been rebuilt to whisk people across snowy grounds. The teamsters come from Anson, Sidney, Brunswick, Topsham, Monmouth, Sabattus, Stow, Biddeford, Damariscotta, Harrison, Albion, Peru, Chesterville, Canton, and beyond.
The rides last about 30 minutes. Since there are about a dozen or more teams with sleighs, big and small, waiting time is minimal.
As in past years, the benefit is also meant to be an affordable outing for families, according to a release from the snowmobile club. Donations are $4 for adults and $3 for children, and all money goes toward making it possible for disabled children to attend Pine Tree’s summer camp.
Since starting the sleigh rides in 1994, the club has donated more than $48,000 to Pine Tree Handicapped Society.
A snack shack will serve hot coffee, cocoa, hot homemade doughnuts, stews, hot dogs and soda.
“It is all made possible by the great volunteers of the snowmobile club,” the release states. “So bring your family, friends and camera.”
Should there not be enough snow, the event will feature horse-drawn wagon rides in place of sleigh rides.
GPS-toting adventurers can find the rides at 401 Main St., Lisbon.
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