NAPLES – Providing a break from Old Man Winter for the heart of the Lakes Region, the Naples Winter Carnival is set to celebrate its 14th edition Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9.

Organized by the Muddy River Sno-Seekers in cooperation with the town of Naples, the mid-winter event kicks off with a torchlight snowmobile parade Friday night starting at 6 p.m. All snow machine enthusiasts – big trucks with tracks can take part, too – are welcome to meet at Black Bear Cafe? on Route 302 for a parade that winds its way eventually to Merced’s Restaurant in downtown Naples.

According to organizer Dan Allen, the parade meanders business to business and stops at the town’s ice rink next to the American Legion hall on Route 11 for family skate night where prizes are given away.

The event, which used to run Friday through Sunday, is not being held Sunday this year, Allen said. But Saturday is packed full of traditional favorites. The day kicks off bright and early with the fifth annual Hannaford/United Way Ice Fishing Derby on Long Lake. Hannaford Supermarkets organizes the event, which attracted 320 entrants last year and benefits the United Way and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The derby gets going at sun-up and ends at 3:30 p.m. Kittery Trading Post sponsors the kid’s portion of the derby (ages 15 and under) and Cabela’s outfitters is the main backer for the adult division. Nintey percent of the proceeds go to the United Way and 10 percent goes to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The top five fish in each derby wins cash and gift certificates from Cabela’s. Categories include salmon, brown trout and pickerel. The winner receives $500 in cash and a $100 Cabela’s gift card.

“We’ve got all kinds of stuff to give away and it’s a good time,” said organizer Dean Sawyer of Hannaford.

While prizes go to those who catch the largest fish, a random draw in the adult derby of $1,000 is conducted at the end of the day, Sawyer said, meaning anyone who catches a fish could win the large sum.

The winner of the kid’s derby gets his or her face on a personalized box of Wheaties cereal, thanks to an arrangement with General Mills, Sawyer said. All kids will get a coupon for Kittery Trading Post, the sponsor of the kid’s derby. The top three kid’s derby winners also receive a $200, $100 and $50 gift card from Kittery Trading Post respectively. The top two winners in the pickerel category get a $75 and $50 Kittery Trading Post gift card respectively.

Ticket prices are $15 for adults. Kids 15 and under fish for free. Tickets are available at the customer service desks at Hannaford supermarkets in Bridgton and Windham prior to the event or at the Naples public launch the morning of the derby.

Long Lake will also play host to Naples Winter Carnival while the fishing derby is going on. The popular Snowmobile Radar Runs, where 99 percent of the participants are amateurs, take place near the Naples Causeway 9:30-3 p.m.

“They’re awesome to watch,” Allen said. “A lot of people come out and test their skills on the racetrack and see how fast their sleds can go.”

A poker rally runs from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and food vendors, kids events and an antique snowmobile show will keep the crowd, estimated last year in the lows thousands, entertained near the Causeway on Long Lake.

At 4 p.m., organizers start a bonfire near the causeway, which continues through the end of the fireworks, which start promptly at 6 p.m., Allen said. The fireworks are shot from out on Long Lake and promise a beautiful sight with frozen Long Lake below, Allen said.

“It’s something to do. Folks come and hang out. Some people like to sit in their car from the causeway and just watch what’s going on,” Allen said. “There’s not much going on in Naples in the wintertime so this helps to break it up.”

The Naples Winter Carnival is part-ice fishing derby, part-snowmobile races and rides and part-wintertime party. All the fun happens in downtown Naples along or on Long Lake.
A big draw is the Snowmobile Radar Runs, which test the limits of snowmobile enthusiasts. Officials say 99 percent of the racers are amateur, mostly those wanting to know how fast their sleds can go.