Last Saturday’s triumphant return of the Summerfest outdoor festival in Windham was a complete success, according to those in attendance.

“It’s exactly what we had in mind,” said Town Manager Tony Plante.

Brian Ross, director of Parks and Recreation, said it was difficult to calculate how many people were in attendance, but estimated there were between 2,000 and 3,000 people there during the day and more than 3,000 to watch the fireworks.

“I was very pleased,” he said. “It was bigger than anyone thought it would be for the first year.”

“I know there were a lot of people involved, but I think Brian Ross deserves special recognition,” said Town Councilor Bob Muir. Ross has spent more than a year planning the one-day event.

Summerfest, located on the grounds of the high school, started with a massive parade at 9 a.m. and featured live music and entertainment, 27 different games and info displays and 21 different food booths.

“We’ve been pretty busy all day,” said Eric Eckund from behind the counter of the Highland Lake Committee’s food booth. He said his organization sold more than 75 pounds of onion rings before sunset.

Windham resident and Cumberland County Commissioner Malory Shaughnessy said that the fruit smoothie stand operated by the Windham High School Performing Arts Alliance had to make three trips to the supermarket to get more supplies because of the high demand.

She also said she was glad to see the event stimulated social interactions among Windham residents.

“One of the best things was the conversations,” she said. “People just stopped and talked.”

“I think it had more people than in the past,” said Shaughnessy. The last Summerfest was held in 2001 and suffered from a lack of organizers.

“And, of course, Ron Eby did an amazing job with that cantina,” she said.

Eby worked about 100 hours constructing a Mexican cantina for his business, Windham Automotive near the Route 302 rotary, to sell food and donate the proceeds to Camp Sunshine for seriously ill children and their families.

“This is going down as a huge success,” said Eby. His booth sold out to the last tortilla and pulled in around $3,000. He said he sold one taco for $500 to a customer who wanted to help Camp Sunshine.

Attendees willing to pay a small fee got a bird’s-eye view of Windham in a chopper from CR Helicopters of Nashua, N.H. The company also lends the use of its helicopters to the Derbyfest ice fishing derby.

“That’s one of the things that keeps these things going – the volunteers,” said George Bartlett, who owns the Busy Bee dry cleaners in Windham.

The fireworks at dusk were sponsored by McGoldrick Brothers Blasting Services.

“I’d like to see this every year,” said Lisa Phillips, 44, of Windham. “It’s a good community event, kind of mixes up the summer.”

Heather Tipton was at the Johnny The K music show for kids with her husband, Sean, and their 3-year-old son Aiden.

“He enjoyed the dinosaur thing,” she said referring to the inflatable dino-shaped enclosure her son bounced around in that afternoon. “And we enjoyed him.”

She added, “He’s a handful.”

While the evening music was mostly soothing, the late-morning set list included a few death metal high school bands that caused the occasional adult to grimace.

“It was kind of obnoxious,” said Peter Nealey, 16, of Gorham. He is enrolled in the public safety vocational program and serves at the Little Falls Fire Station in South Windham. He said the music got better as the day went on.

Ross said the next Summerfest may take place on Saturday, June 21, 2008, the first day of summer. The committee to plan next year’s festivities will first meet on Aug. 1. Call 892-1905 for more information.