Despite an unscheduled intermission caused by a passing thunderstorm, Summerfest organizers report last Saturday’s daylong celebration was a complete success.

Quantifying that success was a little harder, but by the smiles on people’s faces as they watched or took part in the massive parade along Route 302, gazed in wonder at the beautiful classic cars in the Duane Clark Auto Show or sat with their friends and loved ones during the 20-minute fireworks show, organizers Brian Ross and Ron Eby agreed that the event is gaining in popularity not only in terms of attendees but participants.

“I thought it was a huge success,” Eby said. “We’re truly starting to see more of the community and schools get involved.”

Ross added that another pre-event goal of the organizers – enticing spectators to stay all day – came to fruition this year, as well.

“It’s one of the biggest crowds we’d had and it was pretty consistent all day, so we’re really pleased,” said Ross, the town’s parks and recreation director. “We did have the storm pass through and people cleared out, but they came back.”

Big draws were the parade, the fireworks, the car show and fireman’s muster, which pitted mainly the Hollis and Westbrook fire departments against each other, along with a third team made up of “misfits,” said organizer Nancy Graves, administrative assistant for the Windham Fire/Rescue Department.

“We all had a blast,” Graves said.

Competing in three events – dry hose, wet hose and bucket brigade, in which firefighters sprinted to fill a 55-gallon drum using a 2-gallon bucket – Hollis took the overall title with Westbrook in second and the Misfits third.

Because of the forecasted rain and possible thunderstorms, the Duane Clark Auto Show didn’t have as many entrants as last year, but organizer Stan Page said the show raised $1,200 from the 90 entrants and spectator donations.

“If the weather was better, we probably would have doubled that,” Page said. “But we were satisfied. Everyone enjoyed themselves and had a good time.”

The top prize, known as the Duane Clark Cup for a Windham resident who died a few years after graduating in 1964 and is remembered fondly by his classmates who host the auto show, went to Howie and Marge Slater of Buxton, who won for their 1964 Pontiac GTO.

One event that wasn’t afraid of a little wet weather was the frog-jumping contest, which saw the winning amphibian cover 263 inches in 15 seconds. The winner of that event, 6-year-old Ayla Jordan, earned a ribbon and a coupon for a Sea Dogs’ Sea Biscuit from the Ice Cream Dugout in North Windham. Dugout owner Troy Locke, who organized the jumping contest, gave all participants a Sea Biscuit coupon.

Since Summerfest is sponsored and paid for mostly by contributions from local companies, Eby offers those businesses “face-time” with attendees in the form of a Business Expo. Eby said the Expo was busy offering freebies, promotions and informational displays regarding their businesses.

“Everybody was busy,” Eby said. “That went well, the food vendors did well. While there are always going to be a few problems with an event that size, the day went very well. And hopefully it’ll continue to grow next year.”

By the time the first fireworks roared into the sky, the sky had
cleared and the weather was perfect for the large crowd assembled
behind the high school.
(Photo by Rich Obrey)
 
Sixth-grader Eliot Butts sees the ball hit the target and knows
he’s going to get dunked again to support Cub Scout Troop 51.
(Photo by Rich Obrey)