Trails Report 4/15:The trails have several blowdowns as a result of the storms over the last few weeks. We are working to clear them and appreciate your patience. If you see anything we should know about, please fill out a Trail Report Form.
The 14th Annual Snowshoe Festival will be held on
Saturday, February 17, 2024
This year we are offering a 5k and 10k race options for all ages
and a 2k option for youth(under 18). Entry fee is $20/person and $5/youth
Register through RunSignup HERE.
**Thank you to sponsor Crescent Moon Snowshoes for providing kids snowshoes as prizes and to Healthy Oxford Hills for providing Adult Prizes**
Races begin at 10:30 AM, please arrive by 10 AM to get your race number and go over the course. Snowshoes are available for all participants who need them. Awards ceremony and prizes to follow!
Schedule of Events
Friday, February 16th, 4-8 PM: Community Supper and Contra Dance
Tickets are available for purchase HERE and at the Fare Share register through 2/11 - get them now before they're gone! This event is brought to you by Western Foothills Land Trust, Fare Share Coop, and Alan Day Community Garden
February 17th, 2024: Snowshoe Festival
10:30-11:30 AM: Snowshoe Races (2k, 5k, 10k)
(awards to follow) Register HERE.
12:30 PM: Snowshoe Tug-o-War. Watch local fire departments, athletic clubs, and families compete in this Snowshoe Festival tradition! $10/team. Register HERE.
To volunteer, email info@wfltmaine.org
SNOWSHOE FESTIVAL 2022.PHOTO GALLERY
Snowshoe Race
Fashion Show
Snowshoe Games
Photos by Nathaniel Liu, Carl Costanzi, Sebastian Murariu, and Rose Gordon.
Event Description & History
The Snowshoe Festival features snowshoe walks, 2k, 5k and 10k snowshoe races, snowshoe games for the whole family, and a Valentine’s Day Dance featuring Bill Olsen & Pam Weeks.
Recognized in 2012 by the Maine Downtown Center as a uniquely Maine festival, the Snowshoe Festival returns for its seventh year to celebrate Norway’s rich cultural heritage of the arts (as in music), and crafts (as in snowshoe making). This festival receives support from Norway Downtown, Healthy Oxford Hills, the Western Foothills Land Trust, and the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend.
Farmington celebrates Chester Greenwood who invented the ear muff, Kingfield has the Stanley Museum honoring the Stanley twins, and Rockland prides itself as the birthplace of Louise Nevelson and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Norway has its snowshoe industries and Mellie Dunham.
Norway, once self-proclaimed as “The Snowshoe Town of America” was home to four major snowshoe industries between 1850 and 1980: Snowcraft, Tubbs, H.H.Hosmer and Dunham.
Mellie was not only the first commercial snowshoe maker in town, outfitting Admiral Peary’s expedition to the North Pole, he was also a renowned fiddler who was commissioned by Henry Ford to play traditional fiddle music across the country. In honor of Mellie’s talents, the Norway Snowshoe Festival always involves a contra dance in addition to athletic and family related outdoor snowshoe events.
Event Description & History
The Snowshoe Festival features snowshoe walks, 2k, 5k and 10k snowshoe races, snowshoe games for the whole family, and a Valentine’s Day Dance featuring Bill Olsen & Pam Weeks.
Recognized in 2012 by the Maine Downtown Center as a uniquely Maine festival, the Snowshoe Festival returns for its seventh year to celebrate Norway’s rich cultural heritage of the arts (as in music), and crafts (as in snowshoe making). This festival receives support from Norway Downtown, Healthy Oxford Hills, the Western Foothills Land Trust, and the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend.
Farmington celebrates Chester Greenwood who invented the ear muff, Kingfield has the Stanley Museum honoring the Stanley twins, and Rockland prides itself as the birthplace of Louise Nevelson and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Norway has its snowshoe industries and Mellie Dunham.
Norway, once self-proclaimed as “The Snowshoe Town of America” was home to four major snowshoe industries between 1850 and 1980: Snowcraft, Tubbs, H.H.Hosmer and Dunham.
Mellie was not only the first commercial snowshoe maker in town, outfitting Admiral Peary’s expedition to the North Pole, he was also a renowned fiddler who was commissioned by Henry Ford to play traditional fiddle music across the country. In honor of Mellie’s talents, the Norway Snowshoe Festival always involves a contra dance in addition to athletic and family related outdoor snowshoe events.