Two fall festivals stuffed downtown Houlton with artwork, music and way more
Downtown Houlton was the place to be Saturday as two overlapping festivals stuffed Market Sq. and Foremost Road with creative creations, lovely music and the entire newest harvest goodies.
HOULTON, Maine – Downtown Houlton was the place to be Saturday as two overlapping festivals stuffed Market Sq. and Foremost Road with creative creations, lovely music and the entire newest harvest goodies.
The annual Harvest Competition, an offshoot of the Houlton Group Market, in addition to the inaugural Downtown Artwork and Music Competition helped deliver lots of of individuals to Houlton’s Historic Downtown.
“The turnout was completely superb,” mentioned Jane Torres, govt director of the Higher Houlton Chamber of Commerce concerning the Harvest Competition. “We truly needed to develop all the best way to the top of Market Sq. due to the variety of distributors. We had far more this yr.”
Kids’s actions had been among the many hottest points of interest for each festivals. On the Harvest Competition, kids had been capable of attempt their luck at pumpkin tic-tac-toe and in addition obtained a complimentary pumpkin to both enhance with paint and glitter or take residence as-is.
Torres mentioned there have been about 130 pumpkins obtainable for the youngsters this yr, which was barely greater than final yr.
“The turnout was completely superior, and the number of harvest greens this yr is superb,” Torres added.
The inaugural Downtown Artwork and Music Competition additionally proved to be a well-liked attraction, with organizers elevating greater than $3,000 for artwork scholarships. Dustin and Dani Hartnett, house owners of UnContained Artwork at 84 Foremost St., got here up with the idea to assist college students serious about pursuing careers in music or artwork.
Though public attendance was lighter than hoped, significantly because the day went on, the Hartnetts had been extraordinarily happy with the ultimate tally.
“That ($3,000) is healthier than we had been considering,” Dustin mentioned Monday. “Might the turnout be greater? Completely. However for a first-time occasion, thrown collectively in about 5 weeks, we’re happy.”
“I feel it was most likely too lengthy of a day,” Dani added. “Plus, there was a homecoming dance taking place that night time. We now have realized quite a bit from doing this. There have been loads of issues that had been purported to be there that weren’t. We had some individuals who dedicated that didn’t present.”
The Hartnetts did have plenty of assist with organizing the occasion from native enterprise house owners Cheryl Beautiful, Katie Sloat and Roxanne Bruce, amongst others. Probably the most widespread occasions was the half-mile Colour Run held early within the day.
Torres mentioned she welcomed the addition of the artwork and music pageant, regardless that it overlapped with the Harvest Competition. “They requested if we minded that it was occurring the identical day and I really feel the extra issues occurring on the town the higher,” Torres mentioned.
The Hartnetts are already engaged on concepts for subsequent yr and the way they will enhance the occasion.
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — An explosion of colour erupts as individuals within the colour run toss their powder into the air Saturday morning. The enjoyable run was a part of the primary Houlton Music and Artwork Competition on Foremost Road. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — Simon Pritchard was one in all many musical artists to lend his vocal and musical abilities to downtown Houlton Saturday. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — Ryland and Atley Shaw of Houlton use chalk to create paintings in Market Sq. Saturday morning as a part of the annual Harvest Competition. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — Rory Shaw of Houlton paints a pumpkin in Market Sq. Saturday morning as a part of the annual Harvest Competition. A big crowd turned out for the favored occasion, which featured quite a lot of distributors. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — Enza and Evelyn Mania of Houlton get their picture taken by their mom Katie on the Wright Farms exhibition in downtown Houlton Saturday morning. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — Nicholas Foster (left) and Roz Morgan of the group Herding Unicorns carry out on Foremost Road in Houlton Saturday afternoon as a part of the inaugural Houlton Music and Artwork Competition. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — Runners get sprayed with colour in the beginning of a “Colour Run” occasion as a part of the Houlton Music and Artwork Competition. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
HOULTON, Maine — September 17, 2022 — Reside Motion Function Gamers from Shiretown Gaming conduct a “battle” Saturday afternoon as a part of the Houlton Music and Artwork Competition. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Occasions)
