This the schedule of events for the weekend.  Some more events may be added or changed.  Keep posted...

Friday, September 19, 2008

– events in the area -

All day: 

Check out the scarecrow displays around the area.  Hike, bike, play golf, canoe, kayak, shop, eat, fish, go rockhounding, take a scenic drive... enjoy all there is to do in the Bethel area!

8:30am-3:30pm: 

     Take a self-guided canoe/kayak Androscoggin River tour from Gilead to Bethel. Rentals & shuttle service are ½ price at Bethel Outdoor Adventure & Campground on Rt. 2.  207.824.4224. Reservations recommended.

9:00am-5:00pm: 

     Chamber of Commerce office open for hiking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, rockhounding, shopping, dining, lodging information, and more at the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, 8 Station Place (train station beside the movie theater).  207.824.2282.

      Gibson’s Apple Orchard, 4 miles out North Road from Route 2.   A “pick your own” orchard with over 40 varieties to choose from.  207.836.2972.

     Lyon’s Apple Orchard, just 3.1 miles out Grover Hill Road.   Pick your own Macs, Cortlands, and Macouns.  207.824.2842.

10:00am-4:00pm: 

     Scenic Chairlift rides at Sunday River to top of North Peak.  824.3000

Noon-4:00pm: 

     Sunday River Alpacas open for FREE farm visits.  Meet the herd and check out the farm store.  Route 2 west of Bethel 4 miles.  Turn left onto Flat Rd., go approximately 2 miles, farm is on the right. 207.890.3148.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

– events on the common, unless otherwise noted -

Start at 6 am: 

     UAAA Two Fly Contest and Drift Boat Competition:  Anglers may use only two flies over an eight hour period to catch the largest and most rainbow, brook, or brown trout while fishing the Androscoggin River from the New Hampshire Border to Rumford Center.  Over $5,000 in prizes from Kittery Trading Post, L.L. Bean, The Orvis Company, Caddis and Cane, Clackacraft, and Sun Valley Sports. Fund-raiser for the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance (UAAA).  Contact Rocky Freda at Sun Valley Sports. 877.851.7533.

8:00am-til gone! : 

     Cookie-walk hosted by the West Bethel Union Church.

8:30am-3:30pm: 

     Take a self-guided canoe/kayak Androscoggin River tour from Gilead to Bethel. Rentals & shuttle service are ½ price at Bethel Outdoor Adventure & Campground on Rt. 2.  207.824.4224. Reservations recommended.

9:00am-noon: 

     Bethel Farmers' Market at the Bethel Family Health Center parking lot, on Railroad Street.  Local farmers provide fresh produce, meats, flowers, plants, eggs, homemade bread, and other farm-prepared goodies.     

      ATV tour of the Mahoosuc Mountains with Sun Valley Sports.  Reservations recommended.  207.824.7533.

9:00am-3:00pm: 

     Chainsaw art demonstration by Steve Stone of Bethel.  Raffle tickets for his bear sculpture are $3 each, or 2 for $5, and are available at the Chamber tent and the demonstration site. Drawing Oct. 30th.

9:00-5:00pm:

     Chamber of Commerce office open for hiking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, rockhounding, shopping, dining, lodging information, and more at the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, 8 Station Place (train station beside the movie theater).  207.824.2282.

9:00am to dusk: 

     Gibson’s Apple Orchard, 4 miles out North Road from Route 2.   A “pick your own” orchard with over 40 varieties to choose from. 207.836.2972.

     Lyon’s Apple Orchard, just 3.1 miles out Grover Hill Rd.   Pick your own Macs, Cortlands, and  Macouns.  207.824.2842.

 9:00am-4:00pm: ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

- Baskets, art work, handmade jewelry, woodenware, pottery, knit crafts, photography, jams, jellies, fiber arts, live alpacas, and more...

9:00am-4:00pm:    

 - Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce tent.  Stop by for general information or to learn about the many seasons of Bethel and all there is to do in the area.  “Chowdah” cook-off tickets, and chainsaw artwork raffle tickets available here also.

     - Upper Andro Anglers Alliance (UAAA) fly tying and fly casting demo.

                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                                Visit our sponsor businesses

 Hancock Lumber - Allen's Coffee Brandy - Oxford Networks - Great Brook Preserve

                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10:00am-4:00pm: 

     Chairlift rides at Sunday River to top of North Peak.  824.3000

10:00am to 4:00pm at The Bethel Historical Society (across from the common):

     Robinson House open:  Exhibits, historical films, and Museum Shop.

     Cider pressing demonstration across the street at the Dr. Moses Mason House.

     Pumpkin whoopie pies on sale until sold out.  207.824.2908.

11:00am-2:00pm: 

     Free wagon rides through Bethel village with    Deepwood Farm.  Sponsored by Oxford Networks.

11:00am-3:00pm: 

     “A Harvest of Local Talent” — musical entertainment at the gazebo sponsored by Allen’s Coffee Brandy.

 Noon-1:30pm:  9th ANNUAL “CHOWDAH” COOK-OFF 

sponsored by Westminster Crackers & Sysco Food Services of Northern New England.  Sample delicious “chowdah” from area restaurants.  “Chowdah” tickets available on the common - $1 each.  Winners announced at 2:00pm.

Noon: 5th ANNUAL BETHEL HARVEST FEST APPLE PIE CONTEST 

sponsored by the Good Food Store.   Bake a pie for the contest, or come enjoy a slice of one of the delicious apple pies for $1 each.

 1:00-4:00pm: 

     ATV tour of the Mahoosuc Mountains with Sun Valley Sports.  Reservations recommended.  207.824.7533.

3:00pm: 

     Parade of float boats arrive on the common. 

     Announcement of the UAAA Two-Fly Contest winners.

 Sunday, September 21, 2008

– events in the area -

All day:

Check out the scarecrow displays around the area.  Hike, bike, play golf, canoe, kayak, shop, eat, fish, go rockhounding, take a scenic drive... enjoy all there is to do in the Bethel area!

 8:00-10:00am:

     Cider pressing at Gibson Orchard, North Road  207.836.2702.

8:30am-3:30pm: 

     Take an Androscoggin River tour, a self-guided canoe/kayak tour from Gilead to Bethel. Canoe/kayak rentals & shuttle service are  ½ price at Bethel Outdoor Adventure & Campground on Rt. 2.  207.824.4224. Reservations recommended.

9:00am: 

     Scenic guided bike tour to apple orchards and further if the group would like.  Meet at Casablanca Cinema 4 parking lot at 9am. Tour leaves promptly at 10am.  Self-guided bike tour maps also available.  May sign up at chamber tent on the common on Saturday.

9:00am to dusk: 

     Gibson’s Apple Orchard, 4 miles out the North Road from Route 2.   A “pick your own” orchard with over 40 varieties to choose from.  207.836.2972.

     Lyon’s Apple Orchard, just 3.1 miles out Grover Hill Road.   Pick your own Macs, Cortlands, and Macouns.  207.824.2842.

10am:

     UAAA drift boat competition will test the skills of oarsmen in launching, navigating a course, and speed rowing over a 1/4  mile distance.  Start at Bethel Outdoor Adventure and finish at Davis Park. Great spectator event from the snowmobile bridge and Davis Park. Over $5,000 in prizes from Kittery Trading Post, L.L. Bean, The Orvis Company, Caddis and Cane, Clackacraft, and Sun Valley Sports.  Fund-raiser for the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance (UAAA).  Contact Rocky Freda at Sun Valley Sports. 877.851.7533.

10:00am-4:00pm: 

     Scenic Chairlift rides at Sunday River to top of North Peak.  824.3000

Noon-4:00pm: 

     Sunday River Alpacas open for FREE farm visits.  Meet the herd and check out the newly constructed farm store.  Route 2 west of Bethel 4 miles.  Turn left onto Flat Rd., go approximately 2 miles, farm is on the right.  207.890.3148.

12 noon-5:00pm: 

     Chamber of Commerce office open for hiking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, rockhounding, shopping, dining, lodging information, and more at the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, 8 Station Place (train station beside the movie theater).  207.824.2282.

Enjoy all the wonderful outdoor activities there are to do in the area.

We hope you come back again soon!

Thanks to these Harvest Fest sponsors:

Title sponsor: Hancock Lumber

Entertainment sponsor:  Allen's Coffee Brandy

Wagon ride sponsor:  Oxford Networks

"Chowdah" sponsor: Westminster Crackers and Sysco Food Services of Northern New England.

Apple pie sponsor:  The Good Food Store

Supporting sponsor:  Great Brook Preserve