Dresden’s fourth-annual Winter Fest served up a savory chowder and chili contest, sweet desserts and a heaping serving of entertainment at the elementary school on Saturday.
The event, sponsored by the Dresden Recreation Committee, is part of a year-round effort toward building a spirit of community in the town. The town hosts a winter festival and summer festival.
The warm weather may have kept people from skiing and taking snowmobile rides during this year’s festival, but the crowd gathered at the school for many other activities. Some items on the schedule of events, such as ice skating at the “Recycle Rink,” were held off for colder weather, but there were plenty of activities to please everyone from the very young to the elderly.
Family and friends chatted amicably to harp melodies played by Louise Gephart and tunes of Dresden’s Celtic band, The Haymakers. Laughter and the occasional popping balloon echoed throughout the school gymnasium as residents perused the tables set up by local non-profit groups, such as the Bridge Academy Public Library, the Dresden Historical Society, Conservation Commission and Lincoln County Historical Society.
Steaming pots of homemade chili and chowder filled one long table, where those in attendance were welcome to samples. Many went back for second and third helpings.
Announced by Dresden Recreation Committee chair Peter Walsh, all of the entries submitted to the contest were appreciated. He also thanked the Dresden Fire Dept. for starting a small, controlled fire outside, where people roasted hot dogs and soaked up the warm sun.
“Thank you for all those who made food,” Walsh said, adding the chili and chowders were all delicious.
He said the Meeting House Market won first and second place for a Cape Cod Chowder and a hot sausage chowder. Following closely behind was a haddock chowder. A Thai chili made by Bridge Farm received notable mention, as did a sausage chili by the East River Cattle Company.
The “chocolate bar” taking center stage at the event was another success and, according to resident Ryan Cote who brought all the desserts together, it gets bigger and better each year.
This year’s Winter Fest brought Dresden residents together under one roof, to celebrate a sense of community and people’s talents that make the town unique. Kicking off the entertainment was “TWO”, the nationally famous Tardy Brothers juggling act. The brothers, Jason and Matthew Tardy of Buckfield, elicited gasps of amazement from the crowd as they cracked jokes while juggling sharp-looking knives and performed feats of physical difficulty.
Small children clambered up on stage with some of the adults at the event to join Nancy Cote in a yoga demonstration. The event also hosted a Russian Kettlebell demonstration and The Ancient Art of Belly Dancing by Holly Spicer.
This summer, Dresden will celebrate its part in the Lincoln County 250 Anniversary in conjunction with the town’s Summer Fest.
