RANGELEY — At a daylong festival Saturday, the town was inducted into the ranks of Appalachian Trail Communities, a designation awarded by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Rangeley is now one of two AT Communities in Maine, and one of 18 that dot the Trail’s 2,181-mile length from Georgia to Maine. The Trail is co-managed by the Conservancy and the National Park Service.

Pond Street was closed to car traffic for the block from Main Street during Saturday’s festivities. Activities and displays were set up along the street and at Haley Pond Park, with the gazebo as the rostrum for presentations.

The centerpiece of the festival was a dedication ceremony that featured local trail supporters and officers from the conservancy. Judy Morton of the Chamber of Commerce introduced Mark Wenger, executive director and CEO of the conservancy, who welcomed Rangeley into the ranks of AT Communities. She also introduced representatives from U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and Rep. Mike Michaud, who read messages of congratulations.

Rangeley Town Manager Tim Kane and ATC Regional Director Hawk Metheny read the designation proclamation antiphonally, then signed it and displayed it, along with road signs to be posted on Route 4 at entrances to the town.

After the dedication, Wenger said that designation of an Appalachian Trail Community is a symbiotic arrangement whereby the community acts as support service for the trail and its hikers, while the trail provides a catalyst for local economic development.

Saturday’s weather was blustery and changeable, but did not discourage the enthusiastic crowds who inspected several booths with displays by local organizations, including the High Peaks Alliance, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, the Rangeley Lakes Logging Museum, the Trails For Rangeley Area Coalition, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce, and the Maine Appalachian Trail Club.

Maine writers Dave Field, author of “Land Acquisition and the Future” and Drew Barton, author of “The Changing Nature of the Maine Woods” were on hand during the afternoon to greet the public and autograph copies of their new books.

Harold Schaetzle and Jeremy O’Neil from NorthStar EMS manned a display of wilderness first aid tools and supplies, and were happy to answer questions about wilderness rescue operations.

Programs and presentations included Warden Reggie Hammond speaking on what to do if you get lost, hikers Steve Masse and John Towey advising on planning trail food, and Jeff Hawksley from Rangeley Region Health and Wellness describing how to condition your body for hiking.

Popular kids’ activities were the hiking boot toss and an ice cream eating contest, which AT hikers were also encouraged to join. All hikers were also welcome at the through- and section-hikers’ reunion, which united about a dozen individuals who are currently on the trail.

Among the hikers was Christian Torp of Lexington, Ky., who is raising awareness for Kentucky Coalition, which is battling a new form of mining in the Southern Appalachians in which entire mountains are blown up and the detritus pushed into adjacent valleys. It’s a procedure that has become common in the area since 2001, when a new federal law redefined mining waste as landfill. As one of the results, local communities are seeing high levels of selenium, arsenic, lead and mercury in their drinking water supplies.

The day’s festivities concluded with a bonfire, marshmallow roast, and street dance, with music provided by the Sandy River Ramblers.

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