RANGELEY — Snodeo will see plenty of snow and well-groomed trails, according to one organizer.
Local trails have a great base, Nick Pathiakis said Wednesday. “Even though there’s not a lot of snow in the state, Rangeley has plenty. All events are ready to go off as planned, including the fireworks.”
Members of the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club flattened the trails before recent rain, he said, adding that the trails froze and were groomed again. About 2,000 people come for the Snodeo, many arriving via snowmobile, he said.
The annual event, held by the club, is set to take place Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 22-24, ending with a snowmobile parade down Main Street at 6 p.m. Saturday and a fireworks display.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday with a Chili-Chowder Cook-off at Bald Mountain Camps on Mooselookmeguntic Lake. Casino Night will follow at 7 p.m. at the Gingerbread House in Oquossoc.
On Friday, a Welcome to Snodeo is set for 4 to 9 p.m. at the Rangeley Inn, the headquarters for the event.
The snowmobile club plans a large, 24-lot auction at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the inn.
Saturday’s activities include radar runs on Haley Pond, a snowmobile Poker Run, demonstration rides at participating snowmobile dealers and family activities such as a marshmallow roast and hands-on activities for children.
Helicopter rides will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Boss Power Equipment will bring back the snowmobile stunt Rave X Show at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The town crew is bringing snow in to the downtown for the parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Pathiakis said. It is snow they previously removed from the streets.
This year, the fireworks display will go on, he said. For the past two years, the show was canceled because of high winds. This year, low-ceiling fireworks will be used, he said. They are set off at 250 feet in the air instead of the normal 500 feet, so the high winds won’t affect them, he said.
A listing of events is available on the club’s website at www.rangeleysnowmobile.com.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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