Bob Perkins, Eldon McLean and Buster Pinkham, members of the New Portland Lion’s Club, stand around pieces of pre-cut lumber which will be used for the crosscut competition in this year’s new George Beane Lumberjack challenge at the 78th annual New Portland Lion’s Club Fair, Sept. 17 to 19 on Route 146. This event will be held Saturday morning with registration at 8 a.m. (Laura Dunham photo) NEW PORTLAND — The 78th annual New Portland Lions Club Fair and 15th Annual Maine Crafts Festival will get under way Friday, Sept. 17 and run through Sunday the 19th at the New Portland Lion’s Club fairgrounds on Route 146.

New this year will be the first annual George Beane Lumberjack Competition, made possible through the efforts of New Portland Lion’s Club member Bob Perkins and his brother, Greg, who lives in Holden and is a teacher at Unity College.

Bob Perkins said that with the help of his brother, the top four competitors from Unity College, the University of Maine and Colby College in the lumberjack field will be at the fair for the competition. There will be contests in axe throwing, underhand (horizontal) drop, open chainsaw, pole fell (axe), pulp throw for distance, log roll (80 feet, times) and standing block (vertical chop). There will also be space for 20 locals to sign up, said Bob Perkins. You must register at the grounds by 8 a.m. Saturday for this event.

Perkins said that credit for helping with this new competition must go to Buster and Wright Pinkham who provided the materials including logs, poles and pulp.

Those interested in the Demolition Derby —Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.— must call Buster Pinkham at 628-3471 to register.

The gates will open Friday at 2 p.m. with midway rides starting at 4 p.m. A wristband for $14 a day will be sold on Friday all day, Saturday from opening to 5 p.m. and Sunday all day.

A flag folding ceremony conducted by members of the Norton Wuori American Legion Post #61 will be held at 4 p.m. Friday followed by lots of entertainment by Jack Stephens who plays hits from the Platters and Elvis.

The ATV pull will get under way at 7 p.m. at the Mechanical Pull Area. This will be followed by music by Country Jim and the Rusty Nails and then fireworks.

Saturday the gates open at 8 a.m. with the Exhibition Hall and Craft Hall opening at 10 a.m. There will be lots of handcrafted items, foods, Extension, Historical Society, 4-H displays, photographs, baked goods and canned foods on display.

The Oxen Pull weigh-in starts at 8 a.m. with entertainment with balloon sculpturing, stilt walking and magic for the children. Entertainment will also feature local country singer Valerie Burbank on the stage and the Western Mountains Trash Can Band. The local boys’ truck pull will get under way at 6 p.m. with music by the popular Steve and the Good Old Boys from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m.

Sunday the gates open at 8 a.m. with the Exhibition Hall opening at 9 a.m. and the Craft Building at 10 a.m. The popular Pig Scramble starts at 10 a.m., followed by Sack Races and a Lollipop Board. The wrist band rides start at noon.

At the Animal Pull Arena, Horse Pulling starts at 1 p.m. and the ever so popular live eel races at 1:30 p.m. The Demolition Derby starts at 2 p.m. followed by a pie eating contest at 2:45, with music to follow by the Lighthouse Jubilees and then the eel races again at 3:15 and the sawdust pile with coins for the children at 4:15. The midway will close at 5 p.m. The midway this year is being provided by Miller Amusements.

There will be a $50 drawing provided by the Lion’s Club each day.

For further information, call McLean at 635-2520. The charge this year is $4 per person or $12 per car load.