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UMFK partners with Fort Kent Chamber for a weekend of Homecoming & Scarecrow Festival activities September 19-21
September 12, 2014
Note: this is an archived news release. As such, the information provided may no longer apply.
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The University of Maine at Fort Kent and the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce will combine forces for their respective Homecoming and Scarecrow Festival celebrations for the weekend of September 19, 20, and 21 in Fort Kent.
The three, fun-filled days will feature many events, including soccer and volleyball games, and the popular Homecoming/Scarecrow Festival parade.
In preparation of the upcoming festivities, area businesses are encouraged to decorate their business with a “Scarecrow Festival” theme in the front of their building. Your imagination is the only limitation! The more color in town the better. Businesses may join the decorating contest by contacting the Chamber office at 834-5354 for an application and return to the office by Wednesday, September 17. Judging will be done by a panel of three and points will be based on the following, spirit, creativity, color scheme, theme, and dress. Judging will take place on Friday, September 19.
The Chamber also is encouraging businesses to hold side-walk sales and vendors throughout downtown. All vendors need to contact the landowners or business owners before setting up.
New this year, the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce will host an “End of Summer” Community-Wide Yard Sale. Sign-up and sell your stuff. Just contact the Chamber office. You also may request by e-mail: seefkme@fairpoint.net
The Fort Kent Historical Society will celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Fort Kent Block House with an exhibit that will be on display during the Homecoming and Scarecrow weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. Tours of the Blockhouse will be given from 1 to 4 p.m. Individuals also may tour the Train Station, Barn, Dube House, School House, and the new visitors' center (contains art work by Gilbert O. Roy) from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact the Fort Kent Historical Society President Chad Pelletier at 834-2115.
Friday, September 19
The UMFK Homecoming kick-off will begin at 4 p.m., UMFK will sponsor free wagon rides by John Babin, from St. Agatha, and owner of Flat Mountain Horse Ranch. The wagon rides will begin on the UMFK campus, located near Nowland Hall parking lot area and ride through the Town of Fort Kent. The rides will be offered until 7 p.m.
The Lady Bengal's Volleyball home game against the University of Maine at Machias Lady Clippers will begin at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Sports Center.
Later on that evening, at 7 p.m., the UMFK Student Activities will host Hypnotist Paul Ramsay at the UMFK Fox Auditorium. Admission at the door is $5. UMFK students, faculty, and staff may attend free.
As a part of the annual “Homecoming” activities the brothers of Rho and the sisters of Kappa Rho have planned a few special events to tie into this year's festivities at UMFK. Kappa Delta Phi established Rho chapter at UMFK in the spring of 1966, and many things have happened since then. The brothers are looking to reunite with alumni from years past.
Kappa Rho was re-established in 1985 and has seen a renewed focus on campus during the past few years. They look forward to reconnecting with alumni, new and old. Spouses and significant others may attend all events, with exception to the alumni meetings.
Saturday, September 20
The day begins with a Kappa Delta Phi and Kappa Delta Phi NAS Breakfast at Rock's Diner at 8:30 a.m.
Also at 9 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m., will be the 5th Annual Classic & Custom Car Show. The event will be located on the UMFK campus, near the Old Model School and the large parking lot in front of Blake Library. The event will feature on-site vendors, face painting by Gert Thibodeau (donations accepted), music by DJ Steve Doucette, and much more, in addition to more than 100 spectacular antique vehicles.
UMFK invites all classic and custom vehicle owners from the area to bring their cars, trucks, motorcycles, or sport utility vehicles to campus to display them. Various community organizations will have booths set up at the show. Do not forget your chair or blanket. The classic and custom car show is sponsored by Valley Motors of Fort Kent. Valley Motors will judge the vehicle entries and award trophy prizes. There are nine categories, including Muscle Car 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place; Classic Car 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place; Custom truck 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place; Classic truck 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place; Most Factory Original Entry; People's Choice Muscle Car; People's Choice Classic Car; People's Choice Truck; and People's Choice Motorcycle. All participants will need to register the morning of the car show. For more information, please contact UMFK at 834-7557.
The annual Scarecrow Festival/Homecoming Parade will step off at 11 a.m. from the Court House on Market Street to Main Streets up to Pleasant Street to the UMFK President's residence, Acadia House, where plaques will be presented. The parade line-up will be at the Fort Kent Courthouse from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Plaques will be awarded in several categories, including the most creative, best musical, best non-profit, best business entry, judges' choice, best “Scarecrow Theme”, best UMFK entry, and best “Go Green” theme.
It is not too late to sign-up for the parade, by contacting UMFK at 834-7557. Please note that the parade will not go through downtown Fort Kent.
Back on the UMFK campus, you may stop by the gallery to view the exhibit “Eye to Eye” by local artist Lulu Pelletier, which will be on display through Friday, September 26, 2014. For more information on viewing hours, please contact Gallery Curator Sofia Birden at 834-7527.
During the evening, UMFK and the Alumni Association will host its annual Alumni & Friends Banquet. This year's banquet will honor the classes of 1934, 1944, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, and 2004.
The Alumni Association will bestow honors on Outstanding Alumni Award recipient J. Darrell Ouellette (Class of 1977); Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient Dr. Melik Peter Khoury (Class of 1999); and, Outstanding Future Alumni Award recipient Aimee Danielle Holabird (Class of 2015).
The social begins at 6 p.m. in the Bengal's Lair. The banquet and ceremony follows at 7 p.m. in Nowland Hall. The banquet is open to the entire UMFK community, and to the general public. Tickets are priced at $25 per person. Purchase your ticket today though the UMFK Alumni Affairs office, located at the Madawaska House on Pleasant Street, or reserve your ticket, by calling 834-7557.
Kappa Delta Phi and Kappa Delta Phi NAS will hold its alumni meeting at 2 p.m. Everyone will meet in the Bengal's Lair, located in Cyr Hall.
Live entertainment by French Toast will begin at 9 p.m. on campus in the Bengal's Lair. Admission is $5 at the door and UMFK students, faculty, and staff may attend free.
At 9 p.m. on Crocker Beach, there will be a bonfire sponsored by Kappa Delta Phi and Kappa Delta Phi NAS.
Sunday, September 21
From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Fort Kent Senior Center will host a harvest luncheon. The meal is open to the public. The cost of meal is $7 per person. Please call 834-6627 for more information.
At 11 a.m., you will see the lady soccer team of UMFK in action on Alumni Memorial Field against Fisher College. The Bengal men will take on Fisher College at 1 p.m. GO BENGALS!!!!
To view an updated schedule of the Homecoming and Scarecrow Festival weekend events, please go to:www.umfk.edu/alumni/homecoming/
For further information about UMFK's Homecoming events, contact Susan Tardie in the Alumni Affairs office at 834-7557 or by e-mail: susan.tardie@maine.edu
For further information about Scarecrow Festival events, contact the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce office at 834-5354 or by e-mail: seefkme@fairpoint.net