Moose Festival

August 27-28, 2021 — The Moose Festival, a two-day event held in Colebrook, New Hampshire and Canaan, Vermont was back for its 30th anniversary after missing last year like so many events because of COVID-19. Unfortunately, participation has declined over the years and many features of the show have been discontinued.

The town of Colebrook, observing its 250th anniversary this year, hosts the festival on the first day, always a Saturday. Howard's Restaurant where I always stopped for lunch upon arrival is closed. The colorful Le Rendez-Vous bakery is closed. The Kiwanis Club no longer serves barbecue chicken. Square dancing in the street is no longer held. Even the arts and crafts booths and other concessions along Main Street have dwindled down to a few, and the crowds of spectators are smaller.

But the quilt show at Trinity Methodist Church is still going strong with its huge array of colorful quilts by local quilters, all different every year. The production and quality of these talented artists is amazing. Helicopter rides are offered all day. The Parker Hill Road Band was back to entertain with country music. There was a demonstration of police dog training. Antique cars still line up on Bridge Street to be admired while they wait to parade through town. Near dusk, the parade begins, This year, in honor of the festival's 30th anniversary, there was a fireworks display.

On Sunday, the festival moves to the recreation park in Canaan, Vermont. Held in open fields rather than town streets, it features most of the arts and crafts booths that were in Colebrook, more antique cars, food concessions, moose stew sampling, maple syrup sampling, a moose calling contest, dog show, horse-drawn wagon rides, more helicopter rides, and this year the Axe Women Loggers of Maine displaying their expertise with axe-throwing, chain-saw operation, cross-cut sawing and other daring stunts involving loggers' equipment. Missing were the tethered hot air balloon and children's horseback and pony rides of previous years.

The Moose Festival, though diminished compared to its best years, is still a couple of days well-sepnt. To help you decide whether it's the kind of event you'd enjoy, check out my photos and videos. The first day in Colebrook can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/colebrook21/

The second day in Canaan may be viewed at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/canaan2021/