BETHEL

BETHEL OUTDOOR ADVENTURE & CAMPGROUND is a family-friendly campground and outdoor adventure business on the banks of the Androscoggin River, close to the center of Bethel. They provide a beautiful riverfront campground for RVs and tenters, as well as canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, drift boat rentals, and guided trips. Their burgeoning river tube business is perfect for those hot, lazy mid-summer days, or try out their single-span Burma Bridge to Hastings Island. Your visit with Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground is sure to be adventurous and is a natural complement to the many outdoor activities available locally. On-site the “Gem and Mineral Sluice” provides fun and education for the entire family. Sluice means rinsing with water and they sell dream buckets of mine material, so you sluice it carefully while looking for local gems and minerals, such as Beryl, Amethyst, Tourmaline, Quartz, Mica, Feldspar, Apatite, Lepidolite and more. All the goodies can be identified by using a handy identification board. Buckets cost $27.50, $55.00, $110.00, or $250. Try out the antique cast-iron hand pump just like in the old days. The Sluice is open from late May through early-October. Call 207-824-4224 or visit rocksme.biz. July 16: BETHEL SUMMERFEST (formerly known as Molly Ockett Day) is Bethel's summer homecoming festival! Join in on the fun with craft and food vendors on the town common, live music, kids' activities, fireworks, and open houses all over town. Free admission. FMI: (207) 824-2282. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine.

July 15 & 16: NEW ENGLAND FOREST RALLY – Join the excitement and witness the incredible skill of these off-road drivers as they maneuver their cars (twisting, sliding, turning and jumping) through the woods, winding creeks and one-lane bridges at speeds up to 100 mph! Fans also attend festivities such as “Parc Exposé," where all the teams parade their cars into an open area as fans can gather, mingle with the competitors, get autographs, and see the cars up close. Rally Village features vendors, exhibitors and food throughout the two days and an awards party. FMI: newenglandforestrally.com

August 5 & 6: ANDOVER OLDE HOME DAYS – Enjoy music, food vendors, crafters and vendors on the common all day. Experience the photography contest, parade, kids' games, corn hole tournament, skillet toss, antique tractor pulls, and lawn tractor races. See the Ellis River Riders Horse Show on the August 7. FMI: Facebook.com/andoveroldehomedays

September 17: BETHEL HARVESTFEST – Celebrate the harvest and the beginning of fall foliage season with arts, crafts, music, a farmers' market, loaded baked potatoes, burgers, apple pie cook-off, and much more on the town common. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Free admission, rain or shine. FMI: BethelHarvestfest.com

October 8: THE BIG REVEAL: A RUNWAY EXTRAVAGANZA – To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “Big Find,” which is one of the largest finds of gem rough in North America from 1972 to 1974, the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum has created this event to include 12 jewelry artists who created one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry using stones mined during the “Big Find.” These pieces will be shown to the public for the first time at The Big Reveal! Three Maine-based fashion designers will be showcasing their work on the runway! This event is held at the Grand Summit Hotel of Sunday River, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. FMI: mainemineralmuseum.org/the-big-find

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Bethel

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