Skijor Skowhegan (Skowhegan, ME)

Skijor Skowhegan, the Northeast Equestrian Skijoring Regionals, is presented by Baxter Brewing Co.  Skijor Skowhegan is a team time-trial race where a horse and rider pull a snowboarder or alpine skier down a 1,000-foot track of gates, rings, and jumps.

Skijor Skowhegan is Maine's first equestrian skijoring race. Competitors will compete for swag and cash prizes underwritten by Franklin Savings Bank!

Skijoring means “ski driving” in the Norwegian language and is a popular sport in the Scandinavian countries. Today the sport is appreciated and practiced widely throughout the United States’ Midwest. Main Street Skowhegan is proud to bring the sport to Maine and New England.

This is an event of Somerset SnowFest, organized by Main Street Skowhegan and Lake George Regional Park.

For more information, please visit: https://somersetsnowfest.org/skijor-skowhegan/

2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Presented by The Hight Family of Dealerships

This schedule is subject to change and more details will be added over the next few weeks. All activities are FREE unless otherwise noted in related registration forms. 

For more info about venues, click here.

Daily Activities

These are fun outdoor activities you can do every day for free around town. 

• Ice Skating at Lake George Regional Park
• Sledding at Coburn Park
• Cross country skiing at Coburn Woods, Philbrick Trails, and Lake George Regional Park (groomed)
  • • *Lake George Regional Park is free for use during Somerset SnowFest only

Unwined Ice Bar: Monday, Wednesday-Thursday: 3-8 p.m. | Tuesday: Closed | Friday-Saturday: 12-9 p.m. | Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Winter at Weston Woods & Waters, Madison. Explore the Woods with SWT each morning of school vacation week, 10 to 11:30 AM.  All events are free and family friendly. Advanced registration is appreciated. In partnership with Madison Rec, we will have snowshoes and skis available for those who pre-register.  To register or for more information, contact Jennifer at , 207-679-7306 or visit www.somersetwoodstrustees.org

Friday, February 17

Somerset SnowFest Kick-Off Party  Presented by Bigelow Brewing and BAXTER
4-8 p.m., Bigelow Brewing Co., Skowhegan. Help Main Street Skowhegan and Lake George Regional Park kick off Somerset SnowFest with a Bigelow x Baxter collaboration beer while enjoying the sound of The Shack.

Saturday, February 18

Kids Box Sled Derby presented by KVCAP
9 a.m. | Lake George Regional Park West, Skowhegan. Start working on those box sleds and join us on the hill for some friendly competition. We’re building the hill up bigger and better than last year so plan on some great fun! Register your sled.

Ice Hole World Championships presented by Hammond Lumber Company
9 a.m. | Lake George Regional Park East (boat launch area). Ice Hole is the game for ice fishermen (and women)–and anyone who likes to spend their winters out on the lake. It’s simple really, drill two shallow holes, 33-feet apart, and start tossing the puck. Sort of like cornhole but with a few more playing field challenges! Sign up your doubles team here.

Beer Garden presented by Bigelow Brewing Co.
11 a.m. | Lake George Regional Park West. Featuring Bigelow Brewing Co. craft brews, the beer garden is open to anyone enjoying Lake George for the day/evening. There will be a fire pit and “lawn” games to compliment the many activities happening at the park!

Downhill Kayak Race
12 p.m. | Lake George Regional Park West. Exactly how it sounds. Competitors will fly down the hill at Lake George West in whitewater kayaks. The fastest time of two runs wins. There will also be prizes for the best outfit and cleanest run. Spectators are welcome to come and watch the race. Register here.

Sunday, February 19

Ice-Fishing Derby presented by Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union
5:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (awards at 3:30 p.m.) | Lake George Regional Park East, Skowhegan/Canaan. Cash prizes for first and second-largest fish per species! Click HERE for more info and registration.

Fishing Derby Breakfast Pizza by The Good Crust 
5-10 a.m. | Good Crust, Canaan. Come enjoy a delicious Ice Derby Breakfast Pizza before you head out to ice-fish! The pizza will be a standard large 16″ bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast pizza!

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Coburn Park. Enjoy FREE horse-drawn sleigh rides around Skowhegan’s beautiful Coburn Park with Seavey Farm.

Monday, February 20

Snowshoe with Skowhegan Outdoors 12-1 p.m. |  Wesserunsett Stream Preserve. Join Skowhegan Outdoors as we kick off SnowFest with snowshoeing through the Wesserunsett Stream Preserve. These trails are moderately difficult and are approximately 1.5 miles. During our afternoon stroll we will come across some steep hills and a few narrow sections, but there are also some serene views of the stream. Register here!

Tuesday, February 21

Yeti Hunt 12-3 p.m. | Lake George Regional Park East. Join the Skowhegan Outdoors team for our NEW SnowFest program, where we will participate in finding the Yeti hiding in the trails at Lake George Regional Park. We will have to be careful as we embark through the trails. Yetis are known for being shy, and they blend in so well during this time of year! This makes them experts when it comes to hiding from people. We look forward to seeing you there and helping us track down the Yeti! Participants will receive a free day pass to Lake George, and the first person to tag the Yeti will receive a Lake George hoodie and free year pass. Register Here!  

Wednesday, February 22

Thursday, February 23

Cross-Country Skiing with Skowhegan Outdoors 12-1 p.m. | Lakewood Golf Course. Join Skowhegan Outdoors for an opportunity to learn or improve upon your cross-country skiing skills! During this clinic we will be going over the fundamentals of cross-country skiing and then applying those skills on the trails. This clinic is open to cross-country skiers of all experience levels. Register here!

Friday, February 24

Cross-Country Ski Clinic with Skowhegan Outdoors 12-1 p.m. | Lakewood Golf Course Join Skowhegan Outdoors for an afternoon of gliding through the snow. Enjoy an easy workout while having fun in the outdoors. As we progress through the weeks, we will continue to build upon the skills that we have learned. We hope you’ll see a great improvement in your Cross- Country Ski skills and comfort levels by attending consecutive sessions! Register here.

Saturday, February 25

Skijor Skowhegan presented by Baxter Brewing Company
11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Skowhegan Fairgrounds, Skowhegan. We’ll bring spectators back to the fairgrounds for 2023 to watch skiers and snowboards navigate a groomed track outfitted with gates, jumps, and rings while being pulled by a rope behind a horse and rider! Register your team here.

Parking is $10 per car but otherwise free for spectators.

Beer Garden at The Stable during Skijor Skowhegan presented by Baxter Brewing Company
11 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Stable, Skowhegan Fairgrounds, Skowhegan. Enjoy Skijor Skowhegan trackside at The Stable next to the Grandstands.

Skijor Skowhegan Awards
Immediately following the race.

Sunday, February 26

Winter Triathlon (cross-country ski, snowshoe, and fat-tire biking) presented by Redington-Fairview General Hospital
9 a.m. | Lake George Regional Park West. A 5-mile cross-country ski, snowshoe, and fat tire bike race. Competitors will snowshoe the west side Warren Trail, ski around the lake, and end on the Fat Tire Bike trail on the East side. You can compete as a team or solo! Register here.

Kite Fest at Lake George Regional Park
10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Lake George Regional Park (on the lake). This is a new SnowFest event! Grab your kites and head out on the lake or field to let them fly! Learn more.

Outdoor Craft with Skowhegan Outdoors  12-1 p.m. | Lake George Regional Park East. Join the Skowhegan Outdoors while we decorate and design your very own snowman kit. In each kit there will be a hat, scarf, nose, and 3 little rock buttons. There will be puffy paint to use for personalizing your snowman hat and scarf. We look forward to seeing your creativity spread as we end off the SnowFest week! Register here.

Photo: Johnathan Wheaton Photography