Wild West Weekend has become an economic boost for area businesses, helped with fund raising, creating awareness for non-profits, and showcasing our beautiful Main Street and the Town of Dexter. We have been receiving calls from vendors, musicians and event planners since the end of last year and Q106.5 FM is booked for their annual live broadcast in 2008.

Part of this years events include: P & L Markets Pig Scramble, Dragon Den's 2nd Annual Stick Pony Rodeo on Main Street and Country Charm's 2nd Annual Wheel Barrow Race, Friday's Kiddie Parade, Crazy Bob's Hot Dog Eating Contest, DRHS Field Hockey Maine Chicken BBQ, Maine Choice Realty Skillet Toss & First Free Baptist Wild West Olympics, Ray Stafford Concert, Debbie Myers Concert, North Country Riding Club Horse Show, Wild Jim's Jamboree at Wayside Park both Friday and Saturday, Christian Community Church Chicken Pie Supper, Dexter Fire Department Ducky Race, Roger Brawn Real Estate Scavenger Hunt, Dexter Health Care Ride In, Poulliot-Seavey Post of the American Legion Bingo, Christian Community Church Sunday Service, Town of Dexter Silent Auction in the Town Council Chambers, Dexter Regional High School Alumni Banquet, Brewster Inn Worst Boot Contest, Bud's Shop'n Save Customer Appreciation Day.

Businesses, vendors, churches & organizations currently signed up; Dexter Boy Scout doughboys, Toot's Deli, Sebasticook Family Doctors, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Ken Withee DJ Service, Snap of the Dragon, Blanket Works, Kent's Dogs, Down East Liquidation, Peaceful Patches Quilt Show, Dexter Family Practice, Yogi's Doughboys & More, SAD#48 Food Services, Blackwell Insurance, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, Dexter Lakes Association, Tillson True Value, Prudential, Country Charm, Renys, Judy Craig Consulting, Town of Dexter, Skowhegan Savings Bank, The Eastern Gazette, Crafter Carol King, Dragons Den, Dexter Municipal Golf Course, Dexter Variety, Dexter Exxon, Mainely Crafts, Sherburne Farms and Ronnie of Simpson View Farms, CD Electric & ABCD Pre School, Dexter Print Shop.

A look back at last year, although we had some extreme heat on Friday (110 degrees was 1 reading at about 1:30 pm on Friday where the vendors were set up), and the extreme storm Friday night dictated that we cancel Renys' Debbie Myers Concert, the Brewster Inn Worst Boot Contest and the Fire Department auction, all the others events went on without a hitch.

But the Friday night rain and storm cleared the air, the streets, the heat and moods for a wonderful Saturday and Sunday.

Boy Scout doughboys sold out, Field Hockey Maine Chicken BBQ sold out for the 1st setting and had to go buy more chicken, Toot's Deli had a record day, lots of kids at Varney Insurance Kiddie Parade, huge turnout for the NCRC Horse Show on Sunday, record amount of vendors, 614 kids registered in the P&L Pig Scramble, great turnout for Maine Choice Realty Skillet Toss & First Free Baptist Wild West Olympics; over 300 tickets sold for the 1st Annual MaineMilitary.com Heritage Revolver Raffle, 300 tickets sold for the Dexter Fire Department Duckie Race, great attendance for the Cruz' In and Ray Stafford Show, no lack of 'good ole' Country Music' during Jim's Jamboree at Wayside Park; 94 attended the Christian Community Church Sunday Service at Wayside Park and the Christian Community Church Chicken Pie Supper at American Legion Hall sold out.

The Dragon Den's 1st Annual Stick Pony Rodeo was well attended despite the heat, and Country Charm's 1st Annual Wheel Barrow Race was a hoot as was Crazy Bob's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

New last year was Penobscot Sheriff Department providing a demonstration by the Departments Bomb Detection Dog "Eric" with handler Deputy Sheriff Jim Roy sniffing out spectators and others on Main Street.

Bangor Savings Costume Contest had 21 contestants despite the huge rain storm that was impending, 14 Businesses participated in DRDC's Business Decorating Contest and which will be held again this year.

The 3rd Annual “Wild West Business Decorating Showdown” will once again be taking place with judging on Friday and announced during the Ray Stafford Concert on Friday night on Main Street.

Dress up your window(s) and/or create displays in your business for Wild West Weekend and an impartial panel of judges will be discreetly going around town during WWW and choosing who will have the honor of hanging the 3rd Annual Wild West Weekend Plaque for 2008.

Please let me know what your plans are to make your business, club, church or home "wildly" stand out. Also, please invite your business neighbors to participate. I have created an emailing list, but may not have everyone's email address, so let me know if you want to be added to the Wild West email list.

The Dexter Fire Department will be ending Wild West Weekend at the end of the week, August 7, 8 and 9 with their Annual Auction.

So grab your partna' and join us on August 1st, 2nd & 3rd in Dexter.

If you would like more information, contact DRDC President Judy Wilbur Craig, Wild West Weekend Coordinator at (207) 924-3067 or email judy@DexterMaine.com.