Opening Day, Open House, and “Chamber After Hours Business Gathering” – June 12, 2024

Our doors are open at 10:30am for you to learn of our region’s logging history. View our unique oil paintings and hand carved models representing the early logging life and forestry in the State of Maine. Our exhibits, artifacts, dioramas and logging equipment and hiking trails will keep all family members entertained.

Additionally, during the evening, our Open House Celebration and hosting of  The Chamber After Hours Business Gathering will occur on Wednesday, June 12 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the museum. We welcome you and your families to stop by for light refreshments, conversation and a tour of the museum. Come hear about our exciting plans for 2024 and some of the new exhibits we are planning.

Logging Festival Days – July 12 – 13, 2024

The Maine Forestry Museum sponsors multiple events in mid-July to celebrate our region’s timber heritage.  Join us at our fairgrounds for our 43rd Annual Logging Festival. This popular two-day event features an Arts & Crafts Vendor Day, Logging Parade, and Logging Festival.  Click here for more information to participate as a vendor.

Arts & Crafts Vendor Day – July 12, 2024 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM) Join us at our Museum fairgrounds for our 43rd Annual Logging Festival.  Swing by on Friday to explore the items our vendors will be selling in their booths.  There will be children’s activities, live music by the Pull Together Band, burying of the beans (around 3:30 PM) for the Bean Hole Dinner that will be served on Saturday, cookout, beer garden.  Don’t miss the fun!  Come back on Saturday and visit our vendors and attend the festival on too! 

Logging Parade – July 13, 2024 (10:00 AM – 11:30 AM)  We sponsor a morning parade along Rangeley’s Main Street featuring loaded big rig logging trucks, floats, bands, antique cars and much more!

This year’s parade theme is “Forest Fire Prevention”. The Maine Forest Service will be participating in the parade featuring a one-of-a-kind Smokey Bear Balloon Float! Plus, it is Smokey’s 80th  birthday! Come wish Smokey a happy birthday!

Winners for “Best Loaded Truck”, “Most Appropriate to Logging” (logging industry equipment), and “Best Fitting Parade Theme” for floats and other entries will be chosen. Want to have some fun? Create a float and march in the parade! Get creative with your Forest Fire Prevention imagination! To participate in the parade, please contact our parade coordinator Linda Sikes at (207-491-6566).

Logging Festival and Arts & Crafts Vendor Day – July 13, 2024 (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM)  At the conclusion of the morning Logging Parade, The Logging Festival kicks off on Museum fairgrounds with our opening ceremonies followed by our Hall of Fame inductions, famous Bean Hole Dinner, biscuits baked on reflector ovens and our exciting logging competition. Come see the axe throw, hot saw, and crosscut challenge.  Interested in competing in the logging competition?  Click here to fill out a competitor form.

There will be children’s activities all day including our popular barrel train ride, mini excavator, clown, face painting, bouncy house and more. Our vendors, artisans and crafters will be there too! Don’t forget to check out our beer garden as well!

Working Forest Tour – July 12, 2024 (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

Working Forest Tour – As part of the Logging Festival, this special event is a “Working Forest Tour” hosted by Seven Islands Land Company.  It is an educational site tour of an active logging operation in the Rangeley area. Learn about the considerations that go into managing the working forests of Maine. You will have an opportunity to see modern equipment in action and to ask questions about the “how & why” of a timber harvest.  The fee for this event is a Logging Festival Ticket.  (The ticket can be used to enter the festival the following day). Limit 25 people. Contact the museum by phone or email to reserve a spot on the tour.  Transportation is not provided.

Online Auction Fundraiser – July 26 – August 9, 2024

We conduct a two week-long online benefit auction. Support the Museum by bidding on a unique array of items and experiences. Items include hand crafted furniture, fly fishing excursions, snow skiing lift tickets, snow skiing lessons, artwork, restaurant gift certificates, retail gift certificates and so much more.

To visit the auction site and preview items click: https://www.32auctions.com/MaineForestryMuseum

In order to place bids participants must create an account, but no payment or credit card information is required to bid.  Only winning bidders will need to enter their payment/credit card information.