There will be town-wide store SALES, people dressing in Wild West attire from Cowboys and Indians to saloon girls and cowpokes! Vendors will be set up along Main Street and Lower Main Street this year, for easier access.

AND once again, Dexter is a "Horse Friendly Town". Many businesses have watering holes for both horses and riders. You are free to roam the streets of Dexter on your horses, but at your own risk. Ride or drive your horses to town like the olden days. There will be horse and trailer parking in different areas of town.

Maps of the Dexter Area with events sites and horse parking are being designed by Dave Pearson from the Dexter Regional Development Corporation and Artist Ella Munday and will be available for the public at WWW headquarters at the Town Council Chambers, Abbot Museum Gift Shop and at the Grist Mill Museum.

Following are just a few of the events that have been discussed and/or scheduled for this year!

Friday afternoon at 1 pm is Wild Roy's Kid Parade where kids can "wildly dress up" their pets, bikes, wagon, favorite stuffed animal and parade down through Main Street with Police Chief Roy (not Roy Rogers) acting as Grand Marshall. They will start by the Police Station and end up at the municipal parking lot and is open to all kids of all ages. Children that bring "live" animals, need to be accompanied by an adult and please refrain from bringing "biting dogs, kicking ponies, or other 'wild' animals"...

Radio Station Q 106.5 FM is climbing in the saddle and joining us this year on Saturday for a live broadcast from 9 to 1 pm visiting various events and letting the listeners know what is going on. Sponsors making the broadcast possible are P&L Country Market, Dexter Family Practice, AE Robinson Oil, Dexter Variety and Mainely Crafts.

Abbott Memorial Library will be holding a "Readers roundup book sale" Friday August 5th from 10 to 5 and Saturday 9 to 1.

The Dexter Fire Department will be having a busy weekend. The Annual Fireman's Auction is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will be held at the old Dexter Shoe parking lot, owned by John Chapelle. The 2nd Annual Ducky Race will also be held on Saturday and runs from Abbott Dam and down through Main Stream.

An exciting new addition for this year, The Shriners BIG parade with around 30+ Shriners Units (to date) coming from all over the state of Maine for a WILD parade, according to a Shrine spokesperson Lee Kaufman, that will last over an hour long. The parade will consist of ONLY Shrine units entertaining the parade route on Saturday at 1:30 pm.

The 3rd Annual Pig Scramble will once again be held at P&L Market at 9 AM and the 2nd Annual Wild West Olympics will change venue and be up at Crosby Park, which will have more parking space and area for all the events planned.

Debbie Myers Band has also agreed to hold her concert on Renys Concert stage on Friday night, in addition to her MC'ing the costume contest.

There will be a Cruz In on Saturday evening with the live band Big Daddy-O and the Accelerators entertaining the crowd.

There will be Arts in the Park at Wayside Park on Friday and Saturday. If you have a display, play music or have a band, let us know, and we will save a spot for you!

The Poulliot-Seavey Post #53 of the American Legion will have Bingo on Grove Street and TOPS will be giving away free recipes and advice.

Maine Wheels, the Maine Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) has also planned to have their August Meet in Dexter during the Dexter's Wild West Weekend.

Maine Wheels spokesperson Tim Colbath said, "So far there are planning for anywhere between 25 to 40 motor homes of various sizes, from 20' to 45' to attend and the RV Motor homes will be parking in Dexter at the Dexter Beach area.

Colbath went on to say, “The Chapter is planning to attend the festivities of the Wild West activities, will begin arriving on Thursday, and will stay and shop throughout the weekend." Hosts for the Dexter Meet will be Tim & Vornie Colbath of Dover-Foxcroft, and Courtney & Jan Haggett of South Berwick and want to add that money raised from various events is donated to the Hinckley School.

Knights of Columbus is holding their 1st Annual Yard Sale to benefit their many charities on Saturday, as well as quilting groups, Grange, Dexter Lakes Association and non-profit organizations showing what they do.

North Country Riding Club is holding their 3rd Annual Wild West Equitation All Ribbon Show on Sunday starting at 8:30 am with lots of food and vendors on site. This show is the largest of the season!

Participation of businesses, artists, bands/singers, vendors, yard sales, etc. are welcome with no fee, but no fees are paid for participation, however donations will be accepted to defray costs of insurance and extra police, etc.

If you would like to "get in the saddle again in 2005" contact Judy Wilbur Craig at judy@DexterMaine.com as Dexter "Unites Family and Community". We work with 'NO BUDGET'. We just ask that everyone do at least "one thing" to promote yourself and Dexter. We invite businesses in Dexter to play old country music, dress for the occasion and if you have outside signs, post Wild West Weekend dates.

We will post that you are participating and what you are doing at www.WildWestWeekend.com.