Head to Greenville for the moose lottery festival

When new co-workers lament the fact that they’ve been in Maine for several weeks and have yet to see a moose, I’ve always told them the same thing.

Go to Greenville. From there, finding a moose shouldn’t be such a big deal, I tell them. Just wait until nearly dark, drive up to Rockwood, then over to Jackman (slowly, I caution), and you’ll likely be dodging the burly critters.

To me, Greenville and the Moosehead Lake region means “moose.”

This weekend, hundreds of Mainers will flock to the friendly town that sits on the south edge of the state’s biggest lake for another celebration of moose: The 2013 Moose Lottery Festival.

Organizers have pulled out the stops and have a variety of activities and events in store.

For prospective moose hunters, the highlight of the weekend will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

That’s when Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officials will begin reading the names of the 4,110 people who will earn a coveted moose-hunting permit this year.

But that’s not all that’s going on. If you’re looking for some good chow, you’ll be covered, whether by vendors, a scheduled hunter’s breakfast on Saturday or dual suppers — pasta at one location, beans at another — on Saturday night.

Also on tap: A trick shooting demonstration, an art show, an archery contest for kids, a bird walk, moose-watching safaris, a home run derby, a kids fishing derby and a jumping dogs demonstration.

BDN Maine is the weekend’s media sponsor, and joins Cabela’s in helping to present the weekend’s events.

Stop by for a day or for the whole weekend. For a more complete list of festival activities, check here.

John Holyoke

About John Holyoke

John Holyoke has been enjoying himself in Maine's great outdoors since he was a kid. Today, he's the Outdoors editor for the BDN, a job that allows him to meet up with Maine outdoors enthusiasts in their natural habitat. The stories he gathers provide fodder for his columns, and this blog.