Mount Washington Valley News Brought To You By Horsefeathers

 By Tom Eastman  Sept. 14, 2009

CONWAY — The Muddas Football Club of Amherst had a “Thriller” of a weekend at the 2009 “Creature Muddy Feature”-themed Mud Bowl Sept. 13 by defeating the defending champion Nashua Mud Gumbys 34-12 to win their 17th overall title and their first since 2004.
The Gumbys had hoped to win their fourth straight, and fifth overall, but were stymied by the young and now experienced Muddas.
The hometown 11-time champion Mount Washington Valley Hogs were 2-and-2 in the eight-team, 13-game, double-elimination tourney, losing in the semifinals to the Muddas 20-6 Sunday.
Mud Bowl — the championships of two-hand touch mud football — over the past 34 years has raised more than $500,000 for local charities. Mud Bowl’s primary beneficiaries are North Conway Day Care, North Conway Community Center and Carroll County Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

In the 27th annual Tournament of Mud Parade Sep. 12, Arts in Motion’s “Thriller” dance routine was deemed tops in the Open class while in the Team Class the Merrimack Mudcats’ “Muddy Monster Mash” was rated best by the judges.
Other results in the Open class included the Mudbassadors, who placed second for their “Creatures of the Muddy Lagoon Old Man of the Mountains” skit, followed by Imari and the Sahara Dancers, who placed third for their Planet Shimmy Invades the Mud Planet dance. Read the rest of this entry »

Jackson, NH -  The First Foliage Arts and Music (FAM) Festival is slated to be held on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from noon to 7:00PM at the base of Black Mountain Ski Area in Jackson, New Hampshire.  The festival, slated to become an annual event, will feature nine musical acts including two well known Mt. Washington Valley bands: the White Mountain Boys and Audio Kickstand.  Also appearing on the main stage will be Black Marmot, a folk rock band, Roots Down Below, a Boston based reggae band, and the headliner, the Adam Ezra Group, critically acclaimed as Boston’s ‘new voice in acoustic rock’.  Side stage performers currently include Tim Gurshin, Anni Clark, Bear and Swampdog, and the Jeff Conley Group.  The event is the brainchild of Whitney’s Inn, the Shovel Handle Pub and Black Mountain Ski Area owners and staff, all dedicated to promoting upper Jackson.  Local breweries, food vendors, artisans and crafters will be on hand to add to the fun. Other activities will include pumpkin carving, horseback riding, pony rides and a trout fishing derby.

“Black Mountain and Whitney’s Inn are working together to promote what we refer to as the Upper Village of Jackson”, stated Don Bilger, owner of Whitney’s Inn and the Shovel Handle Pub.  “Upper Jackson offers a pastoral setting with spectacular foliage surrounding the venue location for the FAM Festival.  This should be a great event for both locals and guests visiting the valley and we’re looking forward to holding this event for years to come,” finished Bilger.  Lori Pecor, Marketing Director of Black Mountain Ski Resort, is equally enthusiastic about the event.  “The upcoming season marks 75 years of entertaining locals and travelers alike at the base of Black Mountain, and we’ve come a long way since 1935!  Today, our guests can enjoy everything onsite from lodging, dining and great live music, to fishing, horseback riding, and, of course, skiing!” said Pecor.  “The FAM Fest has now been added to the ever growing list of ‘what’s happening’ in the Upper Village of Jackson and our team has a many additional events planned for the upcoming season!” concluded Pecor. Read the rest of this entry »

NORTH CONWAY NH - Dozens of handmade, unique scarecrows compete for cash awards totaling $2,500 at this festival at Settlers’ Green Outlet Village in North Conway. Artists demonstrate the art of pumpkin carving and invite visitors to join in by carving their own pumpkins. Free pumpkins to the first 150 kids. A Pumpkin Pie Contest, free apple cider, horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, live music and more round out the offerings. All events are free and open to the public. Hours are 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Info: 603-356-7031.

Then head to Sherman Farm’s third annual Corn Maize, which this year opened Sept. 19 and continues weekends in East Conway through Oct. 31.

It’s all part of the family-owned farm’s efforts to present agri-tainment that is fun for all members of the family. Educational, too.
New for 2009 are “Flashlight and Fright Nights.”
To ensure that the Maize experience offers something for everyone, the public will find a variety of ways to experience the maze: A series of “passports” are available for church groups, girl and boy scouts, 4-Hers, corporate groups and the general public. Each containing 10 questions that quiz the user on one of a variety of subjects, those who answer the questions correctly will receive clues that guide them along the correct path to the exit.
Other attractions at the Maize are the Moo Express, a Mini Maze, Corn Boxes, Hayrides, Pick your own Pumpkins, Al’s Animal House with farm animals for petting, Corn Cannons (a huge hit in 2008), Concession featuring Sherman Farm burgers and hot cider donuts.
For further information, go to www.shermanfarmsnh.com or call 939-2412.