Town of Dexter Manager Bob Simpson, North Country Riding Club President Amie Smith and Dexter Regional Development Corporation President Judy Wilbur Craig and their groups have been working hand in hand collaborating to create the Wild West Week-end, Friday, August 1st, Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd, with local businesses and individuals herding to joining the wagon train express!

Artist Jane Daniels-Hall did her part in creating the new Wild West Logo that is being used on T-Shirts sponsored by the Dexter Regional Development Corporation and are on sale at Olmsted's Printing and at Renys on Main Street. Children's sizes are $7 and Adults are only $9 and come is small children's right up to 4X.

In addition, Olmsted's will be printing Wild West Magnets that will be given out free at Olmsted's Printing & Townsend Jewelers during Wild West Weekend. Another attraction Olmsted is offering is a Remington art display at their Main Street shop.

Another new addition to Wild West Weekend, making it one of the biggest town wide "unifying" events in Dexter's recent history, is LOTS of FREE gift certificates to be given out on Sunday at the North Country Riding Club All Stakes & Trophy Show. When you come thru the gate Sunday, you will receive a free ticket to qualify you to win local business gift certificates. We will be calling off a number between each and every class from 8:30 am, but you must be present to win, if not, we call of another number.

To date the Wild West Committee has received gift certificates from Raven Hollow Leather (Leather wallet, $20 value), Dexter Print Shop (2 gift certificates), Darby Creek Soups ($25 gift certificate), Rolling Thunder Express ($28 gift certificate), Spring Street Greenhouse, Dexter House of Pizza, Sew'n Sew Machines ($25 gift certificate), Lawson's Landscape (mulch gift certificate), Judy Craig Consulting Web Design ($50 gift certificate), Misty Blue Tack Shop (gift certificate), Moccasin & Leather Outlet (3 certificates), Dexter Variety ( 2 large pizzas), Cinderella Cleaning Service (gift certificate), Erda Leather, North Country Riding Club (2 - 2004 Family Memberships, $40 value), McKusick Construction (mulch gift certificate), Farrier Jerry Harriman ($35 horse trim), Lake Shore Lunch, Donna Kraft-Smith Massage Therapist ($25 Gift Certificate), CD Electric ( 2 T-shirts), ABCD Pre School (certificate towards enrollment), Country Charm (Boyd Bear), North Country Seafood, Dysart's Restaurant, Perko Supply, JJ's Thrift & Bait (NSCAR Shelf $30 value), Dragons Den, Penquis Health Services (gynecological exam, $125 value).

Wild West Weekend is also offering Free Tractor Hay Rides loading at the Dexter Municipal Parking Lot. Misty Blue Acres & Tack Shop is offering free farm tractor pulled Hay Rides from 9 am to 2 pm Saturday and Patti Dowse of Erda Leather will be offer horse and cart rides Friday from 1 to 3 pm and Saturday morning. Sue Manson is also doing the cart & horse rides. But remember, ride at your own risk!

The newest additions of participation are: Senator Paul Davis opening the Sunday NCRC Horse Show, Dexter Motor Lodge, come dressed up and pay NO cover charge for entertainment both Friday and Saturday night, 9 to 1, Roger & Judy Brawn of Brawn Real Estate hosting a Wild Scavenger Hunt Saturday 9 to 3:30 with $100 prize for the winners. Poulliot-Seavey Post #53 of the American Legion is hosting Bingo Saturday from 1 to 4 pm, Marian's Taste of Heaven - 23 varieties of Fudge, Cathy Hartley with Homemade Candles at Wayside Park & NCRC Show Ring, Harry Akkerman doing a Horse Shoeing demonstration, Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis selling popcorn, cotton candy and soda at Bud Ellms Field Sunday, Erda Leather, Sherri Simpson and Marcia Delaware (Pooper Scooper Patrol), McKusick Construction, Farrier Jerry Harriman, Lake Shore Lunch, Patti Dowse & family, Bud's Shop'n Save, Sue & Jeff Manson of Lazy Acres Farm, Tillson True Value, Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis, Seamans Wallpaper...

Visit www.DexterMaine.org/wildwest/ for the complete list of Wild West Participants and schedule of events.

A highlight on Friday afternoon is a horse & rider "Main Street Show Down" on Friday afternoon (gonna be good!) with the NCRC Horse & Riders, Bangor Savings Bank and 'the good guys'! This is being staged as a 'mock bank robbery'.

P & L Pig Scramble is scheduled for 11 am Saturday on the Corinna Road. There will be old country-style sidewalk music, food vendors around town, Horseshoeing demonstration, hotdog stand, North Country Seafood Vending Wagon, cotton candy, popcorn, lemonade stands, Main Street surprise events, various music attractions, sidewalk sales, town wide business sales & specials and more. Wayside Park, behind the Dexter Historical Society, will be the setting for a very large variety of vendors selling and displaying their wares on Saturday as well as Free Pony Rides; Free kids games/events, music and more at that location.

Dexter Variety will have lots of Cowboy Specials and MacDougell's Bakery is opening their Drive Thru to be a "Horse Ride/Drive Thru" with specials. Buy one Doughnut and get one free when riding thru, but please don't leave a 'deposit'...

For information, directions, questions on Saturday, Dexter Regional Development Corporation will be at the Town Council Chambers, which is "Wild West Headquarters from 9 am to 4 pm. Maps, schedules and Scavenger Hunt directions will be at Wild West Headquarters.

Activities include at least 6 music venues:

* Debbie Myers Concert on Main Street Friday night starting at 6 pm sponsored by Renys
* Banjo Dan & Midnight Cowboys Blue Grass at Wayside Grange 7 to 9:30 pm, $8.00 per person The acoustic Bluegrass sounds of Spring Creek, Saturday morning at Wayside Park, 9 to 11
* The Cruz In has Cruz in' music until 10 pm as well as the live sounds of The 4-Generation Singers all at the municipal parking lot
* Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 we have a Rock/Blues band from New York called All That i Bleed performing on Grove Street
* The Dexter United Methodist Church on Sunday evening 7 p.m. is hosting a Bluegrass Concert that features guitar, banjo, violin and bass fiddle. In addition to bluegrass, the Bowdoinham String Band will play Celtic dance music, swing, gypsy jazz, and Appalachian songs

If you plan to ride or drive in town, but need a place to park your trailer, there is FREE parking on Water Street at the old Dexter Show Parking Lot, courtesy of Dexter Shoe.

Town residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to join us wearing Cowboy hats, boots, and Wild West costumes of all types... Dress "wild west" while supporting Dexter and having a "Wild Time"! Not only will you have fun, but also you will "cash in" on lots of sales, give-a-ways and community spirit.

For more information go to www.DexterMaine.org/wildwest/ or call Judy Wilbur Craig at 924-3067 or 270-1240.