CONWAY — Festival of the Hills returns with its signature mix of crafts, games, food and fundraising, plus a few surprises, on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s a huge show of community in Conway,” said Sue MacDonald, who has been involved with organizing the event since 2017.
Each year, the festival raises money for nine scholarships to Conway high schoolers. According to MacDonald, organizers raised about $8,700 last year to support high school seniors with their next chapters. These scholarships not only benefit college-bound high school seniors, but also those planning to be entrepreneurs or enter the workforce.
“We’re pretty proud of what we give out,” MacDonald said. “We do feel that everybody needs a little leg up.”
One high schooler will also receive the Tricia Donovan Scholarship on Sunday at noon. The award honors the longtime chairperson of Festival of the Hills and typically supports a student who values volunteering, according to MacDonald.
Sunday will kick off with the United Congregational Church of Conway’s communion service on the ballfield at 9:15 a.m. before the activities kick into gear. Registration for the Covered Bridge Classic 10K Road Race starts at 8:45 a.m. before runners set off at 10 a.m. at the Burkeville Covered Bridge and finish at the Field Memorial Library. MacDonald said runners can register at the library on Sunday or online at festivalofthehills.com/road-race ahead of time to receive a free pair of socks with the festival’s classic cow logo. Parking for racers is available at the intersection of Whately Road and Old Cricket Hill Road.
At 11:30 a.m., visitors will swing axes and compete in the log-splitting contest before the parade starts at 1 p.m. Emergency service workers, the Frontier Regional School band, Selectboard members and other familiar faces in Conway will participate in the parade, along with vintage vehicles from Saturday’s Conway Cruise Night.
At 2 p.m. on the ballfield, participants will see how far they can toss frying pans in the skillet toss, a staple of the festival, according to MacDonald. The festivities will conclude with a raffle drawing at 4 p.m.
To compete in the skillet toss and log-splitting contest, participants must be at least 18 years old, pay a fee of $5 and register 15 minutes prior to the event.
From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, visitors can peruse books at the Friends of the Library Book Sale. According to the group’s Co-President Linda McDaniel, a variety of books from classics to biographies, gardening, cooking and children’s books, along with puzzles, will fill the Field Memorial Library for shoppers to buy.
Throughout Sunday, kids can play in the new hay maze and check out raptor rehabilitator Tom Ricardi’s winged friend. Attendees can also check out the art exhibit in the Field Memorial Library; “The Great Calamity,” on the history of Conway floods and storms in the Historical Society Museum; and crafts and produce for sale at local vendors’ booths throughout the day. For the first time, the Festival of the Hills will also have merch for sale, including T-shirts, hats, hoodies and book bags.
“I think people love how small it is and how family-oriented it is,” MacDonald said. About 2,000 locals and visitors show up for the challenges, crafts and food each year, she added.
Visitors can pick from Sunday’s menu of Mediterranean food from Mohawk Falafel and Shawarma, vegan bites from SoulFully Vegan, fries from Spuds with Love, barbecue classics from Cliff’s Smokin’ Backyard BBQ and homemade candy from Duck Pond Candy Cart. Fried dough with maple cream, baked goods, coffee, cider, doughnuts and new homemade candy will also be available from the Festival of the Hills organization.
According to MacDonald, about 120 volunteers make the festival possible each year.
“We’re really excited that we’ve got a lot of community participation,” MacDonald said. “It’s a showcase of what our town is about.”
The suggested donation for parking is $5. MacDonald stressed the importance of bringing cash. Visitors can use an ATM on the ballfield or the Greenfield Savings Bank ATM.