It’s Winter Carnival weekend in Bridgton!

The festivities, sponsored by the Greater Bridgton Chamber of Commerce, open Friday night with the 2nd Annual Ice Queen Pageant, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Magic Lantern Innovation Center. Winter Carnival buttons will be required for entrance to the pageant, and will be sold at the door for $5.

The pageant is sponsored by Ashleigh London Photography, the Magic Lantern, Town of Bridgton, the Bridgton Historical Society and the Chamber.

The Ice Queen is selected by a panel of judges. This year’s judges are Jesse Lane – General Manager of Queen’s Head; Ken Murphy of the Umbrella Factory; Steve Richard of Main Eco Homes; Jessica Putnam of Edward Jones; and Nick Orgo of Bear Mountain Inn and Stella’s on the Square.

Last year’s Ice Queen, Sabrina Johns, will crown the new queen.

Candidates include:

Kelly Tibbetts of Bridgton. She writes in her pageant bio: “I am a 36-year-old mom of three, and local hair stylist for over 10 years. I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family. Having just lost 100 pounds, I am a firm believer that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Work hard and reap all the benefits. Never stop believing in yourself.”

Rachel Sylvester of West Paris. She writes in her pageant bio: “I am 29 years old. I have been the Outreach Coordinator for the Bridgton Public Library going on three years, and I have loved working with and getting to know this community and that of the larger Lakes Region. I have my bachelor’s degree in Marine Science, and I am pursuing my master’s (degree) in Library Science focusing on public libraries. In my free time, I volunteer with OUT Maine and the Maine Trans Net, as well as read, play videos games, and go for walks with my golden retriever, Eve. I love to bake and make my co-workers try out new recipes and get feedback from them. I look forward to participating and trying something new.”

DeAna Morton of Naples. She writes in her pageant bio: “I’m 39. I’m a nurse manager of a dementia unit at a local nursing facility that takes care veterans. I’ve lived in the area for seven years and I love the peacefulness of the area and how lovely everyone has been to welcome my family here… I look forward to growing old here.”

MacKayla Murch. She writes in her pageant bio: “I am 23 and a mom to my 3-year-old, Katori. I am also your local bar manager at Breakroom248. I currently hold my aesthetician license, and will be going into correction officer training, Fall of 2024. I’m looking forward to doing something new in addition to expanding my hobbies this year!”

Biada Figoli-Calileo of Waterford. She writes in her pageant bio: “I grew up in Bridgton and currently live in Waterford with my husband and two kids on our family farm. My husband and I homeschool our kids and have found great reward with teaching them life skills and education. I love to bake, so you can guarantee that I have fresh bread more often than not. Currently, I work for the Greater Bridgton Chamber of Commerce as the Office Assistant, and I am looking forward to spending more time in the community where I grew up and being more involved!”

Savannah Clough of South Paris.She writes in her pageant bio: “I am 26. I was raised in Bethel and now currently reside in South Paris. I spend a lot of time working between two jobs. If you don’t find me there, you will find me with a book or spending time with my pup out on a walk or just soaking up the sun in the grass.”

Big line-up Saturday

Craft and vendor fair, sponsored by the Bridgton Recreation Department, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Hall gym on North High Street.

Winter Carnival is held at Highland Lake Beach, but attendees should note that the roadway to the site will be closed to vehicle travel, so plan to park offsite and walk in.

“We are closing the road down just past the entrance to the first parking lot all the way to Kennard Street,” Chamber Executive Director Angie Cook said. “Events — Rail Jam, ice bar, Freezing for a Reason — will be on the beach. SportsHaus will be there with Fat Tire bikes to demo. (Winter Carnival) Buttons will be available at the beach, as well.”

Vendors will be set up along the roadway.

Events include:

Kids’ ice fishing derby, sponsored by Unc’L Lunkers, registration at 8 a.m., derby starts at 9 a.m. on Highland Lake.

Rail Jam registration starts at 10 a.m., event begins at 2 p.m., ends 4:30 p.m. Open to skiers and snowboarders, $15 entry fee. Sponsored by Chamber, Pleasant Mountain, Winter Kids and Maine Adaptive.

Spicy chili eating contest at 1:30 p.m., sponsored by Stella’s on the Square. To register for the contest, e-mail name, age, residence to info@GBLRCC.org

Juggler Richard Hagerstrom performance at 11 a.m. Winter Carnival button required. Buttons ($5) sold at the beach.

Horse and carriage rides, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sponsored by Chalmers Insurance Group and Norway Savings Bank; Winter Carnival button required. Buttons ($5) sold at the beach.

Axe throwing

Ice Bar from noon to 6 p.m., sponsored by Great Atlantic Puffin Co., serviced by Campfire Grille; button required; no one under age 21 allowed. Live music by Christian Martin Band from 2 to 5 p.m.

Freezing for a Reason at 1 p.m., benefits Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, go to harvesthills.org to register as a jumper, pre-registration is required).

Fire dancers “The Show Aglow” from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

Fireworks at 6 p.m., sponsored by Bridgton Hospital. For safety purposes, no one is allowed on the lake.

At press time, Cook reported that as of Monday, “the ice is fine to be on.”