SKOWHEGAN — The town and Main Street Skowhegan recently announced confirmation from Guinness World Records that Skowhegan has set the world record for the most people moose calling simultaneously. The record was established on June 9 at the 2018 Skowhegan Moose Festival, when 1,054 people participated in the world record attempt led by Roger Lambert, a registered Maine guide.
The event hosted by Main Street Skowhegan attracted an estimated 6,000 people from across 13 states to the weekend-long festival in June. The record attempt was seen by many people on local and regional news outlets and had more than 16,000 views of the video of the attempt on the Skowhegan Moose Festival Facebook page. The review process by Guinness World Records took eight months to verify the exact number of people that were calling simultaneously in the grandstand of the Skowhegan Fairgrounds.
“The Skowhegan Moose Festival was a huge success and this world record is the icing on the cake,” said Kristina Cannon, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan. “To us, it is about so much more than just the people who were counted. So many people, and organizations and businesses were involved in festival planning and execution. From our sponsors to our volunteers, this event and record wouldn’t have happened without them. This recognition is a great way to celebrate Skowhegan and all that it has to offer. As a community, we are thrilled to hold this world record.” Before the world record attempt, organizers used a video Lambert to promote how to do a moose call and encourage people to participate in the world record attempt.
The 2018 Skowhegan Moose Festival was a three-day event with a range of activities for all ages, including adult and child moose-calling competitions, hunting and fly-fishing demonstrations and seminars with sporting experts, plus vendors, outdoor retailers, food trucks, and a Phil Vassar concert. Organizers estimate nearly 6,000 people attended the festival, a new attendance record for the event.
The 2018 Moose Festival was supported by leading sponsors Cabela’s, Hight Family of Dealerships and other partners including the Maine Office of Tourism and the Kennebec Valley Tourism Council, as well as many local businesses.
PHOTO: From left, back row: Mark LeBlanc, committee member, Skowhegan Moose Festival; Carroll Ware, committee member, Skowhegan Moose Festival; Soren Siren, committee member, Skowhegan Moose Festival; Sam Hight, dealer principal, Hight Family of Dealerships; Roger Lambert, registered Maine guide; Shawn Howard, committee member, Skowhegan Moose Festival; (front row) Christine Almand, town manager, town of Skowhegan; Lila Ware, committee member, Skowhegan Moose Festival; Kristina Cannon, executive director, Main Street; Mary Haley, project coordinator, Main Street Skowhegan; Matt DuBois, president, Main Street Skowhegan Board of Directors; Maria Landry, associate director, Main Street Skowhegan; Patrick Dore, branch manager, Franklin Savings Bank; Amanda White, Skowhegan Moose Festival Committee Member. (Main Street Skowhegan photo)
