Bright sun and mild temperatures helped to draw an estimated 800 people to the first Old Orchard Beach Winter Carnival on Saturday, though the water was a bit chilly for those who braved the ocean for the Penguin Plunge.

The warm weather forced cancellation of some events, such as ice bowling and snowshoeing, but sledding and snowboarding happened, thanks to volunteers who trucked in loads of snow, turning Old Orchard Street into a sliding hill with beach views.

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Louise Reid, Old Orchard Beach’s assistant town manager, is pulled by Andrea Berlin, left, a member of the Conservation Commission; Tori Geaumont, assistant code enforcement officer; Gary Lamb, town planner; and Mike Nugent, right, code enforcement officer, during the human dog-sled races on Saturday.
Louise Reid, Old Orchard Beach’s assistant town manager, is pulled by Andrea Berlin, left, a member of the Conservation Commission; Tori Geaumont, assistant code enforcement officer; Gary Lamb, town planner; and Mike Nugent, right, code enforcement officer, during the human dog-sled races on Saturday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Camden Kelly, 7, of Saco snowboards on the sliding hill built on Old Orchard Street with trucked-in snow.
Camden Kelly, 7, of Saco snowboards on the sliding hill built on Old Orchard Street with trucked-in snow. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Alison McCormick of Old Orchard Beach leads a group into the Atlantic during the carnival's Penguin Plunge.
Alison McCormick of Old Orchard Beach leads a group into the Atlantic during the carnival's Penguin Plunge. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Clarence Stewart of Old Orchard Beach and Trish Perlman of Ashfield, Mass., race down Old Orchard Street on a toboggan during the festivities Saturday.
Clarence Stewart of Old Orchard Beach and Trish Perlman of Ashfield, Mass., race down Old Orchard Street on a toboggan during the festivities Saturday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Talan LaChance, 1, of Old Orchard Beach tastes a cake depicting the town’s Ballpark made by his grandmother, Jan Tabone. Pieces of the cake brought donations for restoring the facility.
Talan LaChance, 1, of Old Orchard Beach tastes a cake depicting the town’s Ballpark made by his grandmother, Jan Tabone. Pieces of the cake brought donations for restoring the facility. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
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The human dog-sled races took place on the beach, instead of at Memorial Park, because of the lack of snow.

Jen DeRice of the town recreation department said, ”The weather was perfect for this event.” She is a member of the OOB365 organization that sponsored the carnival to promote Old Orchard Beach as a year-round destination.

 

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