Beds aren’t the most ideal mode of transportation. Sure, the seating is comfortable, but they’re hard to steer and don’t fare well in the rain.

Besides, the typical stack of mattresses isn’t usually outfitted with a power source or wheels, making forward propulsion highly improbable.

But participants in next Sunday’s Bridge to Beach Bed Race in Ogunquit have discovered the bed-propelling secret: five energetic friends, preferably runners, who can see the street-racing dreams in a Serta.

The bed race is part of the seventh annual OgunquitFest, which includes three days of events and activities next weekend.

“It’s awesome,” said Karen Arel, president of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce. “Every year we add more and more to it. It’s been a huge hit.”

The festival kicks off on Friday evening with ghostly tours through town led by costumed guides from the Ogunquit Heritage Museum. Hear haunted tales of Ogunquit and surrounding areas during the one-mile walk, and be sure to bring your flashlight to help keep an eye on any lingering spirits. The tour starts at the museum at 6:30 p.m.

The kid-friendly cornstalk maze at Booth Theater on Beach Street is open from 5 to 6 p.m. From 6 to 9 p.m. the maze and adjacent haunted house get a little scarier for the adults — but not too scary.

“Last year, from 1 to 10 it was an 11 on the scale for scary,” Arel said. “We decided to scale it back this year.”

On Saturday, vintage-car fans can peruse the autos at the Classic and Antique Car Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Main Beach parking lot. Admission is free, and attendees can vote for their favorite vehicle.

The Autumn Bazaar also opens at 10 a.m. in the Main Beach parking lot and includes booths from Barefoot Books, Two Sons Alpaca Farm, Wellsford Cork Crafts and plenty of others. Admission is free, but donations are being accepted for the local food pantry or the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk.

Women might have the advantage in Saturday’s high-heel dash at 3 p.m., but that doesn’t mean men can’t slip on a pair of pumps and give it their best. Arel noted that a gentleman won last year with a little help from some duct tape (which he used to keep his heels on). This year, Arel says, “No duct tape.”

Heels must be at least 2 inches to participate, and Arel says the chamber will have heels on hand for folks who don’t own a suitable racing pair.

The race takes place at Perkins Cove, and proceeds go to the Frannie Peabody Center, a Portland nonprofit that provides HIV/AIDS prevention services to at-risk groups and direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Oct. 24 ‘s Bridge to Beach Bed Race pits five-member teams against each other in a sprint to the comfort-foam finish. Teams deck out beds with wheels and push handles — and often decorations, too. Arel fondly recalled a team of lifeguards who dressed up like Secret Service agents.

“It’s all about having fun, whether you’re participating or you’re watching,” she said.

According to the official rules, “The use of distraction devices such as water guns, horns, megaphones, whistles, etc., is acceptable.”

Races start at noon on Beach Street with two-team heats. The top two finishers will go head to head for the title and a $500 cash prize. Spectators can help decide the “People’s Choice” by putting money into containers labeled with the team’s name. Those proceeds benefit an array of local nonprofits.

There’s plenty more activity all weekend, such as horse-drawn wagon rides, a roaming railroad, children’s storytelling and a costume parade on Oct. 24 at 11 a.m., starting from Ogunquit Square.

The kids can decorate pumpkins with paint and stickers or decorate a monster cookie — one to eat, one to take home — on Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Amore Breakfast Patio. Ogunquit Playhouse will be giving backstage tours Saturday and Oct. 24 .

“More and more people participate, more and more people attend,” Arel said. “It’s not the same thing every year. We always try to think, ‘What’s going to make it better this year?”‘

Judging by the schedule of events, organizers have planned an excellent fall festival. But adding a La-Z-Boy division to the bed race in 2011 could help take things up a notch.

 

Staff Writer Shannon Bryan can be contacted at 791-6333 or at: sbryan@mainetoday.com

 

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