Shoetown Park was transformed into a mini carnival July 17 when the community welcomed more than 200 sailors from the USS Washington and their families for a day of food, fun and games.
South Berwick has been the host community for USS Washington crew members while the nuclear submarine is undergoing upgrades and repairs at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
A giant bouncy house and a water slide dominated the scene, which included a 500-gallon dunk tank, a fire truck, police cruiser, hot dog eating contest, and a petting pen for special attraction Honey, an adorably shaggy mini Highland cow.
Co-sponsored by the South Berwick Recreation Department, South Berwick Firefighters Association and South Berwick VFW Post 5744, the event was “a great day with the sailors and their families,” said Jeff Chase, VFW commander. He credited the community’s generous response and cooperation for its success.
Little Honey, brought to the event for children’s enjoyment by Still Water Mini Highlands, of New Durham, N.H., “stole everyone’s heart,” Chase said, noting that many adults also stopped by to pet the diminutive cow. The Highlands are a hardy breed that originated in Scotland.
The Firefighters Association set up tents, tables and chairs, and used the tanker truck to fill up the dunk tank with 500 gallons of water. A touch-a-truck activity was offered at the adjacent fire station.
South Berwick Police Detective Sgt. Tim Niehoff “manned the cruiser with all the bells and whistles, and deputized a lot of young sheriffs,” Chase said.
Other activities included face painting, ladder golf, corn hole, soccer, arcade basketball and a pickup basketball game. Twelve determined contestants in the hot dog eating contest consumed 160 franks, Chase verified.
Mark Kenney donated his time as DJ and emcee, Bounce 603 supplied the bounce house, and Dan Baldwin loaned his water slide for the day.
The sailors and their families also enjoyed a barbecue provided by Smokin’ Lamps of Lebanon that included a whole roasted pig, roasted chickens, hot dogs, hamburgers, mac ‘n cheese, and corn bread.
The meal was embellished with four gallons of coleslaw donated by Fogarty’s Restaurant and baked beans prepared by Dawn Chase with bacon ends from Breezy Hill Farm. For dessert, Aubrey’s supplied 31 dozen mini cupcakes, brownies and chocolate chip cookies; Mary Hussey donated four dozen apple and strawberry rhubarb hand pies; and Jason Cole with Kona Ice contributed 53 snow cones.
The USS Washington, which has been docked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard since the fall of 2024, is expected to depart the shipyard in July 2027.
