BETHEL, Maine ??” Sunday River will host the 6th Annual North American Wife Carrying Championships presented by Redhook at Sunday River October 8. The event is part of Fall Festival weekend at the resort, which also includes live entertainment with Boston-based Entrain, a beer garden, crab fest, craft fair, children’s games and activities, scenic chairlift rides, wagon rides and more.

The champions of the NAWCC will receive a round-trip ticket to Finland to the World Wife Carrying Championships, in addition to the traditional prize of the wife’s weight in Redhook beer. Prizes are also awarded to second and third place finishers, as well as for special weight and age categories.

Couples navigate a 278-yard obstacle while the man is literally “carrying” the women. Women are allowed to carry men as well, but so far, there have been no such team. The teams do not have to comprise of married couples, but they must comprise of a man and a woman and both must be at least 21 years old to enter. The carry is the competitors’ choice, though most use the “Estonian” carry, where the “wife” holds her husband around his waist and tightens her legs around his neck, thereby freeing the husband’s hands.

Registration is up until the day of the event. Registration Saturday is 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and is $35 per team. The competition begins at noon. For more information or to register, log on to www.sundayriver.com.