Puzzled in Woodfords Corner: A Jigsaw Showdown to Remember

What do lobster buoys, puzzle fanatics, and a whole lot of friendly competition have in common? The first-ever Jigsaw Puzzle Competition & Puzzle Swap, hosted by FWC at the historic Odd Fellows Hall as one event of the FWC series L@OFH.

Twenty-two 2-person teams brought their A-game (and sharpest eyes) for a high-stakes, high-fun, 500-piece puzzle challenge. The puzzle? A vibrant Maine-inspired scene of multicolored lobster buoys hanging on a shack wall—because, of course, we had to keep it local. Supplied by South Portland’s own Diversions Games & Puzzles, each puzzle was wrapped in newspaper for a surprise reveal and a fair start across the board.

At precisely 2 PM, the clock started—and so did the chaos. Boxes flew open, pieces scattered, and teams locked in with laser focus. For many, this was their first puzzle competition, and the excitement was palpable.

And the winners were…

🥇 The Jig Is Up – 54 minutes
These speedy friends puzzle like pros—turns out they come from puzzle-loving families and had a game plan down to the piece! They snagged first place and went home with a custom-made puzzle of the Odd Fellows Hall clock tower illustrated by local artist Kyle Randall and a gift card to The Local Press. Not too shabby!

🥈 Seitz Unseen – 1:02:11
This sister duo’s strategy? “Stay out of each other’s way” and it worked! They landed second place and scored a celestial vintage puzzle from Back Cove Books plus an Artist & Craftsman Supply gift card.

🥉 500 Whiskers – 1:02:58
Wearing matching t-shirts from their very first puzzle competition, this seasoned team was thrilled to compete close to home. They took home two more puzzles from Back Cove Books and Artist & Craftsman Supply—plus bragging rights, of course.

The fun didn’t stop at the tables—FWC also hosted a free puzzle swap, where spectators and puzzlers alike could trade and discover new challenges.

From the first snap of a corner piece to the final victorious click, it was a celebration of community, creativity, and good old-fashioned fun. We’re already counting the pieces (and the days) until the next one!

Thank you to our event sponsors - NIchols Fund, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Diversions Puzzles and Games, and our prize sponsors - Back Cove Books, Artist & Craftsman, and Local Press. And thank you to our volunteers - Karen and Sienna L and DeAnna M.