Santa Greeted By Dozens Of Children During Rockland Arrival

Rockland, Maine - Dozens of children greeted Santa during his arrival by Coast Guard boat to Middle Pier in Rockland, Maine on Friday, November 27th, 2015.

When he got onshore dozens of children had the chance to meet him on the way to open Rockland Main Street for the Holiday shopping season and finding out what the children want for Christmas at his workshop.

The live music during Santa's arrival was by Midcoast Music Academy.

Santa will be seen at the annual lighting of the lobster trap tree tonight at 6pm, Friday, November 27th, 2015.

Santa arrival is sponsored by O'Hara Corporation and lighting of the trap three Camden National Bank.

The Holidays have arrived in Downtown Bangor!

The City Tree is going up and Holiday Events are scheduled for this weekend.

Bangor, Maine – Downtown Bangor is getting dressed up for the holiday season.  Business owners are decorating their storefronts, decorations have been hung on the light poles and holiday lights are being placed in West Market Square.  One of the most anticipated decorations of all is the Holiday Tree, generously grown and donated by Sprague’s Nursery.  The Holiday Tree will be delivered to West Market Square on Wednesday December 4th at 9:00 am.

Saturday, December 7th will be bustling Downtown as the Downtown Bangor Partnership hosts Santa’s Workshop; Santa Claus returns to Downtown for the 6th year to kick off the holiday season.

Santa's Workshop 12 PM- 4:00 PM, 33 Central Street, Bagel Central.  Grownups are invited to bring their camera to capture their child’s visit with Santa at no cost. Professional photographer Soubanh of Memory Maker Photography  (memorymakerphotographyme.com) will be taking photos of the kids with Santa and making them available onsite for a discounted price.  Free cookie decorating will be available while supplies last.

Festival of Light's Parade, an annual event put on by the Rotary Club of Bangor will begin at 4:30 PM on Main Street. There will be marching bands, small and large floats, dancers and other performing groups representing traditional scenes celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, New Years, Solstice, Kwanzaa and other happenings. This dazzling event brightens the season for the thousands of spectators who will line the streets of Bangor. The parade route starts at Railroad Street; turns right onto Main Street; crosses Union Street and continues through downtown Bangor; turns right onto State Street; and a final right onto Exchange Street.

City Tree Lighting in West Market will immediately follow the parade.

Downtown Bangor Partnership promotes and markets activities that enhance the distinctive identity of downtown Bangor which encourages retention and growth of commercial, residential, and cultural life within the downtown district.  For more information on the Downtown Bangor Partnership visit www.downtownbangor.com.

Festival of Lights Kicks Off TODAY

It takes volunteers to build the annual Lobster Trap Tree in Rockland, Maine.

Rockland, Maine - It's that time of year again when Rockland Main Street Inc hosts the annual Festival of Lights which kicks off today with Santa's arrival by Coast Guard at 12 noon and Tree Lighting at 6pm. There are fun events taken place throughout the weekend which ends with a Festive Family Breakfast with Santa on Sunday at 8:30am.

List of Events:

Friday November 29th

12:00 Santa arrives by Coast Guard Boat at Buoy Park/ Middle Pier greets the kids and parades to his workshop in Mildred Merrill Park near the Lobster Trap Tree.
Sponsored by Journeys End Marina

12:30 - 3PM Santa is at his Workshop in Mildred Merrill Park ( top of the hill in Harbor Park near the Lobster Trap Tree ) Sponsored by The Free Press

12:30 - 3PM Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, pick up near Rustica across from Planet Toys
for a ride around downtown. Sponsored by Local Businesses so everyone rides for free !

1PM - 3PM Gingerbread House drop off at Waterworks

6PM Lobster Trap Tree Lighting ! Santa arrives by All Aboard Trolley to Light the Trap Tree and greet the kids ! Enjoy Cocoa, Cookies and Holiday Music !
Sponsored by Camden National Bank

Saturday November 30th

All Day: Gingerbread Gazing on Main Street. Look for Gingerbread Houses in the shop windows. Stroll Main Street, Shop and Dine, enjoy the festive decorated windows and lights. Sponsored by The First

10AM - 1PM Share the Wonder at the Farnsworth Art Museum: Family Activities
and Music

12 - 3PM Santa is at his Workshop by the Lobster Trap Tree greeting kids or
Strolling Main Street ( Be sure to say hello ! )

1PM - 3PM Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, pick up near Rustica across from Planet Toys
for a ride around downtown. Sponsored by Local Businesses so everyone rides for free !

6PM - 8PM Festival of Lights Parade! Floats return to Main Street for viewing.
Vote for your favorite by placing can goods on the float for the Salvation Army.
Awards given to the Most Lights, Best Spirit, Most Creative and Best Business Floats.
Entry with the most Can Goods donated receives the People Choice Award!
Sponsored by The First

Sunday December 1st

8:30 - 10:30 Festive Family Breakfast with Santa $2 kids, $5 Adults
Chowder House at The Tradewinds.
Sponsored by Eastern Tire, Served by Camden National Bank

For Festival of Lights Parade Float information and application, Gingerbread House information and to ask questions about The Festival of Lights Weekend : festivaloflightsrockland@gmail.com

Holiday at Hadlock Set for Saturday

Santa Scheduled to Arrive from the North Pole via Helicopter (ELF One) at 11:00 AM at Second Base at Hadlock Field

Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs in partnership with 99.9 FM The WOLF will host the second annual Holiday at Hadlock event on Saturday, December 1st from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  The Sea Dogs will turn the place of summer memories into a winter wonderland.  The free event, open to the public, will be highlighted by Santa's arrival from the North Pole via Elf One.

Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive at Hadlock Field from the North Pole via Elf One, a helicopter owned and operated by Tree Top Travelers LLC., at 11:00 AM.  Santa is scheduled to land at second base.  Santa will then be available to meet with children until 2:00 PM.

Last year more than 1,500 fans attended the inaugural event.  "We were thrilled with last years' turn-out, it far exceeded our expectations," said Sea Dogs' Executive Vice President & General Manager Geoff Iacuessa.  "We look forward to another great event this year with even more festivities planned."

The Holidays have arrived Downtown Bangor!

The City Tree is going up and Holiday Events this weekend. 

Bangor, Maine – Downtown Bangor is getting dressed up for the holiday season.  Business owners are decorating their storefronts for the Downtown decoration contest, banners will be hung, decorations will be posted on the light poles and holiday lights are being placed in West Market Square.  One of the most anticipated decorations of all is the Holiday Tree, generously grown and donated by Sprague’s Nursery.  The Holiday Tree will be delivered to West Market Square on Tuesday November 27th at 9:00 am.  

Saturday December 1st will be bustling Downtown as the Downtown Bangor Partnership hosts Santa’s Workshop; Santa Claus returns to Downtown for the 5th year to kick off the holiday season. 

Santa's Workshop 12 PM- 4:30 PM, 33 Central Street, Bagel Central.  Grownups are invited to bring their camera to capture their child’s visit with Santa at no cost. Professional photographer Anne Schmidt (anneschmidtphotography.com) will be taking photos of the kids with Santa and making them available on her website.  Cookie decorating throughout the event (while supplies last).

ART FACTORY 11am - 4 pm. Free and open to the public. Bring the whole family to UMMA’s 5th annual holiday art-making event; drop by anytime between 11 am and 4 pm. Hands-on art stations will provide parents and children the opportunity to engage in various creative projects. Create your own card, ornament or gift. Supplies are FREE and instruction will be given throughout the day.  UMMA Art Factory is generously sponsored by WBRC Architects and Engineers.

Rockland Festival of Lights Parade

Rockland, Maine - On a chilly, clear and windy Saturday evening it was time for the annual parade of lights down Rockland main street. People lined main street to watch this annual parade apart of Rockland Main Street Inc hosted Festival of Lights. This year there were several floats from Midcoast Christian Academy, Santa Claus, Girls Scouts and Humane Society, just to name a few.

Rockland's Trap Tree Lighting Ceremony

Rockland, Maine - On a clear Friday evening after Thanksgiving it was time for the annual trap tree lighting in Mildred Merrill Park overlooking Harbor Park. The trap tree lighting is an annual event to celebrate the start of the Christmas season. This celebrating of lighting the trap tree is a great way for people to gather together as a community for Christmas music, cookies, coca and holiday cheer. Trap tree lighting is apart of Rockland Main Street Inc Festival of Lights events. Rockland Main Street Inc does a wonderful job with all the Festival of Lights events during the weekend after Thanksgiving. As tradition it is not a trap tree lighting without Santa Claus who arrives by trolley to turn the lights on with two lucky young kids helping. Mildred Merrill Park was crowed with young. old, family, friends, co-workers and city leaders like our new mayor William Clayton.

Reminder: Saturday, November 24th is Festival of Lights parade lights starting at 6pm on main street in Rockland, Maine.

About Rockland Main Street Inc

Rockland Main Street, Inc. is one of 10 Main Street Communities in Maine. Affiliated with the National Trust  for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center and the Maine Downtown Center ( Maine Development Foundation ), it is a national non profit program to sustain vibrant downtown's through historic preservation, economic restructuring, promotion, design and organization.

Using the National Main Street Center's 4 point
approach it protects the communities sense of place, creates jobs, generates new business, and brings investments to the local economy.

Community Building Events organized by Rockland Main Street, Inc., Summer Solstice ( mid June) Picture this .. A Day in the Life of Rockland  ( October ) Lobster Trap Tree and  Festival of Lights ( Thanksgiving Weekend)