Santa Claus visits, bell-ringers, Christmas music, craft fairs, a parade and horse-drawn wagon rides are a few of the events taking place this weekend during the Winthrop Lakes Region Holiday Festival in Winthrop, Wayne, Readfield and Monmouth, according to a news release from the Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.
The weekend festival begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday with the annual tree lighting and caroling at the Readfield Community Library, at 1151 Main St. in Readfield. The festivities will continue at the Readfield Town Office with cookies and cocoa.
Saturday features the Wayne Holiday Stroll, which starts at 9 a.m. and continues through 5 p.m. Local crafters, potters, jam makers and bakers in Wayne Village will open their doors for holiday shoppers. The stroll also will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
In Monmouth, the town’s annual breakfast with Santa Claus takes place from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Monmouth Fire Department’s Central Station on Main Street. Tickets cost $6 per person or $20 per family.
Craft fairs begin at 9 a.m. at the Winthrop Grade School, Highland Avenue; the Winthrop Congregational Church on Main Street, and St. Andrew’s Church, 219 Winthrop Center Road. Proceeds from the Winthrop High School Student Council grade school fair will benefit the Winthrop Food Pantry.
The Friends of the Bailey Public Library in Winthrop will hold its pie sale from 10 a.m. until noon at the Bowdoin Street library. The library will hold an open house from 1:30 to 2:30, featuring the Winthrop Area Hand Bell Ringers.
Horse-drawn wagon rides also will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for free. The wagons, sponsored by the Winthrop Plays Outside committee, will depart from Norcross Point.
The highlight of the day — the 33rd Annual Winthrop Holiday Parade, sponsored by the Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber — will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, starting at Cumberland Farms and continuing through downtown Main Street. After the parade, Payson Tucker Fire Station will host a visit with Santa Claus.
The Kennebec Performing Arts Company will cap Saturday’s holiday festival with its holiday concert at 7 p.m. at the Winthrop High School’s Performing Arts Center, on Rambler Road. Tickets cost $10 at the door for adults. Students in kindergartern through grade 12 are admitted free.
For more information, contact the Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber at 377-8020 or info@winthropchamber.org.
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