Piscataquis Hometown Holidays returns this weekend
Piscataquis Hometown Holidays is an event families eagerly anticipate each year. Countywide, municipalities, and event committees submit community events as business owners submit information on holiday sales, giveaways and more to the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce. A master schedule is created for each town comprised of all events submitted and promoted by the chamber on www.piscataquischamber.com/events, the chamber Facebook page, and through various media outlets. Schedules are also provided to the Piscataquis elementary schools.
Most towns in the county will celebrate Hometown Holidays during the weekend of Dec. 6, apart from Greenville, whose holiday events kicked off the weekend prior, and Sebec Village with an event on Dec 14.
Greenville: From Dec 6-8, The Blair Hill Inn is hosting the Festival of Trees. On Dec 14, The Greenville Inn is hosting Brunch with the Grinch from 8 a.m. to noon. Through Dec 18 kids can drop off their letters to Santa in the special mailbox located inside Indian Hill Trading Post.
Guilford: The Guilford Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held at the Braeburn Lot on Friday, Dec 6 at 5 p.m., followed by cocoa, cookies, and crafts at the Guilford Historical Museum. Those who attend should end the evening with a walk to Davis Bros Furniture to enjoy their magical Christmas window displays.
CHRISTMAS WISHES — Area parents and children wait in line to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department during the 2022 Hometown Holidays. Volunteers decorated the fire station for the annual holiday event that families look forward to each year. This year’s Hometown Holidays features many events across the region on Friday and Saturday.
Dover-Foxcroft: A Dover-Foxcroft Christmas Story, based on the 1980s movie, kicks off with a free screening of the film on Friday, Dec 6 at 6 p.m. at Center Theatre.
Saturday, Dec 7 begins with Kris Kringle Coffee at the Congregational Church for a $3 charge. The Thompson Free Library will host several activities from 9:30-11:30 a.m., including Christmas ornament-making, garland making with popcorn, making holiday cards for home-bound seniors, and Pizzelle cookie-making. The Piscataquis Republicans are hosting an artisan fair at their headquarters at 97 East Main Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bob’s Sugar House is holding a Christmas open house and Bob’s Birthday Bash from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 252 East Main Street.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Subway at 101 West Main Street will have photos with the Grinch, who will offer a free gift to kids who come in for a photo. Dover True Value is continuing its scavenger hunt tradition with A Christmas Story Crossword Scavenger Hunt from 12-4 p.m., starting at 69 East Main Street. Back by popular demand, Calvary Chapel will act out a Live Nativity with real animals, along with caroling, stories, free hot cocoa and coffee, and goodie-bags for kids, at Bob’s Home & Garden on Lincoln Street. While on Lincoln Street, families can enjoy free horse and carriage rides from 2-5 p.m.
The Union Square Mall, which is the big white building between the old Athen’s Pizzeria and Pat’s Pizza, is hosting cookie decorating from 1-4 p.m., letter-writing to Santa from 3-4:30 p.m., and a classic Christmas story reading, also from 3-4:30 p.m. The Dover Handy Stop at 251 East Main Street is hosting coloring and cookies from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
The Maine Highlands Credit Union on West Main Street is offering hot cocoa and cider, homemade treats, and a visit from Monty Moose!
In Dover-Foxcroft’s downtown, old-fashioned carolers in costume will be serenading the public from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The Festival of Lights Parade will launch from Foxcroft Academy at 5 p.m. (line up at 4:30 p.m.), and end at the fire station, where Mr. and Mrs. Claus will meet with children from 5:15-7 p.m. after he lights up the town Christmas tree with a touch of his nose!
To cap off the evening, the Bangor Ballet will be performing “Nutcracker in a Nutshell” live at the Center Theatre at 6 p.m., with a second show on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $16 for adults and can be purchased at www.bangorballet.org or on Center Theatre’s website.
The Congregational Church will also host the Sebasticook Valley Christmas Concert on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
The Dover-Foxcroft Hometown Holidays Committee would like to thank this year’s generous sponsors: Fidium Fiber, TL Salley’s General Contracting, Estes and Sons, Dover Handy Stop, Rowell’s Garage, Foxcroft Academy, Scenic Drive Sports, AE Robinson Oil Co., Dover Audiology, Sweet Lou’s Barber Shop, Bob’s Home & Garden, and Edwards Brothers Supermarkets.
Monson: The 40th Annual Kris Kringle Craft Fair is back this year in the Monson Gymnasium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One can expect to find a variety of crafts, such as wooden items, jewelry, homemade food, knitted items, wreaths, and more.
The Market will also feature a meet & greet with Maine’s children’s author Angeli Perrow, who has written 24 books, including the picture book classic “Lighthouse Dog to the Rescue” and the award-winning “Many Hands” as well as the popular Key Mystery Series for 8- to 12-year-olds and the Celtic Trilogy for ages 12 and up. Her books will be available for purchase.
The Kris Kringle Market committee will be serving lunch starting at 11 a.m., and will also be selling 50/50 raffle tickets, with door prizes being awarded hourly.
All entries for the annual Gingerbread House Competition must be at the gym by 10 a.m. Ribbons will be awarded to the top three creative and well-crafted entries. A holiday village will be created with the entries and the theme for this year’s competition is “A Classic Holiday Wonderland”. Gingerbread contest rules are available on the Town of Monson website. For information contact Annalee Libby 207-997-3268 or libby04406@gmail.com.
Milo: Hometown Holiday events kick off in Milo on Friday evening, Dec. 6 with the 2nd Annual Festival of Trees at the American Legion. Open Dec. 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will end with a drawing and calling of winners after 2 p.m.
There will be Christmas crafts, kids face-painting, refreshments and snacks at the Milo Town Hall from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday.
The Milo Hometown Holidays Light Parade begins at 5 p.m. from Riverside Street, traveling to JSI and then back to the community Christmas tree at the town hall. Any vehicle is welcome to participate, however walkers are not permitted for safety reasons. The community tree lighting will take place at the end of the parade, around 5:15 p.m. as local residents sing carols around the tree. Santa will be waiting to meet with children in the town hall auditorium after the tree lighting and caroling. This event is rain or shine, there will not be cancelations due to weather.
Dexter: The Town of Dexter will hold the annual tree lighting and town Christmas party on Friday, Dec 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dexter Town Hall. There will be a mitten tree for kids to pick out a free pair of mittens, and Santa will be at the party too! On Saturday, Dec 7 the Dexter Christmas Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m., with line up beginning at 5:45 p.m. at the fire station.
Sebec: The Sebec Reading Room will host gingerbread house decorating on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10 or 11 a.m. The event is free for kids ages 3-18. Families are encouraged to call ahead (207-564-3232) to reserve their time and to ensure each child receives a fresh-baked gingerbread house!
Bowerbank: Bear Point Marina is holding their 2nd Annual Breakfast with Santa and cookie decorating activity from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec 7. The address is 123 Bear Point Road.
More information on Hometown Holidays events can be found at www.piscataquischamber.com/events.