Festivities begin in City Square, outside City Hall, at 5:30 p.m., and feature a number of exciting events for kids and parents alike.
Included in the affair will be performances by the Academy of Dance and the Dynasty Dance Center, followed up with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by horse-drawn sleigh. Santa and Mayor Alan Casavant will then light the tree before attendees are encouraged to go forth and enjoy the night.
“People love to come see Santa and that part watching the local dance troupe on the stage … that’s just a great community builder, there,” she said Sunday.
This year’s events will feature several new twists that Poupore said residents will surely enjoy. In addition to the traditional tree lighting, children will have the opportunity to visit with Santa and receive a free photo with the suited man, courtesy of Joe McKenney of McKenney Photography.
Children will be also be allowed to take home one free wrapped gift if they visit with Santa. Visits will be held at 11 Adams Street, across from City Hall, and there will also be free sleigh rides provided through 7:30 p.m.
Toys for Tots will also be hosting a collection site for people who wish to donate presents to foundation’s annual campaign.
In addition to the night’s events, Poupore said kids are invited to stop by Reilly’s Bakery between 3:30-5:30 p.m. to decorate holiday cookies, a tradition sponsored by the bakery each year. Cookies this year will replicate the City Hall clock tower.
The downtown on Friday will also showcase six lighting displays created by local artists. The displays will be installed throughout the week as part of the city’s first “Holiday Lights and Sights” art installation event.
The event was announced in October as a way to bring local artists together to decorate the downtown with holiday lights, despite the removal of several trees due to sidewalk construction. Lighting displays will undergo judging by HOB and members of the public and the winning artist will take home a $750 prize.
Members of the public will be invited to partake in a scavenger hunt of the displays — as well as several “pop-up” shops that have recently opened in several local businesses — during the festival.
Shops staying open late during the festival include Full Circle Gallery, Trillium, Suger, Elements, Desert Moon Leather and the pop-up, “Handmade on Main” located inside Engine.
Full Circle Gallery is also playing host to a pop-up shop, “Pine Tree Holiday Pop-Up,” which features the work of 25 local artists. Elements is also sponsoring a pop-up book and gift store in its Book Annex, located next to the popular coffee shop and beer spot.
Poupore said the event is an annual reminder of place and what it means to come together as a community.
“In the past years when Santa arrives, there’s this amazing look of wonder on the kids’ faces,” she said. “It’s just a little magical moment, and when you see 600 to 700 people all gathering around and lighting the tree together … it just kind of reminds people this is our home base.”
Poupore encouraged people to get out and about in the downtown following the holiday festivities by enjoying dinner in the city’s restaurants, catching a live music show at a local establishment or by catching opening night of the City Theater’s “A Christmas Survival Guide,” which begins at 7:30 p.m.
The show runs Friday and Saturday nights, with Sunday matinees, until Dec. 18. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.citytheater.org.
Poupore said she hopes the event will get more people interested in the local businesses Biddeford has to offer. She stressed the importance of shopping small during the holidays, because money spent at small businesses ultimately goes back to other local businesses.
“You hear a lot of pressure about Black Friday and heading to big box stores, but taking a walk through downtown and taking a moment to meet the business owners is a community building activity,” she said. “You’re supporting local business owner to invest in other local businesses. It helps the local economy and that’s really important.”
— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].
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