BOWDOINHAM

Power will flow through strings of lighting adorning the holiday tree Friday, warm towels and blankets will be readied for Polar Bear Dip participants at the waterfront Saturday, and Santa Claus will make a grand entrance to town on a fire truck Sunday during Bowdoinham’s second annual event-filled holiday festival.

The festival kicks off Friday night with a tree lighting at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall on School Street. The Bowdoinham Guild of Artisans will open its show Friday night at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall and continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with quality goods, live music and refreshments.

For parents who may want to get a little holiday shopping done at the guild show Saturday morning, the Bowdoinham Public Library next door in the Coombs Municipal Building will offer a Kid’s Holiday Storytime 10 a.m. to noon.

The Bowdoinham Community School is hosting its annual holiday craft fair Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. offering youth activities, pictures with Santa and a bake sale and cafe. A private resident is also holding an annual

Christmas Open House at her home at 312 Millay Road 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

A group of seasonally-decorated ponies and their riders will meander through the village Saturday, 11 am. to 1 p.m. Long Branch School of Maine on lower Main Street will have cookies to decorate, 1 to 3 p.m.

Saturday at 3 p.m., it is time for the second annual Polar Bear Dip at the Mailly Waterfront Park. Anyone is welcome to take the plunge to raise money for a charity or organization, or just for the refreshing experience. State Rep. Seth Berry of Bowdoinham is braving the icy waters of the Cathance River a second year to raise money for a skatepark adjacent to Mailly Waterfront Park. The skatepark will be dedicated to Bowdoinham resident Matthew Parker, who died in 2004 at age 15.

Berry said Parker loved to skateboard and died very tragically from a sudden onset of encephalitis.

“Just like that he was gone and the community was grief-stricken and wanted to know how to help,” Berry said.

It decided to create a skatepark in Parker’s memory that would be available to the youth of Bowdoinham, including those who can’t participate in after-school sports. A fundraising effort ensued that stalled over time, but the effort was renewed recently and the town has already completed the base for the park.

“We’re part way there but we do have more money to raise and I would love to have folks chip in, any amount,” Berry said.

He’ll be jumping off the end of the dock again Saturday, maybe twice. Anyone who wants to pledge can visit Seth Berry on Facebook or send a check to the Bowdoinham Town Office made out to the town of Bowdoinham; write skatepark in the memo line.

Saturday night there is a pot luck “Hot Time in ‘Ole Bowdoinham” dance party 7 to 10:30 p.m. in the FHC building at 9 Main St., with the Pot Luck Swing Band, Cilantro and the Blues Buzzards. Suggested entrance fee is $3 with a food item for the pot luck.

Sunday, Santa Claus will rise into town on a fire truck and arrive at the fire station on Post Road at 4 p.m.

He is expected to depart for the North Pole at around 6 p.m.

To find a schedule online visit www.bowdoinham.com/ holiday-festival.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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