After Thanksgiving, Maine is home to dozens of community celebrations that are the perfect way to shake off your inner Scrooge and get into the spirit of the season. The following list, arranged alphabetically by town, describes many of the seasonal activities taking place across the state. Call ahead to confirm dates and times if you’re traveling any significant distance, since some specifics may change.

Bangor
On Dec. 5, the Queen City officially kicks off its holiday celebrations with the Festival of Lights Parade, produced by the Rotary Club of Bangor, with a tree lighting in West Market Square at 4:30 p.m. 207-947-0307. www.bangorregion.com

Bath
The city of ships kicks off its Old Fashioned Christmas on Nov. 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. with a holiday parade, tree-lighting ceremony, and jolly old St. Nick at City Hall and the Festival of Trees on Dec. 1 & Dec. 2, presented by the Bath Area Family YMCA. The city continues its Yuletide celebrations with trolley Christmas caroling at City Hall Dec. 4, Dec. 11, and Dec. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. 207-442-7291. www.visitbath.com

Bethel
From Nov. 26 through Dec. 25 a Country Christmas in Bethel keeps this pretty village in the western Maine mountains alive with holiday cheer. Events include the Taste of Bethel and theme wreath auction on Dec. 5, ($1) and for the rest of the month features horse-drawn wagon rides, shopping specials, open houses, a living nativity, Christmas tree lighting, and a New Year’s Bethel celebration. 207-824-2282. www.bethelmaine.com

Boothbay Harbor
The Harbor Lights Festival begins on Dec. 4 with the Festival of Trees at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. On Dec. 5 enjoy a day of fun for the family when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by boat, followed by horse-drawn wagon rides, visiting time with the Clauses, lighting of the Christmas tree, carols, and a spectacular lighted boat parade through the inner harbor. Also on Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy the Harbor Lights Arts and Crafts Fair at the Boothbay Harbor Fire Station. The on Dec. 12 & Dec. 13 enjoy the Great Gingerbread Spectacular from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Opera House. 207-633-2353. www.boothbayharbor.com

Camden
The lighting of the star atop Mount Battie signals the start of the holiday season on the midcoast, and the Christmas by the Sea weekend celebration, Dec. 4 – Dec. 6, gets things off on a jolly note. Festivities include musical entertainment, a parade, tree-lighting ceremony, and the arrival of Santa by tugboat — all within a snowball’s throw of the sea. 207-236-4404.
www.visitcamden.com

Ellsworth
“Christmas Around the World” is this year’s theme for the annual Christmas Parade that rolls its festive way through downtown Ellsworth at 11 a.m. on Dec. 5 with Santa strolling ahead of marching bands and colorful floats. The eighteenth annual Poinsettia Ball will also be held that evening, with dancing around an eighteen-foot poinsettia tree at the Ellsworth Holiday Inn — all to benefit the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital. 207-667-2617. www.ellsworthchamber.org

Farmington
This Franklin County town kicks off the seasonal celebrations with tree lighting and caroling on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. at the Franklin Memorial Hospital lobby. The late inventor of the earmuff gets a parade in his honor in his hometown of Farmington with the Chester Greenwood Parade, held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 5, which includes a parade of floats decorated in the earmuff-based theme. That same day the Rotary Club’s Festival of Trees at the Granary will auction off eighteen beautifully decorated Christmas trees, with proceeds benefiting various charitable community organizations. 207-778-4215. www.farmingtonchamber.org

Fort Kent
The sixteenth annual Dickens of a Christmas kicks off on Nov. 22 with Père Noël and his helpers, merchants’ sales, and drawings. At 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 the tenth annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Fort Kent Public Library will light up the winter night (reports are that Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be attending). The twenty-ninth annual Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce Arts and Crafts Fair will be held Nov. 28 & Nov. 29 at the University of Maine-Fort Kent gymnasium and features a juried fair with homemade crafts, various artists, food, and drawings. 207-834-5354. www.fortkentchamber.com

Freeport
You can find more than bargains in Freeport during the holiday season. The sixteenth annual Sparkle Weekend, Dec. 4 – Dec. 6, is full of dazzling events. The holiday celebration kicks off at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4 with the Main Street Magic Parade of Lights. Other events include carolers, a talking Christmas tree, Santa and his helpers, and even Wally the Green Monster, the Red Sox’s mascot. 207-865-1212.www.freeportusa.com

Houlton
At 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce once again brings the Holiday Light Parade to Houlton’s Historic Market Square, where the tree is lit and Santa greets visitors. Refreshments will be available. 207-532-4216. www.greaterhoulton.com

Kennebunkport
On Dec. 4 join the Kennebunk High School Chamber Singers for caroling at the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Dock Square that officially starts the holiday season in the Kennebunks from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Santa arrives by lobsterboat at 2 p.m on Dec. 6. Follow Santa and his lobster elves through Dock Square to the Community House on Temple Street for photos courtesy of Ocean Exposure. The Yuletide fun also includes a bonfire, the thirteen-member community hand-bell ensemble the New England Ringers, open houses, holiday shopping, a historic village walking tour, a wandering minstrel, crafts fairs, and historic trolley rides, all up until Dec. 13. 207-967-0857. www.visitthekennebunks.com

Ogunquit
The twenty-third annual Christmas by the Sea celebration, Dec. 11 – Dec. 13, begins at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 with carolers stopping throughout town and ending with a bonfire at 8:30 p.m. at Main Beach. Then on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at Perkins Cove it’s the Ogunquit Village School Tree Lighting. The free Arts and Crafts Show, held at the fire station, on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., features many New England artisans. Open houses, hayrides, a bake sale, a chocolate and chowderfest, and more keep the Christmas spirit in the air until Dec. 13. 207-646-2939. www.ogunquit.org

Old Orchard Beach
The Season by the Sea festivities on Dec. 6 include a tree-lighting event, free horse-drawn hay wagon rides, face-painting, music, hot chocolate, and food. Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa’s chief elf will be on hand, and there will be a bonfire, caroling on the beach, and a holiday bazaar. Have your picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, who arrive on a fire engine. 207-934-2500. www.oldorchardbeachmaine.com

Paris
You’ll love Paris in the winter, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 5 & Dec. 6, and Dec. 12 & Dec. 13 with the Trees and Trains celebration. The McLaughlin Foundation’s 1840s barn is decked out for the holidays with a variety of dwarf and full-sized conifers, a model Grand Trunk and Bridgton-Saco train station built by schoolchildren, and an extensive garden railway system set up by the Maine Garden Railway Society. Refreshments are available, and the gift shop will be stocked with holiday gifts. $3-$5. 97 Main St. 207-743-8820. www.mclaughlingarden.org

Portland
Light Up Your Holidays is downtown Portland’s monthlong celebration, beginning with the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 27 in Monument Square with a special appearance by Santa Claus. Then enjoy free horse-drawn wagon rides on Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 2 to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. from Nov. 27 to Dec. 20, with pickup and drop-off every half hour in Monument Square. And from 5 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 17 participating stores will remain open for Merry Madness. This event is co-sponsored by Down East. 207-772-6828. www.portlandmaine.com

Presque Isle
The folks in Aroostook County start their Christmas celebration with a Holiday Light Parade at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5 with marching bands, a variety of floats, and, of course, Père Noël himself taking part in the show that starts on North Street and ends at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. 207-764-6561. www.pichamber.com

Rangeley
This lakeside town in western Maine gets its holiday festivities under way at 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 when the Giving Tree is lighted at Lakeside Park on Main Street. Watch the lights twinkle on the tree and bring gifts for the less fortunate. Then on Dec. 5 enjoy Breakfast with Santa at the Wilhelm Reich Museum conference building on Dodge Pond Road from 8 to 11 a.m. 207-864-5364. www.rangeley.org

Rockland
The Festival of Lights Celebration, Nov. 27 – Nov. 29, is the lobster capital’s Christmas extravaganza. Festive events include Santa arriving by Coast Guard boat at the public landing, historic inns holding open houses, a lobster trap tree-lighting ceremony, the downtown Parade of Lights’ “Light Up the Spirit of Giving,” Santa’s workshop, a family pancake breakfast, gallery night, horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, special events, and extended shopping hours. Then, on Nov. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the thirtieth annual Craft and Gift Market at the Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton St., has Maine-made, handcrafted items for sale from more than sixty exhibitors. $3. 207-596-0376. www.therealmaine.com

Wells
On Dec. 13 this seaside community hosts its twenty-fifth annual Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is “Christmas Day.” The parade begins at 2 p.m. and proceeds from Wells Plaza north on Route 1 to the Wells Junior High School campus for an awards ceremony. Decorated floats, marching bands, and special entertainment all bring a dose of holiday cheer. Of course, the festivities are not complete until Santa makes a special guest appearance. 207-646-2451. www.wellschamber.org

Yarmouth
On Dec. 5 the streets of Yarmouth will be buzzing with the start of its Hometown Holidays. Starting at 9 a.m. bazaars and craft fairs are held at area churches as well as at North Yarmouth Academy and Coastal Manor and Bay Square at Yarmouth retirement communities. The Yarmouth Lions Club will sell Christmas trees in front of the Town Hall. At 5 p.m., a Carol Sing and Tree Lighting will be held in front of Town Hall, including free cookies and cocoa provided by the Rotary Club of Yarmouth. Following the tree-lighting, Santa Claus (sponsored by the Lions Club) will be visiting with children. The festivities also include a bean supper sponsored by Casco Lodge. 207-846-3984. www.yarmouthmaine.org

York
Yuletide celebrations in southern Maine begin with the Lighting of the Nubble on Nov. 28 from 4 to 9 p.m. The evening is filled with local entertainment, cookies, hot chocolate, music, and Saint Nick, who flicks the switch on the Christmas lights at the Cape Neddick Lighthouse. Parking with free shuttle bus service is available at Ellis Park at Short Sands Beach. 207-363-1040. Then on Dec. 5 from 4 to 8 p.m enjoy the eighteenth annual Festival of Lights with the Old York Historical Society and the York Parks and Recreation Department. The all-day celebration includes craft fairs, open house celebrations, caroling, and a parade featuring marching bands, floats, clowns, antique cars, public service organizations, and businesses. After the parade, enjoy church suppers, caroling groups, concerts, and watch for a visit by Santa Claus. 207-363-4422. www.gatewaytomaine.org
 
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