The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce announces its 30th annual Harbor Lights Festival to be held the weekend of December 4-6. The festival will offer a variety of joyous events throughout the weekend, in conjunction with several Boothbay Harbor region businesses and the town of Boothbay Harbor.

Beginning on Friday, Dec. 4 the Boothbay Region Garden Club will sponsor its annual Festival of Trees at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, featuring Christmas trees decorated to this year's theme “In the celebration of the 30thannual Harbor Lights.” All decorated trees and gift items will be auctioned off to benefit future community projects performed by the garden club.

On Saturday, Dec. 5from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. make sure to visit the annual Craft Show at the Boothbay Harbor Fire Station on Howard Street featuring hand crafted items, food and baked goods.

The highlight of the day’s festivities is when Santa, Mrs. Claus and the North Pole entourage arrive at the Boothbay Harbor Public Landing at 1 p.m., aboard Captain Bill Campbell’s Novelty. Once the Novelty is docked, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves will be led to a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through town before arriving at Sherman’s Book & Stationery (on Commercial Street) for Santa’s most important mission for the day: Lap Time with Santa.

This year, in conjunction with the Chamber, Sherman’s is honored to host Lap Time with Santa where kids of all ages will have the honor of meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children can enjoy unlimited hot cocoa, cookies and candy canes from Santa’s Workshop from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m.

Woodsfield Farm's horse-drawn carriage rides, sponsored by the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce and the town of Boothbay Harbor, will roll through the downtown streets in true holiday spirit from 1:30-4 p.m. Ride pick-ups be across the street from the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library's parking lot, on Howard Street, with a stop at the Opera House.

Story Time will be hosted by Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (4 Oak Street) from 2- 3 p.m., all children and parents are welcome to attend and enjoy the featured books favorite classics read aloud.

At 3:45p.m. the Boothbay Region YMCA's award-winning Y-Arts Youth Group performs on the library lawn followed by the Tree Lighting ceremony at 4 p.m. where Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves and the Boothbay Region Community band will lead a Holiday Sing-A-Long.

At 4:30 p.m., after the Tree Lighting ceremony, guests are invited to follow the Three Wise Men from the library across the footbridge to Our Lady Queen of Peace church to experience a Live Nativity scene over cocoa and cookies.

Don’t miss out on the popular Lighted Boat Parade at 5 p.m. when local fishermen, lobstermen, tour boats, sailboats and our very own U.S. Coast Guard will circle the harbor and compete to be Best in Fleet.

Immediately after the parade the festivities will continue on at The Boat House Bistro restaurant where guests can enjoy a cash bar during the Awards Ceremony. As in past years, each and every lighted boat parade participant will receive a prize, including a grand prize for the Best In Fleet winner.

Light up the harbor! Show your community and holiday spirit with the Harbor Lights Window Decorating Contest, back for 2015. We are encouraging local merchants and business owners to show their holiday spirit. Please remember to sign up so that your window can be judged for the grand prize of a basic membership for a year for a non-member winner or an enhanced website listing for a member.

Finally, be sure to support Harbor Lights 2015 and the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce by purchasing $10 raffle tickets (cash or checks only) at the Chamber office. The prize: two lower end zone tickets to the New England Patriots host the Tennessee Titans in the final home game of the season, on Dec. 20 at 1 pm. The winning ticket will be drawn during the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday. A total of 300 tickets will be sold in celebration of the 30thannual Harbor Lights.

A variety of weekend lodging packages will be available throughout the Boothbay Harbor region, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy a weekend getaway in the lovely harbor village that knows how to have fun.

The Harbor Lights Festival is a Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce event. The Chamber thanks the following event sponsors for their support and generosity: Town of Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, Hannaford Supermarket, the Boat House Bistro, Baldwin Realty, Captain Sawyer’s Place, Boothbay Harbor Fire Department, Michael Maxim, Alan P. Baldwin, Balmy Days Cruises, Woodfield Farm Carriage Rides, Ames True Value Supply, and Country Coach Charters.

Boothbay Harbor is located approximately one hour and fifteen minutes north of Portland off U.S. Route 1. For a list of businesses participating in this event and other event information, call the Chamber at 207-633-2353, visit www.boothbayharbor.com, or the Harbor Lights Facebook page at www.facebook.com/harborlightsbbh.