The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all the volunteers, businesses, non-profit organizations and participants that came together to help make our 33th Annual Harbor Lights Festival on December 1, 2018 such a tremendous success. Our heartfelt thanks to the Town of Boothbay Harbor, the Boothbay Harbor Police Department, both the Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor Fire Departments and the U.S. Coast Guard for its collective support in helping the Chamber present another memorable Harbor Lights Festival. There are so many to thank and it’s simply a sweet reminder of what a special community we live in.

Special thanks to Chamber staff members, Kathrine Norcott and Sara Moore for their combined leadership in putting together another memorable festival. Thank you to Santa, Mrs. Claus, our hardworking Elves and the team of holiday mascots for their collective presence in downtown Boothbay Harbor. The North Pole Entourage is as follows: Ben Rankins, Lisa Walby, Michelle Davis, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Della Hahn, Nikki Maine, Deanna Maine, Paulette Carter, Tanya Landry, Pam O’Conner, Isaac Lewis and Barbara Marr and Jerry Phinney and Team at St. Andrews Village.

The Chamber presented “Laptime with Santa” at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library where kids of all ages had the special honor of meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus. Thank you to Joanna Breen and her staff at the Library for decorating the Great Room for Santa and for helping with all the festivities. Many thanks to Hannaford for donating the delicious hot chocolate and cookies, candy canes and supplies that were much appreciated on a cold day. Thanks to the East Boothbay General Store for letting us borrow the hot water urns and to Red Cup for keeping the urns full of hot chocolate all day long and to Boothbay Region Greenhouses for providing the wreaths that adorn the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department.

Thank you to The Greens and St. Andrews Village for opening their doors to our caroling elves. Special thanks to Jerry Phinney for escorting the carolers and hosting a lovely lunch. The highly anticipated part of the day’s festivities was Santa’s arrival at the Boothbay Harbor Public Landing. A big thank you to Captain Bill Campbell and his fantastic crew for bringing Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves and mascots into Boothbay Harbor on the Novelty. A big nod of thanks to LincolnHealth for the use of its dock to board Santa and his elves to make the trip into the harbor.

Earlier in the day scores of sweet faces lined up the steps inside Sherman’s for Story Time as Roger Ferrell and Sara Moore entertained them with heartwarming Holiday stories. Thank you to Craft Show organizer Vicki Huskins and the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department for hosting the well-attended show at the Fire Hall. Thank you also to Heather and Ernest Millet from Stillbrook Acres Farms for the beautiful horse-drawn carriage rides through town.

After a day full of fun-filled activities all over town, the Boothbay Region Community Band led the annual Carol Sing-A-Long on the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library lawn to a large gathering of happy carolers. We would like to especially thank each member of the band who played despite the frigid weather. Thank you to the Three Wise Men who led the way after the tree lighting from the Lawn over the footbridge to the Our Lady Queen of Peace church for the celebration of a Live Nativity scene.

After sunset, the harbor shore was packed in anticipation of the Lighted Boat Parade. Thank you to all the captains and crew who turned out to show your glorious Christmas spirit. Thank you to our 2018 Lighted Boat Parade judges: Angelo DiGiulian, Margaret Hoffman, Lisa Walby, Mark Osborn and Buzz Makarewicz for doing an outstanding job with the judging effort – it was a tight competition.

As in past years, each and every lighted boat parade participant received a cash prize. First Place $250 went to Alan and Judy Boyes (Pagan Moon); Second Place $150 went to Captain Bill Campbell (Novelty); and Third Place $100 went to Captain Nick Upham (Town Boat). All other participants received a gas card. Special thanks to Ralph and Elena Smith for hosting the warm up and after-party, as well as feeding the captains and their crews at Mine Oyster. Thank you to Alan and Judith Boyes for helping promote the event.

The Chamber would also like to thank St. Andrews Village and the Community Center for judging the window decorating contest. Boothbay Region Greenhouses was selected as the winner!

The second annual Light the Shore Contest winning prize went to Brown’s Wharf Inn!

Harbor Lights lived up to its name thanks to the hard work, vision and passion of several local organizations that came together and lit up our region with the holiday spirit. Thank you to the Boothbay Region Garden Club for another magnificent Festival of Trees at the Opera House and the Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s Art in the Square that provided art lovers an opportunity to enjoy and purchase unique local art. The Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church’s Christmas Fair, and the Southport Methodist Church’s Lessons and Carols Soup Supper that rounded out the weekend’s festivities. Thank you the Our Lady Queen of Peace for the annual Live Nativity.

The Chamber also gives “special thanks” to the 2018 Harbor Lights Festival sponsors: St. Andrews Village, Boothbay Harbor Apparel, LCI Fiber Optics, Camden National Bank, Sea Coast Security, First Federal Savings, Flagship Inn, First National Bank, Harbor Fest, Thistle Inn and Mine Oyster.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the Harbor Lights festival in conjunction with the town of Boothbay Harbor. Stay tuned for next year’s 34th annual Harbor Lights festival slated for Dec 7, 2019. Mark your calendars and thanks again to all!

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a joyous holiday season from the Chamber!