NORWAY — A majority of Main Street businesses plan to stay open two hours later on the first four Fridays in December for Christmas shoppers.

Anne Sheehan, who serves on the Norway Downtown board, said a majority of the Main Street businesses have agreed to stay open two hours later on Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23. Norway Downtown will provide entertainment, refreshments, gift-wrapping and a hayride, she told selectmen Thursday evening.

“This is all tentative, but it’s what we’re going for,” she said. “(Police Chief) Rob (Federico) said that the hayride wouldn’t be a problem. Apparently, it’s been done before, and it won’t be an issue with traffic.”

Board of Selectmen Chairman Russell Newcomb said it was “really great to see this going on.”

Sheehan said churches would help with entertainment, the nonprofits will be involved with gift-wrapping, and Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce and Norway Savings Bank would provide refreshments.

“It’s still in the works, but it’ll be coming together in short order,” Sheehan said. “People fill in their commitments really fast in December.”

Selectman Thomas Curtis asked Sheehan if there was an issue with liability regarding the hayride. He said that he was concerned about who would be responsible if there was an accident. He cited the 2014 haunted hayride accident at Harvest Hill Farm in Mechanic Falls in which a 17-year old girl died and 22 others were injured.

“I’m just wondering if we need extra insurance,” Curtis said.

Sheehan said it was a legitimate question and that she would look into it.

“Norway Downtown is sponsoring it, so my guess is that they have insurance that would cover that,” she said.

Sheehan said Norway Downtown was asking Lance Bean of Paris to run the hayride.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net