Who: Sisters of Charity Health System

What: Festival of Lights

When: Thursday, Dec. 6

Where: Lepage Conference Center

Benefit: Renaissance and Genesis houses for children

Festival of Lights to benefit youth needs

LEWISTON – Sisters of Charity Health System will hold its annual Festival of Lights at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at the corner of Sabattus Street and Campus Avenue.

Those who attend can watch the works of The Great Stephan and his Magical Mysteries while they wait for Santa and Mrs. Claus to arrive by sleigh. Dunkin’ Donuts will provide hot cocoa and munchies.

Santa, along with the Gagnon family, who donated the hospital’s holiday tree in memory of their loved one, will flip the switch to light the Tannenbaum.

Once the tree is lit, Santa will be available to have his picture taken with people for $1.

Inside the Lepage Conference Center the band “Wedding Crashers” will play holiday favorites.

For $3, people can enter Santa’s Workshop to decorate cookies, make a reindeer ornament, have your face painted or participate in other fun activities.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the children of Renaissance and Genesis houses and the Adolescent and Child Behavioral inpatient units at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

Renaissance House is a residential home for girls between the ages of 13 and 18 who need a safe, therapeutic and supervised living placement. Genesis House is the same type of program for adolescent boys.

Money received at the event provides the extras that can make a difference, such as birthday and holiday gifts, community outings, summer camping in Acadia, and sometimes, a warm winter coat.