LISBON FALLS —  The Lisbon Promotions Committee will host its 3rd annual Very Merry Main Street event on Saturday, Dec. 3, commencing with the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas Tree at MTM Community Center on School Street. The event is scheduled to run from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

This will be the first time in the event’s history that the tree lighting and Santa’s arrival will take place at the MTM Center. Previously, the tree lighting had been held at Gazebo Park on Route 196.

“We felt that the tree lighting event had really outgrown that relatively small space on Route 196,” said Ross Cunningham, chairman of the Promotions Committee, chief organizers of the event. “Moving Santa and the tree lighting to the MTM Center will give us more room, and create a nice synergy between the tree lighting and the Very Merry Main Street event.”

The annual Very Merry Main Street event was founded by the Promotions Committee in 2009 as a means of drawing attention to the retailers and other businesses and organizations located in downtown Lisbon Falls. Several of those businesses open their doors in an open-house style format to welcome visitors with refreshments and entertainment at various locations, while the downtown’s retailers offer special sales and promotions.

“It’s a great chance to support our traditional commercial districts, and learn more about what they offer to our community,” said Cunningham. “It’s also a chance for friends and neighbors to get together and welcome the holiday season to Lisbon.”

The festivities will kick off at the MTM Center performance pavilion at 4:30 p.m. with caroling and refreshments offered by the members of the Lisbon Falls Baptist Church. At 5 p.m., Santa Claus will arrive to herald the start of the Christmas season in Lisbon by lighting the new Christmas tree behind the community center.

Once the tree lighting is complete, Santa will adjourn to a small slice of the North Pole to be located inside the community center, where attendees young and old will have the chance to view Christmas displays and have their picture taken with St. Nick. Proceeds from the $5 per picture fee will go to support the costs of the event. The North Pole will be open from 5 to 7 p.m that evening.

Meanwhile, a horse drawn carriage will transport attendees from the MTM Center to the business open-houses along Main Street and Route 196. A promotional card will encourage attendees to visit participating businesses and earn a chance in a drawing for a holiday gift basket.

Among the other attractions will be musical performances by Present Company, at Drapeau’s Costumes of Maine, and Steve Hildonen, at Tangles.

Kids will have the opportunity to make their own Christmas ornaments at the Lisbon Falls Community Library at 28 Main St. All downtown events will occur between 5 and 7 p.m.