FARMINGTON — Santa is coming to town Saturday, Dec. 20, along with live reindeer, for Christmas on Front Street.
For the second year free family activities are planned while businesses along historic Front Street offer last-minute holiday shopping specials.
Free family movies offered on a first-come basis, reindeer visits, wagon rides, hot chocolate and s’mores are being planned along with Santa’s visit, John Moore of Narrow Gauge Cinemas and Stone Hearth Cafe said.
“Kids loved the reindeer last year,” Tammy Parsons of Divine Inspirations said of the good turnout for the event’s first year.
Live reindeer from Pony X-press, a traveling petting zoo from Waterville, are penned at Divine Inspirations for visits from noon to 3 p.m.
Horse-drawn wagon rides will transport people along Front Street from noon to 3 p.m. Franklin Savings Bank is sponsoring the wagon rides, Anna Lyon, assistant vice president of the bank, said.
FSB employees will also offer free popcorn and hot chocolate between 1 and 2 p.m. while their mascot, Benjamin Black Bear, plans to be there then.
The bank will also have a box for Coats for Kids donations, she said.
“It’s a fun event,” Moore said. “A lot of people are stressed this time of year. The day offers an opportunity to get out of the house and enjoy the free events for a while.”
Free showings of three movies are planned at times that will still allow participants to visit Santa and the reindeer, he said.
The movies include “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., “Big Hero 6” at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., and “A Christmas Story” at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Santa will be available for photos from noon to 3 p.m. on the patio at Stone Hearth Cafe. Parents are reminded to bring their cellphones and cameras to take photos, he said.
Hot chocolate and s’mores will also be offered from noon to 3 p.m. at the Stone Hearth Cafe, he said.
Many of the other merchants on Front Street are offering special discounts during the day, he said.
Eventually, the merchants intend to band together as Friends of Front Street to plan the popular events offered throughout the year. Once again, the Fire and Ice Festival is being planned for March and the Pumpkin Festival was offered in October, he said.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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