FARMINGTON — Saturday, Dec. 3, marks the 40th celebration of Chester Greenwood Day in downtown Farmington.

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce presents the celebration of Farmington native and earmuff inventor Chester Greenwood.

Holiday Celebrations around the World is the theme this year. The celebration will see the return of many favorite events, including the annual parade, chili and gingerbread house contests, historical open houses, craft fairs and a polar bear dip.

The Taste of Farmington is a new event this year. Present a Taste of Farmington Passport to participating eateries from noon to 3 p.m. on Chester Greenwood Day and enjoy a sample of what they have to offer.

Participating restaurants are Dunkin’ Donuts, Thai Smile & Sushi Restaurant, Tucks Ale House, The Homestead, The Roost, El Toro Food Truck, The Granary and Farmington House of Pizza.

People can buy a passport for $5 at the chamber of commerce office or on Chester Greenwood Day at the chamber information booth on the Pierce House lawn. The number of passports is limited. Once people have visited the restaurants, they can drop their passports off at the Rotary Festival of Trees to be entered in a drawing for Chamber Bucks.

Registration forms for the parade, chili contest and gingerbread house contest are available at the chamber office or www.franklincountymaine.org. Chester Greenwood Day 40th Celebration long sleeve T-shirts and the Taste of Farmington passports are available for purchase at the chamber office, 615 Wilton Road, Farmington. Visit the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce information booth on the Pierce House on Chester Greenwood Day for the long sleeve T-shirts, passports and schedule of events.

Strut for Strays 5k Run and Dog Walk Race — Begins at 8 a.m. $20 registration fee, T-shirt for first 50 registrants. Prizes for those who register from Longfellow’s Restaurant, Hannaford Supermarket, Minikins, Shelly’s Hometown Market, Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers and a grand prize drawing for one free night’s lodging and breakfast at the Comfort Inn Wilton. Register online at www.fcanimalshelter.org

Chester Greenwood Day 5K Run/Walk — Registration begins 8 a.m. at the large field next to Prescott Field. Start time is 9 a.m. and the trail is the perimeter of the field. Cost is $10. Proceeds go to the Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness. FMI: MaureenMcCool1@gmail.com, or call 207-778-0801.

Cookie Walk and White Elephant Sale — 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church, 110 Academy St., Farmington. Purchase a hand-decorated coffee can and fill it up with a variety of homemade cookies. Check out lightly-used Christmas decorations and other items for sale at the White Elephant Sale.

Coats for Kids — Drop off gently used coats at Franklin Savings Bank and Bangor Savings Bank and they’ll have it cleaned for another child to use beginning on Chester Greenwood Day and running through December.

Franklin County Arts and Crafts Association Annual Craft Fair — 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the University of Maine at Farmington Student Center, Farmington. Find the perfect, locally-made gift from a huge assortment of arts, crafts and more.

Emblem Club #460 Craft Fair — 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Farmington Elks Lodge. A great collection of vendors and items.

Hot Cocoa Bar and Sand Art for Kids — 9 a.m.-noon, enjoy hot cocoa and make sand art crafts at Bangor Savings Bank

Relay for Life Make-A-Craft — 9 a.m.-1 p.m., table in front of Franklin Savings Bank. Kids can make crafts for $1. Relay bangle charm bracelets will be for sale for $25 with a new charm for 2017. A “kids only” shopping area with items for children to purchase for their families as gifts for the holidays will be located at 133 Broadway St.

Parade lineup — 10 a.m. at Mallet School in Farmington, the Quebec Street entrance. Free but preregistration is encouraged, not required. The theme is Holiday Celebrations Around the World. Cash prizes for first-, second- and third-place adult floats and first and second youth floats.

Open houses, held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the following:

The Titcomb House, corner of Academy and High streets, will be open free of charge to the public. Members of the Historical Society will give tours and sell fresh decorated wreaths. The Titcomb House will be festively decorated by Mt. Blue Area Garden Club.

The Octagon House, corner of Perham and Broadway, will be open and filled with music by Leanne Tinker. There will be vintage toys and trains for viewing. Book signing by author Guy Rioux, “The Franklin County Narrow Gauges — The Next Stop is Kingfield.” A raffle will be held for floral arrangements from Riverside Greenhouse, Richards Florist and Robins Flower Pot. Freshly decorated wreaths for sale. A $5 donation is requested

The Rotary’s Festival of Trees — 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at the Granary Restaurant on Front Street with musical entertainment starting at 1 p.m. and continuing throughout the day. Tree will be raffled at 6 p.m. The live auction will start at 6:30 p.m. with cash bar and refreshments. Funds go to community charities. All are welcome to attend.

Chester Greenwood Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. Parade will occur rain, snow or shine throughout downtown Farmington. Entries can begin lining up in the Mallett School Parking lot (Quebec Street entrance) by 10 a.m. Judging of floats will be conducted en route this year, so the crowd can plan to find a panel of local judges stationed outside the Franklin Savings Bank Loan Center on Main Street. Parade winners will be posted at the chili challenge in the gazebo at Meetinghouse Park. For safety reasons, candy throwing will be permitted by individuals walking along the parade route only — not from the floats themselves. Preregistration is not required but forms and event rules are posted online at www.franklincountymaine.org. Free and open to the public. Don’t forget to incorporate earmuffs onto each float; it’s required.

A ceremony will take place at the Franklin County Courthouse after the parade to raise the Chester Greenwood flag.

Ninth Annual Gingerbread House Contest — 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Entries may be dropped off at Bangor Savings Bank, Main Street, Downtown Farmington, between 8:30-9 a.m. The gingerbread houses will be on display for public viewing from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges and prizes awarded for kids (12 and under) and adult categories. Preregistration required. Forms available online. Free and open to the public.

Chester Greenwood celebration cake will be served after the parade at Bangor Savings Bank.

Luncheon — 11:30 a.m. at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church, 110 Academy St., Farmington.

Free Showing of “A Christmas Story” — noon at Narrow Gauge Cinemas.

Chili Challenge — noon-1 p.m. at the Gazebo in Meetinghouse Park. Preregister by contacting the chamber. Free. Traveling trophy and Chamber Bucks awarded. Drop off entries between 11:30-11:45 a.m. Come and vote for your favorite. Open to the public.

“Coat and Cupboard” open house — noon-2 p.m., offers a large selection of free gently-used coats, sweaters, hats, mittens and blankets. A project of Old South Church’s youth group, the Coat & Cupboard is in the rear of the Holman Mission House, 227 Main St., open noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and again 9-11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Donations of clean, warm outerwear are also welcome.

Open house — 1-3 p.m. The Pierce House will have memorabilia pertaining to the Greenwoods on display. Cookie decorating and old-fashioned refreshments will be available.

30th Annual Polar Bear Dip — 3 p.m., at the breakwater on Clearwater Lake, Industry. Members take an annual dip into the frigid Clearwater Lake.

Santa visit — 3-5 p.m. Franklin Savings Bank lawn, 198 Front St. Santa will be listening to wishes from his sleigh. Cameras welcome.

“Itty Bitty” tree lighting — 5 p.m., with hot chocolate and popcorn at 198 Front St. Sponsored by Franklin Savings Bank and Western Mountain Financial Services. A new living tree has replaced the previous cut tree.

Chester Greenwood Parade

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