FARMINGTON — The 41st Chester Greenwood Day, a celebration of the earmuff inventor and illustrious resident, will take place Saturday, Dec. 2, in downtown Farmington.

It’s hosted by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. The theme is Favorite Childhood Toy.

The day includes a variety of activities from craft sales to open houses, the Rotary’s Festival of Trees, a Polar Bear dip in Clearwater Lake in Industry, a Santa Claus visit and the annual Chester Greenwood Day parade.

“We have had lots of preregistrations for the parade but people can still come on the day of the parade,” Penny Meservier, chamber executive director, said. “Everything is going smoothly. It looks like the weather will cooperate, so grab your earmuffs and come join the fun.”

The parade begins at 11 a.m. Each float may portray the theme and have visible use of earmuffs. 

An annual flag-raising ceremony featuring a Chester Greenwood flag takes place at the courthouse on Main Street and Bangor Savings Bank will serve birthday cake after the parade.

The Taste of Farmington returns for a second year with $5 passports providing a sample from each participating downtown restaurant.

Once each place is visited, the passport can be turned in at the Rotary’s Festival of Trees to be entered into a drawing for Chamber Bucks, redeemable at more than 70 local businesses.

Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, passports can be purchased at the chamber information booth on Saturday, on the lawn of the Pierce House or at the chamber office and Franklin-Somerset Federal Credit Union, prior to Saturday.

It is a fun way to get around the downtown restaurants and sample what they offer, Meservier said.

The Rotary Club’s annual Festival of Trees has moved this year to the Farmington Community Center on Middle Street. Twenty-three decorated trees are on display from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. when they are auctioned off, Deb Harris, committee chairwoman, said. 

For the 31st year, the annual Polar Bear Dip takes place at Clearwater Lake in Industry at 3 p.m.

The ninth annual Gingerbread House Contest takes place at Bangor Savings Bank from 9 a.m. to noon.  

Santa Claus is on his way for a visit from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday. He will listen to wishes from his sleigh parked on Franklin Savings Bank’s lawn at 198 Front St.

At 5 p.m., the “Itty Bitty” tree lighting takes place with Mark Gentle providing live music at 198 Front St.

Horse-drawn wagon rides around town will be offered by Narrow Gauge Cinemas from 4 to 7 p.m., she said.

A complete schedule of events is available at the chamber booth on Saturday, along with commemorative T-shirts, Meservier said.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

Clyde Ross of Farmington portrays Chester Greenwood as Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis joins him during a previous Chester Greenwood Day parade in Farmington. (Facebook photo)

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