LIVERMORE — The 6th Annual Olde Fashioned Christmas Festival of Trees will be held at a new venue this year.
Previously held at Boothby’s Orchard on the Boothby Road, the location this year will be Washburn-Norlands Living History Center on Norlands Road. The hours for Olde Fashioned Christmas are 4-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9; and 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10.
This free event is hosted by Jay-Livermore-Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce. Jay-Livermore Falls Lions Club is the sponsor this year.
The Livermore Falls Advertiser reached out to the chamber for more information and was told this year the Olde Fashioned Christmas Committee is comprised of Chamber members Michelle Maki, Denise Boothby and Bonnie Brown, Renee Bonin [treasurer of Washburn-Norlands Foundation/Living History Center], and Ashley Heyer, a Washburn descendant and president of the Washburn Norlands Foundation/Living History Center. The members responded collectively.
When asked why the location changed they noted, “Because it was time; the Jay Livermore Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce had an opportunity to bring this event to another place and play a role in helping to sustain the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center.”
Moose Hill Farm has provided trees for this event for many years. “They will also do the same this year. We can’t thank them enough for helping us out every year,” the committee noted.
LEAP Inc. will donate handmade wreaths, with all proceeds going to the Washburn- Norlands Living History Center.
At press time 13 local businesses were sponsoring trees. “We only have two spots left, so if anyone wants to sponsor a tree, do it ASAP!” the committee wrote.
Businesses choose a theme for their tree, then decorate it according to that theme. Additional items are found on or around the tree that further support the theme. Each business then selects an area non-profit to support.
Visitors purchase raffle tickets and place them in containers beside the tree[s] and accessories they hope to win.
Some themes from previous years included bake ware, snowmen, angels, toys, tools, outdoor fun and gift certificates to area businesses. Charities/non-profits supported were RCAM, AYS, Spruce Mountain Ski Area, Ronald McDonald Houses, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center and the chamber.
“This is primarily an outdoor event, so please dress appropriately,” the committee noted. “If people wish to purchase raffle tickets, each ticket will be returned to the charity chosen by the business dollar for dollar. The winners will be drawn after 4 p.m. on Sunday, with tree pick-up that evening.”
The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center will have an event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Christmas at Norlands” will include a full slate of 19th-century inspired activities led by interpreters for the entire family to enjoy, including horse and carriage rides, cookie walk, carols in the mansion, Christmas crafts, Christmas stories from Willi Irish, pictures with Santa Claus, mulled cider & hot chocolate. Admission costs are $12 for adults and $8 for children, with an additional $5 for the dining room cookie walk.
The center tells the history of Israel Washburn and his wife, Martha, and their 10 children who lived on the property. Their sons were most prominently known for being senators, foreign ministers, a war general, authors and successful business owners.
“In the 1970s – 1990s, the Norlands annual Christmas celebration was a three-day weekend of activity sponsored by our area businesses that attracted visitors across Maine to the Jay Livermore Livermore Falls area,” Heyer noted. “More recently, it has been reduced to a short day of activities. When the Chamber approached us about hosting the Olde Fashioned Christmas event, it was the perfect chance to start returning what we hope will become a key holiday destination event in Maine again. We could not have begun to ‘Save the Norlands’ without the help and support of our fellow Jay-Livermore-Livermore Falls Chamber members, and we look forward to community partnerships like this for years to come”.
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