FARMINGTON — Thousands of people staked their space early along the streets of downtown Farmington on Dec. 5, in anticipation of the 33rd annual Chester Greenwood Day parade and events.

Parade watchers enjoyed special sales at local shops, food and music. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce organizes the day’s events including the annual Gingerbread House Contest. 

The Gingerbread man, played by Nancy Merrill, greeted and directed people to where the gingerbread houses were on display. Judges inspected each entry and awarded the first place ribbon to Nancy Porter of Farmington for her Ski Maine entry. In the under 12 category, River D. Lisius of Farmington Falls placed first; followed by Megan Platt of Farmington Falls, second; Megan Baker of Chesterville, third; and Justin Meservier of Farmington, fourth.

Longtime leader of the parade, Dennis Pike, Franklin County sheriff, kicked off the parade in his old blue police wagon with nearly 50 entrants following behind.

Adhering to this year’s “Winter Wonderland” theme, area businesses and organizations vyed for four different awards with a total of $800 dollars in cash prizes donated by the Chester Greenwood family.

Winners displayed their ribbons along the parade route. The first place winner for theme was Franklin Savings Bank, “Snowbabies”; second place, youth, Girl Scouts of Temple; third place, originality, Barclay’s of Wilton, “Then pretended that he was Parson Brown…”; fourth place, appearance, Wiles Remembrance Center, Farmington, “Winter Wonderland.”

With the last parade entry nearing the end of the route, folks then gathered for the annual flag raising at the courthouse with local attorney and historian Paul Mills reciting a poem written especially for the occasion, along with a brief history of the day.

Clyde Ross, who plays the role of Chester each year, and one of the descendants of the Greenwood family playing Isabel, the wife of Chester, participated in the ceremony and posed for pictures.

After the ceremony, folks shopped at area businesses and craft fairs, attended the Farmington Rotary Club’s annual Festival of Trees display and attended the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Chili Contest.

With several pots of homemade chili entered and consumed, each taste-tester voted for his or her favorite. Chamber Executive Director Lorna Nichols declared first-time contest entrant Galen Dalrymple of Farmington as the winner of the travelling trophy.

Aimee Degroat from Temple, also a first-time entrant, claimed second place, with Tom Sawyer of Farmington coming in third. Voters also enjoyed a slice of birthday cake in honor of Chester Greenwood, decorated in the “Winter Wonderland” theme.

Events continued into the afternoon and evening with the Polar Bear Club’s annual dip into Clearwater Lake in Industry and the auctioning off of the Rotary’s Club Festival of Trees.

The chamber’s Chester Greenwood Day Event Committee will begin plans for next year’s celebration with a “Mardi Gras” theme. For updated information on 2010 events, visit www.franklincountymaine.org.