Everyone's favorite Jolly Old Man, Santa Claus, will be arriving with Mrs. Claus, a flock of loyal and colorful elves, Mr. Moose and the Christmas Lobster for the 24 th Annual Harbor Lights Festival on Saturday, December 1. Harbor Lights is produced by the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce. There are many returning favorites - some with a new twist - as well as some new features for 2007! Join your family, friends and neighbors for a day of non-stop holiday cheer, Boothbay Harbor Style!

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Chris t mas Craft Show at the Boothbay Harbor Fire Station on Howard Street. A diverse blend of holiday items - all handmade in Maine - from fleece to nutcrackers will be ready and waiting to fill your Christmas stockings and then some! You can get a quick bite to eat at the concession stand in the Municipal building - "five-alarm" chili, hot dogs, hamburgers, and hot and cold drinks.

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Great Gingerbread Spectacular at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. You won't believe the number and variety of Gingerbreads! A silent auction will be held all day.

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Boothbay Region Garden Club's "Festival of Trees" at the Opera House at Boothbay Ha r bor. "Be-dazzled" by theme decorated evergreens - in numbers that will have you believing you have entered a magical forest. A silent auction of the impressive trees will be ongoing - bid on YOUR favorite! 633-7439.

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lights Up at the Boothbay Harbor M e morial Library at 4 Oak Street. The "legendary" old-fashioned Groaning Board, crafts, young performers and refreshments served all day. Special program at 11 am. FMI: 633-3112.

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Boothbay Region Historical Soc i ety Open House at 72 Oak Street. Lots of things going on at the Historical Society. In addition to sales of books and maps, Richard "The Wizard of Odds & Ends" Plunkett will be on hand performing antique appraisals - cost is $5 per item, and advanced registration is required.

Plus, there is the long-awaited drawing for the winner of the Society's quilt raffle (depicting local scenes, created by Kevin Bowler and Marty Helman). Refreshments served. Please call 633-0820.

1:00 p.m. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their band of Merry Elves (plus some unique Maine guests) arrive aboard the Balmy Days Cruises vessel, Novelty, to the Town Dock complete with their traditional Coast Guard escort.

1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Lap Time with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa's Workshop (Gimbel and Sons Country Store, Commercial Street). Santa's Boothbay Harbor workshop, festively adorned with all your favorite decorations!

Cookies and hot chocolate will be offered to families as the children wait to whisper Christmas wishes to Santa and Mrs. Claus. Santa's Elves will lend an extra hand or two with some cool holiday face painting!

1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Free Wagon Rides on Stillbrook Acres' fe s tively decorated horse-drawn wagon, courtesy of the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce . Rides will

be ongoing throughout the afternoon. The ride route begins at Fisherman's Wharf Inn on Commercial Street (just a few steps outside Santa's Workshop!) with drop-offs at the Opera House and the Craft Fair at the Boothbay Harbor Municipal Building on Howard Street.

2:00 p.m. Book Signing with Reve r end Peter Panagore of East Boothbay. Peter will be signing his new book Two Minutes for God at Sherman's Book & Stationery on Commercial Street.

4:00 p.m. "Harbor Lighters" should make their way to the Boothbay Harbor Memorial L i brary for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Community Sing-a-Long. Santa lights the Town Tree and library lawn with a touch of his magic wand. Immediately after this illuminating feat, join the entire North Pole Entourage and the Boothbay Region Alumni Community Band for community caroling and fellowship.

4:30 p.m. A Live Nativity Join the procession to Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic

Church located on Atlantic Avenue across from the Fishermen's Memorial. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

5:00 p.m. Lighted Boat Parade The much anticipated, dazzling (and often inventive) event.

Area fishermen, lobstermen, excursion boat companies and the Coast Guard compete for "Best of Fleet" honors as they parade the harbor. Awards will be announced at the post-party at McSeagull's Re s taurant on Pier 1, immediately after the parade, at 6:00 p.m.-ish.

The winner receives a $100 cash prize (courtesy of McSeagull's) and a Herreshoff Cleat Tankard inscribed with the winning captain and boat names (courtesy of the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce). Plus, many other prizes for parade contestants!

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An Old-Fashioned Christmas at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens A new event this year, destined to be a holiday tradition. There will be a variety of craft stations (seasonal greens, Potted tabletop balsam fir trees, Miniature boxes and ornaments, potpourri bags, personalized calendars), Holiday Boutique, and first-ever signature Gardens Christmas Wreaths available for sale. Hot mulled cider and homemade cookies! Fees for this event will vary depending on the activities selected. For details, call 207-633-4333.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Boothbay R e gion Garden Club Festival of Trees continues at the Opera House . A magical forest of theme Christmas trees for the bidding! 633-2237.

3:00 p.m. The Sheepscot Va l ley Chorale at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor on the corner of Townsend and Eastern Avenues. St. Nicolas Mass by Haydn and A Christmas Garland by Conrad Susa that includes audience joining in the singing. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Students free. For tickets, contact Sherman's Book & Stationery at 633-7262.

Please note: The Boothbay R e gion Alumni Community Band Concert that is normally held Saturday evening will be held on Su n day, December 9 th at 2 p.m. at the Boothbay Harbor Elementary School.

Harbor Lights events schedules will be available at the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce prior to the Festival. On December 1, schedules will be available at the Opera House, Craft Fair and the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. FMI: 633-2353.