Ho, ho, ho residents of the Boothbay region! Betwixt the hours of 5 and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, December 19, 'twill be Men's Night.

'Tis the night the doors of participating merchants stay open later offering a wide variety of gifts for every person, on anyone's Christmas list, that would make Saint Nick proud.

In-store sales, door prizes, wagon rides, and a choir of voices sending holiday songs aloft on the air, refreshments, bake sales, and gift-wrapping all against the background of the holiday lights at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (BHML).

Here is a sneak preview of what lies in store…

At 5:30 p.m. the Y-Arts Youth Chorus will be picked up by Pat Farrin and his hay wagon - the public is welcome to climb aboard as the singers head for town. The chorus will perform on the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library lawn from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

Farrin will continue to offer rides to shoppers, so climb aboard and take a turn through town - an excellent opportunity to plot out your next shopping location!

Stop in at the open houses being held at the Boothbay Art Foundation's "art in the square," and BHML from 5 to 8 p.m.

Because shoppers do not live on sales and holiday spirit alone, stations offering pick-me-ups of food and drink will be located outside Janson's Clothing Store. Donations for the grilled grub at Janson's will be cheerfully accepted on behalf of Project Graduation.

On the porch of the Village Store, soup and warm cider will be served to warm shoppers. And, the Slick's Boutique "fashionistas" will have cheese and crackers and libation - indoors, all warm and cozy-like.

Outside Slick's, for those who like a bit of sweets, Ice Rink Committee member Jeanne Tonon will be at a table from 5 to 9 where shoppers can purchase goodies and/or chocolate hockey pucks (don't try them on the ice) to benefit the ice rink.

Joining Tonon at the table with 2008 Maine Morgan Horse Club calendars will be Judy Dorr.

Girl Scout Troop 648 will have popcorn, hot cider and baked goods for sale at the Village Market.

For those who need more than a quick "picker-upper," Pier 1 Pizza, on Pier 1, is serving up a special: one slice of pizza and a beer for $4 - limit two specials per shopper, please!

And…for those who really work up quite an appetite between shopping and the evening air, McSeagull's at the Bistro is will offer a 14 ounce prime rib special for $14.95.

At 93 Townsend it is an evening of 2 for 1 dinners. Selections include chicken Alfredo, fried haddock, roast pork or a veggie pasta bowl. Oh, and that's dine in only!

Or, fuel up at the Thistle Inn with a burger and a beer for $10.

To keep track of who is offering what - and when - Town Criers Rick Prose and Peter Panagore are sure to bring information to the masses in festive, humorous style.

For those looking for more in-depth, personal information, Enchantments will offer half-price sessions with one of the visiting psychics.

Doo-wrap, doo-wrap, doo-wrap… for those shoppers who discover they have morphed into Santa; who seem to have far more packages than they think they can wrap, head to the Sherman's Book Store or Video Loft.

"The Loft" will not only have great CD, DVD, photo and electronic gifties waiting to be selected, there will be a wrapping station - a shopper's dream.

The wrapping station at Sherman's will be manned by high school students raising money for the Spain trip and shoppers should feel free to bring in gifts from other store for wrapping, 5 to 9 p.m.

Men's Night is sponsored by the spirited elves at the Boothbay Register and your equally spirited local merchants.

For more information call Kathy Frizzell or Sarah Morley at 633-4620.