Ogunquit News
20th Annual Christmas by the Sea is this weekend in Ogunquit
By C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - The Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its last big event of the year this weekend as the community celebrates Christmas by the Sea on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8 through 10.After this weekend, the town goes into semi-hibernation until the Patriot's Day Weekend Celebration, scheduled for April 14 and 15 in 2007.
Events for Christmas by the Sea weekend celebration include a bonfire at the Main Beach at 9:15 p.m. and carolers throughout the town on Friday.
Saturday's schedule includes hayrides, if the weather permits, starting at Veteran's Park.
There will also be children's ornament making at the Ogunquit Baptist Church, a bake sale and ornament sale at the Dunaway Center, the Chowder and ChocolateFest competition and the Giving Tree Silent Auction to benefit Hospice of York, which are both also at Dunaway.
Tree lighting and caroling will be held at Rotary Park in Perkins Cove, with a candlelight walk from Perkins Cove to the Ogunquit Baptist Church - where the strollers will be entertained with a concert by a barbershop quartet - and, finally, the annual town tree lighting and caroling at Veteran's Park.
On Sunday, hayrides will continue and children are invited to visit with Santa Claus upstairs at the Ogunquit Fire Department.
Gypsy Sweethearts on Shore Road is offering free gift wrapping for gifts purchased at the many shops in town that will be offering bargains throughout the weekend.
Children are also invited to enjoy a storytelling hour with Diana Abbott at Raspberri's Restaurant on Route 1.
Ogunquit's retail merchants, lodging and restaurant owners really get on the bandwagon in sponsoring this last-of-the-year celebration, which has always been a popular event.
This year's celebration should be one to remember.
For all the details, visit www.ogunquit.org.
