Maine Events - December 2009

Featured Event December 11 - 20, 2009: Portland Portland Symphony Orchestra presents "Magic of Christmas" Don't miss Magic's "original" conductor, Bruce Hangen, leading this year's Magic of Christmas. Honoring the beginnings of this beloved tradition, that now extends through three generations of New Englanders, is a wonderful way to celebrate the season. This year's show features principal dancers from Maine State Ballet and Portland Ballet, the talented young singers of the Windham Chamber Singers, and of course the Magic of Christmas Chorus. Organ Prelude Concert takes place an hour prior to each performance. Magic of Christmas is perfect for office parties, family celebrations, organized tours and more. www.portlandsymphony.com All Events December 3, 2009: Rockport Camden–Rockport Animal Rescue League Silent Auction
and Reception at Prism Glass Gallery The annual "Ornaments for Animals" event and silent auction will be held at Prism Glass Gallery's open house. Enjoy free refreshments while browsing the items to be offered for the silent auction. An assortment of donated homemade cookies will be for sale with all proceeds benefiting the shelter. Prism will also be selling hand blown glass Christmas ornaments with a portion of the proceeds going to the shelter. Come by Prism Glass from 4 - 8 pm on Thurday, Dec. 3, at 297 Commercial St. As always, the shelter has lots of animals looking for a loving home - stop in for a visit, Wed. through Sun. 11 am - 3 pm, 146 Camden St. in Rockport. 207-236-8702; www.crarl.org through January 9, 2009: Brunswick "In The Footsteps of Marco Polo", Photographic Exhibit at Frontier, Fort Andross Mill Denis’ photographic career has taken him to over 60 countries where he has amassed a wealth of mesmerizing images. His work has been published in numerous magazines, periodicals and books, including Photographic Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine and most recently the B.B.C. documentary series “Planet Earth” which aired on the Discovery Channel. He is the receiver of the Gallery Award, Eastman Kodak’s highest honor for a professional photographer. Denis' exhibit at Frontier reveals images from his 25,000 mile journey with Francis O'Donnell - a retrace of Marco Polo's entire route from Venice to China and back. For more information about their two-year journey, visit their website: www.wliw.org/marcopolo. www.explorefrontier.com through December 31, 2009: Presque Isle Frank Sullivan, Maine Painter, Exhibits at The Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library The Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library features new paintings and pastels by artist Frank Sullivan, a full-time artist, originally from Massachusetts, currently living in northern Maine, who works primarily in oils and pastels. The exhibit is located in the library gallery. To learn more about Frank Sullivan or to see more of his work, visit ainbarrowstudio.blogspot.com. The Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library is located at 39 Second Street in Presque Isle. For library hours and other information, please visit www.presqueisle.lib.me.us. through January 3, 2010: Portland Christmas at Victoria Mansion Victoria Mansion is lavishly decorated for the holidays by professional designers, decorators, and florists, making this a festive time of year to plan a tour. Visitors go through the house at their own pace, on self-guided tours using a printed program. Room stewards are available to answer questions. Daily 11-5. Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day. Guided tours are available for groups of ten or more, and can be arranged by calling the office. www.victoriamansion.org/visit.html December 4, 2009: Biddeford Heart of Biddeford Holiday Festival This is a fun and completely free event that starts at 5 pm with cookie decorating at Reilly's Bakery, horse rides starting at City Square, caroling in Shevenel Park with New Beginnings Chapel, photos with Santa at Photo Doctor/McKenney Photo, and break dancing at City Square by Eternity Dance Center. At 7:00, Mayor Twomey will light the Christmas tree directly followed by the movie Polar Express at the City Theater. 207-284-8520; www.heartofbiddeford.org December 4 - 6, 2009: Camden Christmas by the Sea Visit this charming harbor town, nestled in the MidCoast, for three full days of events and entertainment that includes the Christmas by the Sea Parade and tree lighting on Friday at 6 p.m. in Camden and Santa's arrival by tug boat in Camden Harbor followed by Santa story hour, Dec. 5, noon. With holiday fairs, road races, shopping, dining, and special lodging packages there's something for everyone to enjoy with this wonderful New England tradition. For more information contact Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce 207-236-4404. www.VisitCamden.com December 4 - 18, 2009: Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude Christmas Prelude in Kennbunkport is a magical season of shopping and special events, in its 28th year, including a champagne reception, community candlelight caroling, tree lighting, arts and crafts shows, pancake breakfast, lobster bake, the arrival of Santa by lobster boat and much more - a wonderful holiday celebration with something for everyone. 207-967-0857; www.christmasprelude.com December 4 - 20, 2009: Southwest Harbor Christmas Celebration in Southwest Harbor Santa Claus comes to Southwest Harbor on the first Friday in December to bring festive tidings to the locals of Southwest Harbor. The evening begins on the 4th with the lighting of the Town's Christmas tree followed by a bonfire. There will be refreshments provided and children will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa from 5:30 to 6:30. Stick around town for special business hours and kick off your holiday shopping. 207-244-3713; www.acadiachamber.com December 5, 2009: Presque Isle Annual Holiday Light Parade This community's annual holiday parade, always on the first Saturday of December, starts at 7 pm at North Street and continues down Main Street to the University of Maine at Presque Isle campus where refreshments will be served at the President's house. For more information contact the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce at 207-764-6561. www.pichamber.com December 5, 2009: Boothbay Harbor 25th Annual Harbor Lights Festival In their usual, yule-tide fashion, Mr. & Mrs. Claus will arrive by boat to meet and greet, while folks enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, a holiday craft fair, the lighting of the Town Tree, holiday carols, a live nativity followed by the spectacular Lighted Boat Parade. www.boothbayharbor.com December 5, 2009: Orono Maine Indian Basketmakers Sale and Demonstration This event features Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot basketmakers selling hand-made, ash splint and sweet grass basketry. Work baskets, fancy baskets, strawberry- and blueberry-shaped baskets, curly bowls, quill jewelry, wood carvings, and birch bark work. Traditional foods will be served up by the Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club (hull corn soup, fry bread, blueberry desserts), music, demonstrations of brown ash pounding and basket making as well as traditional drumming and dancing will also be presented. Hudson Museum, Collins Center for the Arts, the University of Maine. 9 am - 4 pm. 207-581-1904; www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum. December 5 - 6, 2009: Portland Christmas at the Cathedral, a concert by the Choral Art Society The mid-sized CAS group, Choral Art Singers, will be joined by the Portland Brass Quintet and organist Dan Moore. This year the concerts feature a new work, the premiere performance of Charles Kaufmann’s “A Longfellow Winter,” commissioned by CAS. Kaufmann is an award-winning composer, the founding director of Portland’s The Longfellow Chorus and a well-known Baroque bassoonist as well as an organist. The concerts take place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with a 12:00 noon preview concert, 8:00 p.m. concert. Tickets range from $10 (preview show, available at the door only) to $30 with a limited number of $5 youth tickets, and will be available through CAS by calling 207-828-0043 or visiting www.choralart.org. 307 Congress St. December 10 - 23, 2009: Bangor "A Christmas Carol" at Penobscot Theatre After a two-year hiatus, this beloved and timeless classic is back in an all new production at Penobscot Theatre. Join the thousands who make this theatrical event part of their annual holiday traditions. Whether this will be your first or 30th visit to A Christmas Carol, this special production (with all the “Bah, humbugs”, ghosts, music, dancing and Scrooge’s discovery of life and love), will keep you festive all season long. www.penobscottheatre.org December 11 - 20, 2009: Portland Portland Symphony Orchestra
presents "Magic of Christmas" Don't miss Magic's "original" conductor, Bruce Hangen, leading this year's Magic of Christmas. Honoring the beginnings of this beloved tradition, that now extends through three generations of New Englanders, is a wonderful way to celebrate the season. This year's show features principal dancers from Maine State Ballet and Portland Ballet, the talented young singers of the Windham Chamber Singers, and of course the Magic of Christmas Chorus. Organ Prelude Concert takes place an hour prior to each performance. Magic of Christmas is perfect for office parties, family celebrations, organized tours and more. www.portlandsymphony.com December 11 - 13 & 18 - 20, 2009: Portland Portland Symphony Orchestra's "Magic of Christmas" For 30 years, Magic of Christmas has marked the beginning of the holiday season, entertaining and inspiring generations of New Englanders. Now, Music Director Robert Moody “takes the reins” for a new production that has something for everyone Organ Prelude Concert takes place an hour prior to each performance. Magic of Christmas is perfect for office parties, family celebrations, organized tours and more. www.portlandsymphony.com Festival of Trees Gala December 12, 2009: Saco Get decked out in your best holiday finery and join the festivities at the Saco Museum and their fifth annual Festival of Trees. The evening will include delicious holiday treats from local restaurants and live music from jazz trio Ken Gaspar, Bill Burns, and Fitz Jenkins, as well as "The Sugar Plums" string quartet from Thornton Academy. The evening will conclude with the culmination of our live auction, allowing attendees to take a little piece of Festival of Trees home with them for the holidays. Tickets, $30, available at the Dyer Library or Saco Museum, or call 283-3861 to buy by phone. 6 - 9 pm. 207-283-3861; www.sacomuseum.org December 12, 2009: Boothbay Christmas Market at the Maine Botanical Gardens Traditional and romantic Christmas Market (inspired by the famous German Kris Kindle Markets) will feature more than a dozen vendors of Maine-made products just right for gift giving. All purchases include free gift wrapping. Enjoy complimentary mulled cider and tasty treats while shopping for all those on your list. Lively holiday music, lovely decorations and a cozy fire will warm your spirits. 10 am to 3 pm. 132 Botanical Gardens Drive. 207-633-4333; www.MaineGardens.org December 12, 2009:Rockport Maine Pro Musica 2009 Holiday Pops concert The Maine Pro Musica Orchestra will be collaborating with United Mid-Coast Charities (UMCC) to present their annual Holiday Pops concert. The orchestra will be joined by singers, handbell ringers and other surprise guests as a perfect way to bring in the holiday season. UMCC is dedicated to the support of charities which provide social services and care to the most deserving, including medical, physical, social, psychiatric or community educational services. UMCC strives to locate charities that offer the most possible benefit to residents in and around Mid-Coast Maine. Strom Auditorium. 4 pm. Snowdate Dec. 13th. For ticket information, visit www.unitedmidcoastcharities.org. The Moscow Boys Choir at the Camden Opera House December 17, 2009 Presented by Bay Camber Concerts and back by popular demand - Russia's most prestigious all-boy choir, The Moscow Boys Choir, is a careful blending of divine soprano voices with the rich resonance of bass, tenor and baritone sound. The Choir will showcase beloved Christmas classics including excerpts from Handel's "Messiah," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," "Silver Bells," and their hauntingly beautiful rendition of "Silent Night." Most tickets $25, prime seating $45, discounted up to $20 with subscription. $8 for Youth ages 18 and under, limited availability. 7 pm. www.baychamberconcerts.org December 19, 2009: Rockland Gift Wrapping at Island Institute to Benefit Station Maine From noon to 4:00 Station Maine will be hosting a Gift Wrapping in the lobby of the Island Institute to raise money for our upcoming expedition to Cornwall. $1 will wrap a gift purchased anywhere, home made, recycled, etc. Refreshments and live music will also be provided. For more information call Station Maine at 691-2037. December 31, 2009: Eastport Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop New Year's Eve is happening in Eastport, as the city will celebrate the New Year with the annual Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop from the Tides Institute and Museum of Art building at the heart of the downtown's new public space, Bank Square. The 'Sardine' will be lowered at midnight Eastern Time. A 'Maple Leaf' will be lowered at midnight Atlantic Time (or 11 p.m. eastern) as Eastport is poised just west of the Atlantic time zone with the Canadian islands of Deer Island and Campobello located just off shore in Passamaqoddy Bay. Last year a crowed of more than 300 revelers came to celebrate - twice - making it that much more fun. For info phone (207) 853-4047. www.tidesinstitute.org/newyearseve2009.html December 31, 2009: Belfast 12th Annual New Year’s by the Bay Celebration One button admits attendees to all activities (except food) during this annual chem-free celebration of New Year's Eve. New Year’s By the Bay is cultural and family-oriented, with events held at many venues throughout the city. Multiple musical performances will include the David Dodson Trio; Tango; Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm; Ferg N Sons; the Ave Maris Stella Vocal Ensemble, Ameranouche!; the Katahdin Valley Boys, and Full Contact Kitty . There will also be magic and illusion, storytelling, mime, face painting, caricatures, poetry and more. Eateries will be selling hearty food including chili, lasagna, soups, stews, popovers, desserts, espresso, and hot drinks. $15 for adults and $5 for children— are available while they last on the day of at any venue, or in advance at Belfast Co-op, Fertile Mind Book Shop, Parent Gallery, Mr. Paperback, Hannaford, Belfast Harbour Inn, the Comfort Inn at Ocean’s Edge, and Bennett's Gems & Jewelry. Volunteers are needed for 2.5-hour shifts from 3 p.m. to midnight at the venues where the event performances take place. Volunteering is indoors work; each volunteer receives a free NYBB admission button. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to call 338-5870. www.nybb.org. December 31, 2009: Bangor Downtown Countdown 2010 Celebrate 2009 and ring in 2010 with friends and family and have a blast in Downtown Bangor from noon 'til midnight. Live Music, dancing, crafts, family activities, cinema, comdey and more! Midnight Ball Drop at West Market Square. 207-992-4234; /www.downtownbangor.com