HOLIDAY CHEER — Brianna Morris, the Director of the Harrison Recreation Department, assists a young girl in adorning a swag, a cluster of evergreen branches bound together.
At Crystal Lake Park, children eagerly awaited Santa Claus’s arrival by firetruck next to an unlit holiday tree.
As time passed, Santa was conspicuously absent, running almost thirty minutes behind schedule.
Britt Bennett, the president of Christmas in Harrison’s board of directors, shared the tale of Saint Nick’s unexpected delay.
During the family night event on Friday, December 1, just as Santa was about to board the bright red fire engine, a fire call disrupted the plans.
“Santa found himself stranded at the fire station without transportation,” Bennett explained.
Despite the possibility of reassuring the waiting crowd with a phone call, Bennett noted, “There is no cellular service. Downtown Harrison has zero cell reception.”
After deliberation, it was decided that Harrison Town Manager Cass Newell would head to the fire station. If necessary, Newell, who is licensed to drive, would take the wheel of the fire truck with Santa as the passenger. By the time Newell arrived, public safety personnel were already present to transport the ‘Jolly Old Elf’ to his intended destination.
“Santa’s arrival was delayed by 25 minutes. Our planning was flawless, but we couldn’t anticipate a fire call,” Bennett remarked.
She clarified that Christmas in Harrison operates independently of the Town of Harrison, with the Harrison Recreation Department hosting the tree-lighting event on December 1.
CANDY CANES and a visit from Santa were eagerly anticipated by siblings Francie, 2 1⁄2 years old, and Magnus Lundgren, 4 years old. Francie is seated on her father’s lap. (De Busk Photo)
“Christmas in Harrison functions autonomously from the Town of Harrison. CIH is an independent non-profit organization. Nevertheless, CIH organizers maintain close communication with the town,” Bennett stated.
Organizing holiday events involves a myriad of behind-the-scenes efforts, whether it’s an evening with Santa or the Saturday morning parade, she emphasized. Bennett expressed gratitude for every volunteer’s invaluable contribution.
“People underestimate the effort required to orchestrate these events. I diligently tracked my hours. Personally, I invested 214 hours in this event. We have four additional board members who joined in April. They, too, have dedicated numerous hours,” she disclosed.
As the Christmas in Harrison event approached, the time commitment escalated.
“I even took a week off from my full-time job to give this event my full attention,” Bennett revealed.
Another board member concurred that the commitment was demanding but rewarding.
“It was quite intense. For the past two weeks, our families hardly saw us,” shared board member Pamela “Pam” Sessions.
While CIH has been a part of her life, this year marked her first as a board member.
“We are a board of five. We convened in March. Each month, we held planning meetings that lasted 1-2 hours. As September and October approached, we met twice a month. For the past two weeks, our families hardly saw us. We all have full-time jobs and families. Three out of five board members have young children aged 4 to 12. This is entirely voluntary. No one receives compensation,” Sessions elaborated. “We do it for our community. Christmas in Harrison has been a tradition since 1986, spanning 37 years.”
FAMILY AFFAIR — A family of four deliberates on which ornaments to adorn their swag. Crafting free swags was one of the activities offered during Christmas in Harrison on Saturday, December 2. (De Busk Photo)
Significant Responsibilities
Bennett underscored the event’s emotional significance to many individuals.
“It holds immense sentimental value for many. The Harrison Village Library has photos of children sitting on Santa’s lap at the age of 4 or 5. Now, those children are adults,” she remarked. “Those who joined the new board this year understood the weight of the responsibility. This tradition has been a part of families for generations.”
While preserving beloved traditions, the CIH board also introduced some new elements.
“We introduced a few novelties. The most notable was the festival of trees, featuring 12 local businesses and families. Open to the public for two days, Friday and Saturday,” Bennett shared. “It covered half of our operational expenses — solely from the festival of trees.”
Given its success as a fundraiser, the festival of trees is likely to become a recurring feature, she added.
Numerous volunteers contribute to the various activities held at different locations throughout town.
“The tree-lighting ceremony is a significant highlight. The cookie walk generates much excitement. It’s always a hot topic. The cookies vanish rapidly. Is it a myth? Here’s the secret: proceed directly from the parade to the cookie walk,” Bennett revealed.
In Bridgton, the parade commences after sunset. However, preparations for the Festival of Lights begin during the extended daylight hours of summer.
Gary Colello, Bridgton Recreation Director, outlined the extensive preparations involved in orchestrating multiple activities for the festival held on December 2 this year.
“The Rec Department oversees the Festival of Lights event, encompassing the Craft and Vendor Fair at Stevens Brook Elementary School, Merry Makers Workshop, photos with Santa, the parade, tree lighting, and decorating the Town Ice Rink. The town’s festive ambiance owes much to the Public Works crew, responsible for adorning the town with holiday lights ahead of the Festival of Lights,” Colello detailed.
Preparations kick off early in the late summer with a preliminary plan. Subsequently, each month is dedicated to preparing for the Festival of Lights, coordinating logistics, promoting and registering vendors, collaborating with the Bridgton Community Center as the venue for the tree lighting, and liaising with various businesses and organizations to craft an itinerary for the day’s events, Colello explained.
“Organizing the parade entails considerable effort due to the multiple components required for its success. The Police and Fire departments are crucial partners in ensuring compliance with safety protocols for participants and spectators,” he added.
The rec department also reaches out to the community to encourage more parade entries.
“Beyond informing businesses, organizations, and families about the parade, we strive to encourage their participation by entering a float,” Colello stated. “Our staff decorates the department’s truck and trailer for the parade, a delightful experience witnessing the joy of children and families in the crowd.”
Preparations for Santa’s Visit
Beth Latsey, Director of the Casco Recreation Department, expressed satisfaction with the turnout at the Casco Holiday Celebration on the evening of December 8, a Friday.
“We had an incredible turnout,” Latsey remarked.
She found it heartening to witness multiple generations partake in the event, which featured a holiday recital by Mayberry Hill Preschool students followed by Santa’s visit. Families then explored various activities from cookie decorating to arts and crafts. Children left with an assortment of holiday treats, often with frosting remnants on their faces.
While Casco may not host a Christmas parade, meticulous planning and effort go into organizing the two-hour evening event.
“Numerous individuals beyond the rec department contribute to its success. We have around ten volunteers. Preparation begins weeks in advance, with dedicated citizens of Casco actively involved in the planning,” Latsey noted. “Mayberry Hill Preschool holds rehearsals; it’s not just a one-night affair. They put in a lot of practice.”
Santa traditionally makes an appearance at the Casco Community Center immediately after the children’s recital. However, this year introduced a novel twist to Santa’s arrival.
“The Casco Fire Department made a delightful addition this year. They deserve recognition,” Latsey praised.
“We had Mr. and Mrs. Claus and an elf. It’s been a while since we had three visitors from the North Pole. Santa is a regular, but this year, we had a trio from the North Pole,” she shared.
In Naples, where the holiday gathering and tree-lighting took place from 3 to 7 p.m. on December 8, Santa made a grand entrance via firetruck. Prior to that, he toured local neighborhoods, visiting children at their homes.
Naples Town Manager Jason Rogers reflected on the recent tree-lighting event.
“Those who attended this weekend’s tree-lighting event were treated to a winter wonderland,” Rogers remarked.
The event distributed 123 stockings and collected 72 letters for Santa, which will be forwarded to him, he announced.
Rogers extended his gratitude to the decorating committee for setting the festive stage by illuminating the town with lights.
He also thanked the organizations and volunteers for their selfless contributions, enhancing the holiday spirit for all.
“Volunteerism is essential for the success of such events,” Rogers concluded.