Families are invited to celebrate the holiday season with Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest’s Merry & Bright Light Parade, which brings Santa to his workshop on Friday, Dec. 6, starting at 5 p.m.

Enjoy the parade of vehicles covered with lights and other festive decorations. According to Lucy Oyster, parade organizer, this year’s parade will have at least twice as many vehicles taking part as last year’s first Merry & Bright Parade, including cars, trucks, town vehicles, and even a dump truck. Oyster said the parade gathers on Churchill St. between 4-5 p.m. and starts promptly at 5 p.m.

The parade of lit vehicles will follow the same route as Wiscasset’s 4th of July parade. From Churchill Street, the parade travels down Hooper Street, right onto Federal Street, and then left onto Route 1. As the parade concludes, a specially designated ho-ho-ho mobile will take Santa to his workshop at 7 Lincoln St. just outside of Wiscasset Village. (When not conscripted for Santa’s Workshop, this is the newly refurbished Scout Hall.)

Once at his workshop by 5:30 p.m., Santa will greet the waiting children and listen to their holiday wishes. Everyone is invited to warm up with hot cocoa and seasonal treats, and children are encouraged to make holiday decorations, like garlands for the tree, to take home.

Outside, Santa’s woolly sheep will be waiting for lots of gentle pets and back rubs right next to a festive backdrop, great for taking family photos. A fire pit is nearby for making gooey S’mores, and, if that’s not nourishment enough, food truck, Reggae Eats, is available for purchasing dinner. Adults will enjoy Maine Tasting Center’s outdoor biergarten.

 Festivities end at 7 p.m. with wishes of good cheer and lots of sugar plum dreams to all!

The evening’s Light Parade and Santa’s Workshop are sponsored by Dave’s Disposal and presented by the Wiscasset Community Center and Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce. Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest Major Sponsors are Carriage House Gardens, First Federal Savings, First National Bank, J. Edward Knight & Co., Red’s Eats, Rock Paper Scissors, Sherri Dunbar/Tim Dunham Realty, and Water St. Kitchen & Bar with additional support from Red Bull Antiques, Sprague’s Lobster, and Water Lily Flowers & Gifts.  

For more Marketfest details, www.WiscassetHolidayMarketfest.com