Jim Crowley and Terry Heller made downtown Wiscasset feel a bit more like Christmas Friday afternoon, Dec. 4 by leading a holiday sing-along near the corner of Main and Middle streets. The caroling, with anyone joining in who wanted to, was the unofficial start of Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest.

Crowley, who sings bass with Sheepscot Valley Chorus, led the singing while Heller played the keyboard. Included were many holiday favorites, “Silent Night,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” perhaps a reference to the persistent COVID-19 virus.

Face masks, the fashion of the season, did not keep a small but spirited group from enjoying themselves. Motorists driving along Main Street were getting a kick out of it, too. Some slowed down and waved including one brave soul in a convertible with the top down in December!

Heller said the sing-along was originally going to be at the top of the town common. “We decided instead to set up downtown where there’d be more people out shopping. DebraElizabeths was nice enough to let me plug in my keyboard in the outlet outside (the) store,” she said.

Heller has two academic degrees in music. She hails from Austin, the musical capital of Texas, but now calls Maine’s Prettiest Village her adopted home. Since moving to Wiscasset, she has become active in community groups, including the town’s beautification committee.

Crowley told Wiscasset Newspaper he took the afternoon off to lead the sing-along. He works in Augusta for Maine Department of Environmental Protection in the Division of Water Quality Management. He is looking forward to the pandemic’s end and getting back to singing again with his chorus. SVC had to cancel both its spring and Christmas concerts this year due to COVID-19.    

Across the street in front of Trifles, Chelsea Taylor and Nori Lund were busy hanging holiday wreaths on the iron sidewalk railing. Taylor works at Wiscasset Community Center. The 10 wreaths were decorated by Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce members and community organizations.

“People can vote for the one they think is the best. Afterward they’ll all be donated to Toys for Tots and given to families in need,” explained Taylor as she attached a wreath decorated by members of Huntoon Hill Grange/Toys for Tots.

Marketfest continues all weekend culminating in the annual holiday tree lighting on Sunday.