The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all the volunteers, businesses, nonprofit organizations and participants that came together to help make our 29th annual Harbor Lights Festival on Dec. 6 a tremendous success.

Our heartfelt thanks to the town of Boothbay Harbor, the Boothbay Harbor Police Department, both the Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor fire departments and the U.S. Coast Guard for its collective support in helping the chamber present another memorable Harbor Lights Festival.

This year the Chamber presented Laptime with Santa at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library where children of all ages had the special honor of meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Thank you to Executive Director Tim McFadden, Lisa Arsenault and Caroline Roberts for helping set up Santa’s workshop. Thank you to Mrs. Laura Honey for decorating the library mantle. Many thanks to Evelyn Andrews and Hannaford for donating the delicious hot chocolate and cookies, candy canes and supplies that were much appreciated on a rainy day.

Thank you to Doug from Oak Street Provisions for keeping the urns full of hot chocolate and to East Boothbay General Store for donating the urns. Thank you to Rimar and Bob Reed for delivering the hot chocolate on time.

Special thanks to Dave "Bucket" Thomson for coordinating the beautifully lit Library Lawn effort along with Mark Conley from Conley’s Garden Center and Landscaping and Albert Greenleaf.

Thanks to our decorating elves: Alan Baldwin, Albert Greenleaf, Tony Cameron, Crystal Clark (Campbell), Michelle Davis, Elizabeth Kobe, Michael Maxim, Guy Peaselee, Maddie Rideout, Guy and Cherie Scott, Cindy Steane, Ben Teel, Dave “Bucket” Thomson, Kris Ward and the team from the Boothbay Region Greenhouses led by Bobby Boyd.

Thank you to Kim Reed and the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department for lighting up the entire Whale Park. Thank you to Santa, Mrs. Claus, our hardworking Elves and the team of holiday mascots for their collective presence in downtown Boothbay Harbor. The North Pole Entourage is as follows: Pamela Lauzau O’Connor, Lisa Walby, Michelle Davis, Sophia Scott, Lily, Emme and Sarah Harris, Liam, Ronan and Maeve Cullina, Lynne Bradford, Luis and Tammy Serrano, Shelley Smith, Deborah Longfellow, Konstantina Rigas, Anthony Giacobello, Abigail Teele, Cherie Scott, Joe Hall and Debbie Butterfield. Special thanks to Brooke and Devon Hubner for covering the phones at Elf Central.

Thank you to The Boothbay Green, Andrea Hall and staff. Thanks to St. Andrews Village for opening its doors to our caroling elves. Special thanks to Jerie Phinney for escorting the carolers and hosting a lovely luncheon for them. Thank you to Captain Bill and Kelly Campbell for escorting Santa and his North Pole Entourage into Boothbay Harbor on the Novelty. A big nod of thanks to our USCG Station Boothbay Harbor for escorting the Novelty into the Boothbay Harbor Public Landing for Santa’s arrival and to Lincoln County Health Care for the use of its dock to board the Novelty.

Thank you to Sherman’s Books and Stationery Store owner Jeff Curtis and his delightful team for hosting Story Time at Sherman’s. Thomas and Stephanie Dewey and Emily Mirabile thank you for entertaining the children with your animated performances. Thank you to Craft Show organizer Vicki Huskins and the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department for hosting the well-attended show at the fire hall.

For the first time in years, Heather Millet from Stillbrook Acres Farms had to cancel the Wagon Rides in the interest of safety for her horses and for event goers. To Emily Mirabile and the Y-Arts Chorus singers: thank you for sharing your talents and smiles with our community! Your fabulous performance got us all in the Holiday spirit. Special thanks go out to the fantastic Boothbay Region Community Band for leading the annual Carol Sing-A-Long on the Library Lawn steps and spreading Yuletide cheer. Thank you to Our Lady Queen of Peace church for the celebration of a Live Nativity scene over cocoa and cookies.

This year, due to inclement weather, the Lighted Boat Parade was canceled. Special thanks to Alan Boynes and Captain Bill Campbell for signing up their boats. To Captains Pete Ripley and Bruce White, Doug Goldhirsch and Bruce Washburn thank you for your collective efforts. As in past years, each and every lighted boat parade participant received a prize donated by various vendors and businesses in our community. These prizes will be handed out at the 30th Annual Lighted Boat Parade instead.

Lighted Boat Parade sponsors included: Sherman’s Books & Stationery, Abacus, Boothbay Region Greenhouses, China by the Sea, Flagship Inn & Suites, Hawke Motors, The Harbor Theatre, Janson's Clothing, Maine Maritime Museum, Massage Therapy with Rick Gilde, McSeagull’s Restaurant, Peapod Jewelry, Robinson’s Wharf Tugs & Pub, Sarah's Café, Tugboat Inn and the Trevett Country Store.

Despite the rainy and icy conditions, Harbor Lights lived up to its name thanks to the hard work, vision and passion of several local organizations that came together and lit up our Region with the Holiday spirit. Thank you to the Boothbay Region Garden Club for another magnificent Festival of Trees. The Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s Art in the Square Holiday Gala was well received. The Boothbay Region Historical Society hosted a wonderful open house. Thank you to the Boothbay Harbor United Methodist Church for putting on Jinglefest, The Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church’s Christmas Fair, and the Southport Methodist Church’s Lessons and Carols Soup Supper that rounded out the weekend’s festivities. Thank you to Janson’s Clothing for piping out festive holiday music throughout the day.

In closing the chamber of commerce would like to thank the Boothbay Register team: Kevin Burnham, Sue Mello and Katrina Clark for promoting and covering all the festivities. Thank you Jonne Trees from Channel 7/BRCTV for braving the wind chill all day. Finally, thank you to Dawn Guzzo, owner at Atomic Studios for the colorful Harbor Lights map.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the Harbor Lights festival in conjunction with the town of Boothbay Harbor. Stay tuned for next year’s 30th annual Harbor Lights festival slated for Dec. 4-6, 2015.