Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest, a three-day celebration of the wintry season, offers activities and fun for all!  From fireworks over the Sheepscot River to shopping and horse-drawn wagon rides, this weekend extravaganza is a great way to get your holiday spirit into gear!

On Friday, December 6, shops throughout the Village are offering discounts, deals on gift certificates, and tasty tidbits. Look for the sparkling streamers at the door. It’s a great day to shop-till-you-drop, but there’s more. The Nickels-Sortwell House, built in 1807, is dressed in holiday finery and open for tours. The Wiscasset Congregational Church hosts a Holiday Tea in The Ledges from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starting at 5 p.m., the festivities move to the Creamery Pier for fireworks, Santa, and cocoa with cookies in the Chamber of Commerce shed.  Deejay Peter Rines plays Christmas tunes and takes special requests!

The old barn on Federal St., just behind the Nickels-Sortwell House, will be transformed during Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest into a seasonal gift shop full of Maine artisan creations and other specialty gift items, from December 6 through December 8. Behind the scenes, Greg Uthoff, co-owner of BIRCH, and Betsy Kyle of White Pine Home, both in Wiscasset, are lending their extensive merchandizing know-how to creating an exceptional shopping experience in the rustic barn to create an inviting holiday atmosphere with strung lights, fresh greenery, and chock full of one-of-a-kind gift items.

When you’ve finished your shopping on Friday, Dec. 6, Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest’s shop-till-you-drop day with special sales and Gardens Aglow raffle, stick around the Village and pick your pleasure for the evening! Treats, the Village’s renown specialty food store, is hosting a wine tasting from 4-6 p.m.  Sample some new wines, take home a bottle or two, or stock up for the holidays and receive the case discount. At the other end of the Village, Water Street Kitchen and Bar will be holding Happy Hour during the same hours featuring complimentary appetizers to munch while sampling discounted specialty cocktails! For those dining at Water St., they’ll be getting a front row view of the fireworks over the river, which start at 6 p.m.

Two dozen local and regional artisans will be displaying their work in the shop.  But rather than a traditional craft show, the gift shop will be set up with a single check-out allowing shoppers to make multiple selections and check out with a single payment.  The variety of hand-crafted gift items is stunning.  Historic New England, owner and manager of the property, will have a mini-book shop with its fascinating collection of books about New England subjects like lighthouses, historic gardens, the history of kitchens, and more. 

On Saturday, Dec. 7, shopping continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and later. The Holiday Tea in The Ledges is open for business once again from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; enjoy the music, tell Santa your heart’s desire, and take your photo with Fritz the Reindeer Dog. The best way to travel on this day is on the Woodfield Farm horse-drawn wagon with shuttle service in the Village from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. Finally, finish the day with the traditional tree lighting on the Wiscasset Common, starting at 4:30pm.

Shopping continues in the Village and Nickels-Sortwell barn through the day. It’s the final opportunity to take part in a free raffle for Gardens Aglow tickets at participating shops, and a last look at Wreaths Around the Holidays – a collection of wreaths decorated by Chamber business members – in the Nickels-Sortwell barn. In the evening, the three-day Marketfest culminates with the Snow Ball in The Ledges.  Dance to The Salty Dogs, sample hors d’oeuvres from Sarah’s Café, and enjoy the ambiance of this lovely architectural gem.

On Sunday, December 8, Wiscasset’s First Congregational Church invites the public to attend the 10am worship service featuring ‘Christmas Around the World Through Music’. According to Pastor Josh Fitterling, the choir will be singing seasonal songs from Poland and other European countries, Africa, and elsewhere, and promises to be a joyous musical celebration.

For complete details, visit  www.wiscassetholidaymarketfest.com.