Click to view larger image
.jpg)
FARMINGTON – With the air brisk and promise of pending snow, thousands of folks staked their space early along the streets of downtown Farmington in anticipation of the 33rd Annual Chester Greenwood Day parade and events on Saturday, December 5.
Ducking in and out of local shops for warmth, parade watchers enjoyed special sales, food, music and fun! The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce organizes the day’s events including the Annual Gingerbread House Contest.
Children giggled and stared in wonder at the Gingerbread man (played by Nancy Merrill), who greeted and directed those walking along the streets in to where the gingerbread houses were on display, drawing delightful attention and interest with the urge to touch the sweet creations throughout the day.
Judges took their role seriously as they hovered, peered and inspected each entry and spoke quietly amongst themselves. At last the decisions were made and ribbons awarded to First Place winner Nancy Porter of Farmington for her Ski Maine entry; in the Under 12 category River D. Lisius of Farmington Falls placed first followed by Megan Platt, Farmington Falls with second; Megan Baker, Chesterville in third and Justin Meservier, Farmington with fourth.
With the hands of the clocks approaching 11 a.m., shoppers emptied out onto the streets with anticipation of seeing long-time leader of the parade Dennis Pike, Franklin County Sherriff in his old blue police wagon kicking off the Annual Chester Greenwood Day Parade with nearly 50 entrants following behind.
Adhering to this year’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme, the creativity of area businesses and organizations again proved to be a challenge in judging each entrant vying for four different awards with a total of $800 dollars in cash prizes donated by the Chester Greenwood family this year.
After much deliberation and several visits to view and discuss each entry, the winners were announced and proudly displayed their winning ribbon along the parade route. Winning 1st Place for Theme: Franklin Savings Bank – ‘Snowbabies’; 2nd Place Youth: Girl Scouts, Temple; 3rd Place Originality: Barclay’s, Wilton – ‘Then pretened that he was Parson Brown…’; 4th Place Appearance: Wiles Remembrance Center, Farmington – ‘Winter Wonderland’.
Hours of planning and preparation go into many of the floats as noted by Anna Lyon, Franklin Savings Bank Marketing Director sharing that she made six of the costumes worn this year herself - which paid off by earning them a first place prize.
With the last parade entry nearing the end of the route, folks then gathered around for the annual flag raising at the courthouse with local attorney and historian Paul Mills reciting a poem written especially for the occasion, along with a brief history of the day. Clyde Ross who plays the role of Chester each year and one of the descendents of the Greenwood family playing the wife of Chester (Isabel) patiently weathered the very cool temperatures as they participated in the flag raising ceremony and posed as picture-takers snapped photographs.
After more than an hour of braving the brisk air, folks were eager to step inside area businesses once again for more shopping, craft fairs, the Farmington Rotary Club’s Annual Festival of Trees display and of course, long lines could be seen through the windows of Bangor Savings Bank as several hundred of the parade-goers enjoyed the festive atmosphere at the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Chili Contest.
With several pots of homemade chili entered and consumed, each taste-tester voted for his or her favorite. Chamber Executive Director Lorna Nichols declared first time contest entrant Galen Dalrymple of Farmington as winner of the coveted travelling trophy. Aimee Degroat from Temple, also a first time entrant, claimed second place with Tom Sawyer of Farmington coming in third. Voters also enjoyed a delicious slice of birthday cake in honor of Chester Greenwood, artfully decorated in the ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme and donated by the bakery staff of Hannaford, Farmington.
Events continued into the afternoon and evening with the Polar Bear Club’s annual dip into Clearwater Lake in Industry and the auctioning off of the Rotary Club’s Festival of Trees held annually at The Granary.
The Chamber’s Chester Greenwood Day event committee will recap the day’s festivities and begin plans for next year’s celebration with a ‘Mardi Gras’ theme. Chester Greenwood Day is held in downtown Farmington on the first Saturday in December each year, so keep your earmuffs handy and make plans to join us!
Ducking in and out of local shops for warmth, parade watchers enjoyed special sales, food, music and fun! The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce organizes the day’s events including the Annual Gingerbread House Contest.
Children giggled and stared in wonder at the Gingerbread man (played by Nancy Merrill), who greeted and directed those walking along the streets in to where the gingerbread houses were on display, drawing delightful attention and interest with the urge to touch the sweet creations throughout the day.
Judges took their role seriously as they hovered, peered and inspected each entry and spoke quietly amongst themselves. At last the decisions were made and ribbons awarded to First Place winner Nancy Porter of Farmington for her Ski Maine entry; in the Under 12 category River D. Lisius of Farmington Falls placed first followed by Megan Platt, Farmington Falls with second; Megan Baker, Chesterville in third and Justin Meservier, Farmington with fourth.
With the hands of the clocks approaching 11 a.m., shoppers emptied out onto the streets with anticipation of seeing long-time leader of the parade Dennis Pike, Franklin County Sherriff in his old blue police wagon kicking off the Annual Chester Greenwood Day Parade with nearly 50 entrants following behind.
Adhering to this year’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme, the creativity of area businesses and organizations again proved to be a challenge in judging each entrant vying for four different awards with a total of $800 dollars in cash prizes donated by the Chester Greenwood family this year.
After much deliberation and several visits to view and discuss each entry, the winners were announced and proudly displayed their winning ribbon along the parade route. Winning 1st Place for Theme: Franklin Savings Bank – ‘Snowbabies’; 2nd Place Youth: Girl Scouts, Temple; 3rd Place Originality: Barclay’s, Wilton – ‘Then pretened that he was Parson Brown…’; 4th Place Appearance: Wiles Remembrance Center, Farmington – ‘Winter Wonderland’.
Hours of planning and preparation go into many of the floats as noted by Anna Lyon, Franklin Savings Bank Marketing Director sharing that she made six of the costumes worn this year herself - which paid off by earning them a first place prize.
With the last parade entry nearing the end of the route, folks then gathered around for the annual flag raising at the courthouse with local attorney and historian Paul Mills reciting a poem written especially for the occasion, along with a brief history of the day. Clyde Ross who plays the role of Chester each year and one of the descendents of the Greenwood family playing the wife of Chester (Isabel) patiently weathered the very cool temperatures as they participated in the flag raising ceremony and posed as picture-takers snapped photographs.
After more than an hour of braving the brisk air, folks were eager to step inside area businesses once again for more shopping, craft fairs, the Farmington Rotary Club’s Annual Festival of Trees display and of course, long lines could be seen through the windows of Bangor Savings Bank as several hundred of the parade-goers enjoyed the festive atmosphere at the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Chili Contest.
With several pots of homemade chili entered and consumed, each taste-tester voted for his or her favorite. Chamber Executive Director Lorna Nichols declared first time contest entrant Galen Dalrymple of Farmington as winner of the coveted travelling trophy. Aimee Degroat from Temple, also a first time entrant, claimed second place with Tom Sawyer of Farmington coming in third. Voters also enjoyed a delicious slice of birthday cake in honor of Chester Greenwood, artfully decorated in the ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme and donated by the bakery staff of Hannaford, Farmington.
Events continued into the afternoon and evening with the Polar Bear Club’s annual dip into Clearwater Lake in Industry and the auctioning off of the Rotary Club’s Festival of Trees held annually at The Granary.
The Chamber’s Chester Greenwood Day event committee will recap the day’s festivities and begin plans for next year’s celebration with a ‘Mardi Gras’ theme. Chester Greenwood Day is held in downtown Farmington on the first Saturday in December each year, so keep your earmuffs handy and make plans to join us!
###
 |
 |
 |
 |
