Freeport's Sparkle For The Holidays

Each year, Visit Freeport presents one of Maine’s most popular holiday celebrations, Sparkle Celebration. The 2023 festival kicks off in Freeport on Friday, December 1, 2023 with the Sparkle Celebration Parade of Lights which ends with Santa arriving to bring our famous talking Christmas Tree to life. The fun continues all week with lots of lights and holiday merrymaking including Gift Certificate Giveaways with the Stealth Elf, the Sparkle Stroll with special deals and door prizes, and the Sparkle Frosty Frolic features food trucks, fire pits, holiday tunes, tasty treats, gifts for giving.
And as always, visitors will enjoy great dining and shopping throughout Freeport. MarthaStewart.com named Freeport one of "The Most Charming Small Towns to Visit During the Christmas Season" and says, "There’s simply no better place to do your Christmas shopping than in Freeport, Maine."

Schedule:

Friday, December 1, 2023

4:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: Family Stargazing at Through the Trees at 4 Griffin Rd.
Identify some common constellations and also collect data for a citizen science project measuring light pollution. $15pp, $30pf

7:00 p.m: Danny Breau at Cadenza at 5 Depot St.
Six string guitar. Tickets $10-21

7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: What the Actual Fudge Pop Up at Freeport Oyster Bar at 43 Main St.
Complimentary fudge tastings plus live music. Fudge available for sale.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

8:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Pineland Farms Mini Family Photo Sessions with Sharyn Peavey Photographyat Farm View Dr., New Gloucester
Your family photo shoot just in time for holiday gift giving.

9:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Night Tree at Wolfe’s Neck Center Hourly at The Smith Center - 184 Burnett Rd.
Inspired by Eve Bunting’s Night Tree. Story time & decorating tasty pine cone treats for animals, followed by a short hike to leave the treats in the woods. $7pp, WNC members free!

10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m: Cozy Cottages with Wilbur's of Maine Chocolate Confections at 40 Main St. (Meetinghouse Arts/First Parish Church)
Decorate a festive chocolate house and enjoy cookies, hot cocoa, and a visit with Santa.

10:00 a.m - 5:30 p.m: Sunapee Granite Works Trunk Show at RD Allen Freeport Jewelers at 13 Middle St. Ste. 1
New releases from the American Bead Collection plus 50% off clearance, gift with minimum purchase and free gift wrapping.

11:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m: String Quilting Class at Cotton Weeds Quilt Shop at 15 Main Street
An easy way to use up your scraps! Make 4 blocks during class that can be combined into a small table topper. $90pp

11:00 a.m: Casco Bay Auctions Holiday Sparkle Sale at 147 Main St. & Online
Fine crystal, collector's items, jewelry, silver, and other great gift and home decor items. A great chance to get pieces from Baccarat, Steuben, Tiffany and other fine makers at a fraction of the retail cost.

7:00 p.m: Pan Fried Steel Band at Meetinghouse Arts at 40 Main Street, Tickets $15-20

7:00 p.m: Dan Pelletier and Jessica Smucker at Cadenza at 5 Depot St.
Singer/Songwriter. Tickets $10-21.

Sunday, December 3, 2023

8:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Freeport Lioness Lions & Freeport Fire Rescue Breakfast With Santa at 4 Main St., Freeport Fire Rescue
Enjoy a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast with juice/coffee.
Then visit with Santa, do a holiday craft, write a letter to Santa and sit in a fire truck! Breakfast is free for families, donations are welcome.

10:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Ancient art of Wet Felting at Porters Landing Guest House & Artist Studio at 77 South St.
Learn the art of wet felting using the same techniques that have been used across Europe and Asia for the past 8000 years! Leave with  a beautiful winter-scene creation, a belly full of holiday treats, & some new art skills. $75 pp

Monday, December 4, 2023

4:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: L.L.Bean Paws with Claus at 95 Main St., Discovery Park Holiday Activity Barn
Bring your pet for a special sitting with Santa himself and take a festive pic.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

4:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: L.L.Bean Tea Towel Screen Printing at 95 Main St., Discovery Park Holiday Activity Barn

5:15 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Holiday Card Making at the Maine Organic Marketplace at 55 Main St.
Design your own card illustrations with artist Toki Oshima. $15-40pp.

6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: Trivia Night at Maine Beer Company at 525 US Route 1
Sign up starting at 5:30PM the night of the event. Prize for the top team!

6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: Taco Tuesday & Margarita Fiesta at Athena’s Cantina at 491 US Route 1
Featuring live music by Joan Kennedy Trio.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: Needle Felting Workshop at the Maine Organic Marketplace at 55 Main St.
Work with hand-dyed wool from Wrinkle in Thyme’s sheep and an easy
to use felting needle to color and create a landscape.. $50pp.

4:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: L.L.Bean Free Custom Bean Boot Laces & Paracord Crafts at 95 Main St., Discovery Park
Holiday Activity Barn

6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: Trivia Night at Mast Landing Brewing Company at 200 Lower Main St.
Assemble your smartest group of friends, grab a beer, and join the war of wits.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

4:00 p.m- 7:00 p.m: Sparkle Stroll Stops.

Bow Street Market - 79 Bow St. Free beer tasting with Austin Street Brewing from 3:30-5:30PM. Door prizes.

Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop - 128 Main St. Stop by for a complimentary candy cane and take time to browse through their fun and festive selection of books and gifts.

Bridgham and Cook: The British Store - 123 Main St.  Complimentary Hot Cadbury Cocoa and Scottish Shortbread.

Two Sisters in Maine Holiday Pop-Up Shop - 124 Main St. visit with community herbalist Becky Aldenvail of Herbage by Bex.

Rustic Arrow - 116 Main St. Surprise pop-up guests and complimentary refreshments while you shop their selection of clothing and decor from fair trade and women-owned businesses.

Double Barrel - 115 Main St. Sample Hot Mulled Cider while perusing all that Craft Maine Brews, Ciders, Meads, Wines, and Gifts have to offer in a historic building.

Palmer and Company - 9 Mechanic St. Sip and shop their fun selection of home goods, paper, party, kids, and lots more.

RD Allen Freeport Jewelers - 13 Middle St. Free jewelry organizer when you spend $200+. Plus free gift wrapping, 50% off select Maine watermelon tourmaline pendants, and a jam-packed clearance case.

Fiore Artisan Olive Oils Vinegars - 88 Main St. Enjoy a raffle and special storewide discount.

Stio Mountain Studio - 6 Bow St. Stop by for a surprise and great deals to elevate your mountain town style.

Crystal Joys - 9 Bow St. Warm up with a complimentary cup of hot cocoa while browsing the selection of jewelry, home decor and stunning gemstones. Buy one, get a second item of equal or lesser  Value half off. Some exclusions may apply.

Toad and Co - 11 Bow St. Save 30% off plus enjoy complimentary light snacks while you shop.

Wilbur’s of Maine Candy Shoppe - 13 Bow St. Stop by for complimentary refreshments while you browse for decadent stocking stuffers, divine hostess gifts and delightful holiday chocolates.

Mexicali Blues - 10 Bow St. Free gift bag with purchase.

Island Treasure Toys - 20 Bow St. Stop in to find out what a "Blinger" is.

Casco Bay Cutlery and Kitchenware - 5 Depot St. Browse for gifts for the chefs in your life while enjoying complimentary refreshments plus a special stroll-only sale.

Freeport Market - Freeport  village Station Meet the makers.

Sea Love Freeport - 6 Mill St. Save 25% off holiday collection candles.

The Vermont Flannel Company - 47 Main St. Shop exclusive special deals while you explore the softest organic flannel clothing, handcrafted in America since 1991.

Meetinghouse Arts Gallery - 40 Main St. Special evening hours to view and shop the Holiday Members Show. Complimentary refreshments and raffle of original art and crafts.

SipHouse - 32 Main St. 10% off gift certificates and merch including mugs, travel mugs, teas, and stickers.

Sharyn Peavey Photography at The Harraseeket Inn Tea Room - 162 Main St., Holiday portraits in front of a festive backdrop to support Freeport Community Services. Suggested $25 donation. Includes one high-res digital file.

Cheese The Day - Freeport  and illage Station Food truck pop-up.

L.L.Bean - 95 Main St. From 4-8PM, stop by for free crafts and other activities in the Discovery Park Holiday Activity Barn.

Freeport Oyster Bar - 43 Main St. Live music from 6-8PM.

5:30 p.m: Bids and Brews for Hart of Maine at Maine Beer Company, 525 US Route 1
Silent and li and e auctions, food, drink, music, and fun. 100% of the proceeds will go toward pro and iding shelter and essential care for the 100+ cats in Hart's care.

Friday, December 8, 2023

4:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: Holiday Market at Tripping Gnome Farm at 64 Lupine Ln.
One-stop holiday gift buying experience featuring guest makers offering: cocktail mixes, artistic creations, goat milk products, hand pies, freeze-dried foods, farm merchandise, and mushrooms.
S'mores and hot chocolate too.

7:00 p.m: Michael Arnowitt at Cadenza at 5 Depot St. Jazz trio. Tickets $10-21

Saturday, December 9, 2023

10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m: Visit the Sparkle Frosty Frolic from at 45 Main St.! Don’t miss our
downtown outdoor soiree featuring food trucks, holiday tunes, tasty treats, gifts for giving and more.

7:00 p.m: Half Moon Jug Band at Cadenza at 5 Depot St, Tickets $10-21

Sunday, December 10, 2023

10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m: Meet Me Under The Mistletoe At Sea Love Freeport at 6 Mill St.
Pour a candle today and receive a complimentary bunch of fresh mistletoe to take home. $38-52pp, reservations suggested:

12:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m: Foiled Hair Salon, Luxury Spa Grand Reopening at 32 Main St.
Come celebrate with us and enjoy delicious refreshments, amazing deals, raffles with exciting prizes, and a special giveaway drawing.

1:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m: Fused Glass Ornament Class at Glass Mermaid Studios at 43 Spar Cove Rd.
Create transparent designs that you can see your tree lights through, or bold opaque ornaments sure to garner some compliments. All materials are included to make 2-3 ornaments. $50pp, reservations required.

Date: December 1 - 10, 2023

Location: Various Venues in Freeport, ME 04032

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