Midcoast celebrates the holidays
Nights may be long this time of year in the Midcoast, but they twinkle with lights and festivities, bonfires, music and laughter as communities celebrate the holidays.
With calendars filling with events and stories, PenBayPilot.com will keep them all collected here, on our Midcoast Holiday page.
We wish you all good cheer through the season and into the new year!
Thomaston police, fire, ambulance lights up 2021 holidays in video
THOMASTON — Thomaston police, fire, and ambulance departments activated their lights for fun December 21, 2021.
Staged at the Thomaston Fire Department, the three municipal departments each provided a vehicle, turning their emergency lights into a choreographed musical dance.
Video by CoolFireTrucks
Maine DHHS encourages Mainers to take advantage of mental health resources during holiday season
As the winter holiday season continues, and in the face of ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reminds all Maine people, and particularly those who work in and provide support to Maine’s health care sector, that mental health resources are available, including through the StrengthenME initiative and traditional crisis support.
The demands of the holiday season can often lead… Read more
MRC to begin 2022 with New Year’s Open tennis tournament
ROCKPORT — The Midcoast Recreation Center will host the MRC New Year’s Open tennis tournament to kick off the new year.
The UTR tournament will be held Saturday, Jan. 1 and Sunday, Jan. 2.
This event is co-ed and open to any level. All players will get multiple matches. Matches will be two out of three full sets with a super-tiebreaker in lieu of the third set.
“We will do our best to ensure that your first match is as level-appropriate as possible,” organizers note… Read more
Recycle the Moon
Recycle the Moon
(Full moon, December 19, 2021)
Wrap your arms around her belly
and (on the Solstice, December 21)
when she rolls through
your bedroom window
and lingers, hovering over your dreams,
cushion your head on her soft pillow chest,
watch her wistfully as her smooth,
round back glides horizon-bound.
You wish you could go with her,
but she has work to do:
Each night she sheds a layer… Read more
Grab-n-Go Craft at Rockland library: Pop Up Holiday Cards
ROCKLAND — Learn how to fold shapes in half and glue them to their duplicates to make a 3D card for the holidays. Visit the Rockland Public Library to pick up your bag with one card, many snowflakes, and the supplies to make a 3D snowman and 3D tree.
This project is for all ages.
Take your bag into the Children's Room to create your card here, or take your supplies home for crafting later.
Rockland Library has at least two grab-n-go crafts a month. Stay posted… Read more
Local businesses support over 50 Midcoast nonprofits on Annual Day of Giving
CAMDEN — The Annual Day of Giving on Saturday, December 18 showcased more than 45 area businesses who, in partnership with United Midcoast Charities, supported dozens of Midcoast nonprofits in Knox and Waldo Counties.
Residents who still needed to do their holiday shopping or enjoy a Yuletide meal visited these community-minded retailers and restaurants in Camden, Rockland, Rockport, Belfast, Thomaston, Lincolnville and Northport.
“This is a fun day to shop and dine locally… Read more
Cinderella presented as 90-minute Met Opera broadcast on New Year’s Day
Santa sets up postal box outside Rockport Fire Department for your holiday letters
ROCKPORT — In a rare development, Santa Claus and all the Elves at the North Pole are setting up Christmas letter postal boxes around the world, including Rockport.
Santa and his reindeer scouted the globe, and decided that for the Midcoast, the box should present easy access for all children to get their letters posted, and for the Reindeer Letter Squad to pick them up, all in time for Christmas Eve.
Rockport Fire Chief Jason Peasley said he is honored that the North Pole… Read more
Joy and high spirits fill Camden with start of holiday season
There have been plenty of parades in Camden, but the annual 2021 Christmas by the Sea parade Dec. 3 was perhaps one of the happiest, most joyful gathering of a community in a long time. Hundreds (maybe more!) lined the sidewalks to watch their friends and neighbors and family members wind through the downtown on floats, in firetrucks, backhoes, or just walking with banners and flags. Always, there were many, many smiles, with some singing and dancing.
The parade was organized in the… Read more
Recycling correctly during the holiday season
PORTLAND — ecomaine, the Portland-based recycling facility, is making a list and checking it twice – a list of acceptable items in single-sort recycling bins this holiday season.
“Every holiday season, the amount of recycling tends to increase,” said Kathryn Oak, ecomaine’s recycling manager, in a news release. “But mixed in with those items that are recyclable are some that aren’t – and even a few that can be dangerous in our facility.”
With many gifts being delivered to… Read more
Calendar of Events
Find a listing of holiday events on our calendar!
Holiday Photo Galleries
Joy and high spirits fill Camden with start of holiday season