Visitors to in-town Damariscotta were treated to a street full of holiday activity and area businesses enjoyed a late-season shopping rush Dec. 23 during the Damariscotta Street Festival.
“It couldn’t get any better,” proclaimed Todd Maurer of King Eider’s Pub, one of the organizers of the Damariscotta Street Festival. “Everything went well – the weather, the entertainers, the retailers, the restaurants, and of course, the people.”
Visitors enjoyed performances from the Green Castle Strings, the Renys Rockettes, the Midcoast Dance School Sugarplums, the Lincolnaires and soloist Sam Beam.
Main Street restaurants set up outside tables serving hot chocolate, eggnog, and more. Most importantly, Santa Claus made a jolly appearance. “The big man from the North Pole found time to enjoy a little holiday cheer right here in Damariscotta,” Maurer said.
Last minute shoppers enjoyed the Wrap It Up service provided by Renys Underground, where gifts purchased that evening were wrapped for free.
Taking a moment from her gift wrapping efforts at the Underground, Mary Kate Reny commented on the feeling of community apparent on Main Street during the event as neighbors enjoyed the atmosphere and visited. “My favorite part is that everyone is celebrating a great time of year and remembering what the season is all about,” she said.
According to the organizers, the event began three years ago as a Wrap It Up party and has now evolved into an annual celebration. This year the primary organizers were Todd Maurer of King Eider’s Pub, Mary Kate Reny of Renys and Jean Kerrigan and Rick Hirsch of the Damariscotta River Grill, but all of them agree the event became a collective effort once the ball got rolling. “We took the pulse of the in-town businesses, and they all wanted to do this,” Maurer said. “Once they were all involved, it was sure to be a success.”
Next year should be even better, according to organizers. “It’s a great format, and we hope to continue and add more to it,” Reny said. Maurer said, “I can’t wait until next year, I’m sure we’ll be doing it again and that it will be even better!”
