The Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce Early Bird Sale turns 30 this year.
The first mention of the sale in the archives of The Lincoln County News is in 1989.
“Now is the time to think pre-holiday shopping!” the chamber’s column on page five of the Nov. 2, 1989 edition reads. “Set your alarm clocks and plan to do some shopping in the Damariscotta Region.
“We are pleased to announce over 28 stores will be participating this weekend, Nov. 4, in an Early Bird Sale from 6-9 a.m.”
A special enticement to the sale was a raffle for a three-night stay for two at the luxurious Hotel Frontenac in Quebec City. Shoppers could sign up in any participating store. The drawing was to take place at 9 a.m. at Salt Bay Cafe.
The newspaper was full of advertisements for the sale, including several offers of carb- and coffee-centric breakfasts to fuel the morning mania.
Rising Tide invited early risers for a $2 granola breakfast and 60-cent coffee. The Bread Basket, a bakery and coffee shop in the Nathaniel Austin House, advertised coffee and a muffin for 99 cents.
There was a coffee-and-doughnut duel between pharmacies – Waltz Pharmacy had a bargain at 25 cents, but Briggs Pharmacy Plus was giving coffee and doughnuts away for free.
Other deals were two video rentals for $3 at Belknap’s Hardware and 25% off all merchandise at Maine Coast Book Shop. At Country Farm Furniture in Newcastle, customers could pop a balloon at the register to find out if they would save 10%, 20%, or 30%.
The Nov. 9 edition reported that Jean Tarr, of New Harbor, won the raffle. The chamber deemed the event “highly successful” in its column.