Downtown Holiday Festival, Friday, November 30, 5-8 p.m.

Join the whole community downtown for a joyful kick-off to the holiday season! See the schedule below for the City Square stage, and enjoy photos with Santa at Joseph McKenney Photography (148 Main Street), community booths in City Square, and free sleigh rides!

Downtown businesses have most generously donated gift certificates that will be given away the festival. There will be sign-up boxes around downtown at the festival, and at 7 p.m., we’ll announce more than a dozengift give-aways from the Main Stage!

Cocoa and Crafts at McArthur Library & Cookie Decorating at Reilly’s Bakery from 3-5 p.m.!

Holiday Festival Main Stage (in City Square, on Adams Street), 5-8 p.m.

5:00 p.m.  The Jessi McKinnon Band

5:35 p.m. Special Story from McArthur Library

5:35 p.m. Santa arrives by sleigh and Mayor lights the tree

5:50 p.m. BIS and BMS Choir

6:10 p.m. Joyful Harvest

6:20 p.m Biddeford High School Jazz Combo

6:55 p.m. Sisters of the Sun Tribal Dance

7:05 p.m. Downtown Holiday Give-Aways

7:10 p.m.  TABS — UNE’s a capella group

7:30 p.m. Carols and sing-along

 

More highlights!

The Grand Openings of the Main Street Challenge stores (Dahlia’s Delights at 137 Main Street and Tote Road on Laconia, plus tastings of Elements coffees at 265 Main Street).

The Anti-Freeze Arts & Crafts Fair (180 Main Street).

Two pop-up stores (Girl Gone Restless at 156 Main Street and Handmade on Main at 265 Main Street).

Open House at Phoenix Rising, 5-8 p.m. (289 Main Street)

Open Mic (and Santa Bil collection site) at the WonderBar, 6-8 p.m.

Check out the full ArtWalk schedule, which includes openings in the City Hall Gallery, Lacava (12 Water Street), Maine Women in the Arts and open studios in the North Dam Mill, Dahlia’s Delights.

The Oak + the Ax (140 Main Street) presents the opening of a new group exhibition “This Must Be the Place.” Then,  stick around for a free after-party with live music from Mount Sharp (from NY) and If and It (from Portland)!Watch for special holiday deals at downtown businesses!

Community organizations are welcome to contact Heart of Biddeford if they would like to set up a booth on Adams Street during the holiday festival.

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW BIDDEFORD, JUNE 9, 2012. Sponsored by Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution.

LA KERMESSE PRESENTS THE SUMMER FESTIVAL-
JUNE 21-24, 2012

With its 30th Anniversary, La Kermesse returns to its roots to embrace and celebrate Biddeford’s proud Franco-Americaine heritage and include neighboring Saco as well as the host of multicultural groups that reside in our diverse communities. A free trolley will run between our sister cities throughout the weekend to encourage local residents and visitors to park at the Chamber of Commerce/Amtrak Station lot in Saco, and enjoy all of the events in both cities.

WORLD STAGE: Sponsored by TD Bank, Heart of Biddeford will host the World Stage at 100 Main Street. Come enjoy these bands, dancers and drummers while you visit the community booths set up along lower Main Street. Great entertainment on your journey among all of the La Kermesse Presents the Summer Festival offerings.

Friday, June 23
3-4:30 p.m. Don Wessels and the IJQ (Irish pipes, harmonica and percussion, featuring Biddeford’s own Jim O’Neil)
4:45-6 p.m. Kalie Shorr (Rising star singer/songwriter)

Saturday, June 24
Noon-1:30 p.m. Alamoosik Lake Singers (Drum group with singers from four tribes in Maine)
2-3 p.m. The Italian Heritage Concert Band
3:30-4:45 Cornell Coley (Drumming of Africa, Carribean and the Americas, as well as Latin and Cuban Jazz)
5:10-6 p.m. Dance House Productions (from Biddeford’s own dynamic dance studio)

Sunday, June 25
Noon-1 p.m. Casco Bay Tummlers (Jewish Klezmer music)
1:30-2:45 Zapion (folk music from Turkey, Armenia, Greece and the Arab world)
2:45-3:15 p.m. Sisters of the Sun (Belly dancing with Bella from Utopian Tattoo)
Also, Sunday, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Oak + the Ax, Peaks Island Puppets (International puppetry)

COMMUNITY GROUPS: REGISTER HERE to set up a table/booth on any one (or all) of the following dates (you will need to provide your own table or tent; however, we will provide storage space at the end of the day if you need it):
Friday 3-5PM
Saturday 1-4PM
Sunday 12-3PM

VOLUNTEERS WILLING TO HELP WITH THE WORLD STAGE: SIGN UP HERE!

Here are some festival highlights:

The La Kermesse event area in Mechanics Park will be open Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event area will feature everyone’s favorite Franco-Americaine and Acadian bands and the La Kermesse Idol contest. In addition, there will be kid’s rides, the parade on Friday starting in Biddeford at 6:00 p.m., the fireworks display on Saturday evening, as well as mass and a crepe breakfast on Sunday morning.

The Heart of Biddeford is coordinating family activities on lower Main Street. These areas will include a World Stage at 100 Main Street (across from Happy Dragon) featuring music and dance from Greek, Italian, Irish, Jewish, Latino, African, and Native American heritages. In addition, booths will be set up by more than 20 local community groups who will provide children’s activities and information about community services and events. The World Stage, bounce houses, children’s activities and community booths will line Biddeford’s lower Main Street throughout much of the weekend.

The Pepperell Mill Campus is coordinating Hands-on Heritage Days on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the North Dam Mill parking lot. Watch and participate in hands on activities such as woodworking, leather work and glass blowing while enjoying locally prepared ethnic foods.

The Downtown Development Commission (DDC) brings back the ever-popular car show, Maine Coastal Cruisers, Saturday from 9 a.m. to Noon. The cars will line lower Main Street and Laconia Street.On Saturday, over 100 artists, photographers and fine craftspeople will once again transform Main Street Saco and Pepperell Square into a giant outdoor art gallery.

A tradition for 42 years, the Saco Sidewalk Arts Festival always draws a crowd of art enthusiasts and gives everyone the opportunity to experience the beauty and charm of historic Main Street Saco. This years’ Festival takes place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The cities of Biddeford and Saco are jointly committed to this festival’s success to encourage the continued growth of cultural and heritage tourism in our region. This weekend will be a wonderful complement to Saco’s 250th Celebration, occurring throughout the month of June.

La Kermesse Festival corporate sponsors are PeoplesChoice Credit Union, Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, and Biddeford Savings. The World Stage is sponsored by TD Bank. La Kermesse Festival passes and day passes will be available at locations throughout Biddeford and Saco, which will be listed on their website. The passes allow entrance into La Kermesse, all the rides and the Pepperell Campus events. Four-day Festival passes advanced sales are $12. Passes sold during the weekend are $15 and day-passes are $5.
For more information:La Kermesse: www.lakermessefestival.com

On Facebook:www.facebook.com/pages/La-Kermesse-Franco-Americaine-Festival/119931068047332

MUSIC IN THE PARK

Through sponsorship from Bangor Savings and contributing support from Saco Valley Credit Union, MUSIC IN THE PARK provides ten weeks of music on Wednesday nights in 2012 from June 20-Aug. 29. Shows are 5-7 PM, so stop downtown and pick-up some take-out from Biddeford’s international restaurants!
JUNE 20  Sylvain’s Acadian Aces, Cajun
JUNE 27  Gorilla Finger Dub Band, Soul/Rock/Reggae/Dub/Dance
JULY 4 NO MITP
JULY 11 Pepperell Squares, Young a Cappella Doo-Wop Trio from Saco
JULY 18 Tricky Britches, Bluegrass
JULY 25 Canary, Original Rock
AUGUST 1 The Jessi McKinnon Band, Country and Classic Rock
AUG 8 Songwriter’s Eclectica, Original Songs from Maine’s Best Singer/Songwriters
AUG 15 Skyler, Country Pop/Rock
AUG 22  Joel and Janna, Alternative
AUG 29 Sweet Wednesday, Indie Roots

The concerts are in Shevenell Park and are free and open to the public.

CHALK ON THE WALK

On Saturday, Sept. 22, our 8th Annual arts, culture and kid’s event will have more going on than ever! The event takes place on Main Street and Alfred Street in Biddeford from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.**

This year’s theme, “Around the World with Chalk on the Walk” will highlight Biddeford’s amazing cultural past and present. In addition to beautiful chalk drawings throughout the downtown, we’ll have kid’s games and chalk areas, bounce houses, pony rides, touch tank, RiverWalk mini-tours plus tastes of Biddeford’s restaurant and food specialties.

Schedule of Events

8 a.m. Registration Opens,  Heart of Biddeford, 205 Main Street

8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Artists, Vendors, Crafters set up on Adams Street at storefronts throughout Main Street and lower Alfred Street

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visitors pick up a “Passport” at the Heart of Biddeford table on Adams Street. Tour downtown to see beautiful chalk art as it is being created. Play the game “find the globe” to enter a contest to win a prize. Also, enjoy bounce houses, face painting, games, crafters and vendors, and pony rides!

10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visit the artists at the RiverWalk Overlook and take a brief tour of the RiverWalk

Main Stage Performance, Adam Street

10:30-11:40 a.m. Michael Wingfield. Artist and educator who brings the rhythm and song of the African New World in a performance and audience participation soiree!

11:50 a.m. -12:10 p.m. Villari’s Martial Arts Demonstration. See local martial arts students demonstrate their skills on stage!

12:15- 1:15 p.m. UNE Featured Performers. Miss Maine Julia Fertado and the Multicultural Dance Troupe will amaze us!

1:30-2:20 p.m. Rob Duquette. Cool, original children’s music and feel-good favorites.

2:30-2:55 p.m. Serbian Dance Ensemble.

Go to the Chalk on the Walk 2012 Registration Page if you would like to sponsor a square, be a chalk artist, provide a community booth, or become a vendor.

Contact Heart of Biddeford if you would like to become involved in the planning or would like to volunteer!

Thank you to our Festival Sponsor!

with contributing support from Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution.

**In case of heavy rain forecast, the entire event will be scaled to a more intimate size and will take place at 100 Main Street (chalk artists inside the Biddeford Mills Museum, and crafters with tents will set up in the lot).