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People look at the trees Saturday during The Festival of Trees at the Waterville Elks Lodge in Waterville. The event, held in partnership with the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, the Alfond Youth & Community Center, is presented by the Central Maine Betterment Collaborative. Funds raised during the festival directly benefit those in the community experiencing food insecurity and provide workforce development opportunities. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)

Augusta

River of Trees Festival

River of Trees is set for 10 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Colonial Theater, 139 Water St., Augusta.

 The Augusta Downtown Alliance‘s large raffle event gives the public a chance to bid on holiday trees decorated with items worth $300-plus. This year, proceeds will benefit both the Augusta Downtown Alliance and the Colonial Theater’s ongoing restoration efforts. The theme for the event is The Polar Express.

For more information, check out the Colonial Theater online.

Canaan

2nd Annual Festival of Trees

The 2nd Annual Festival of Trees is planned at various times Friday through Sunday at Carrabassett Masonic Lodge No. 161, 21 Oak Pond Road, Canaan.

Sponsored by The Ring Family Farm and Carrabassett Masonic Lodge No. 161.

Families and businesses have donated fully decorated trees, each with itemized gifts and total value displayed, available to win through raffles and a 50/50 drawing.

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Admission will cost $2 per person.

Gardiner

Tree lighting

The Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting and Market event is planned to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday on Water Street in Gardiner.

The event is hosted by Gardiner Main Street and will feature caroling before Santa lights the downtown Christmas tree.

People check out The Festival of Trees on Saturday at the Waterville Elks Lodge in Waterville. Funds raised during the festival directly benefit those in the community experiencing food insecurity and provide workforce development opportunities. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)

Waterville

Festival of Trees

The Festival of Trees started last week, and other viewings are planned from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Waterville Elks Lodge, 76 Industrial Drive, Waterville.

The festive celebration, a partnership of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, the Alfond Youth & Community Center and presented by the Central Maine Betterment Collaborative, transforms the lodge into a winter wonderland, decorated with trees uniquely adorned with gifts curated by local businesses and organizations.

Admission is $2 and tickets for the tree raffle will cost 50 cents each. A 50/50 drawing also will be held.

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For more information visit festivaloftreesmaine.net.

Parade of Lights

The 2025 Parade of Lights is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday in Waterville.

The Children’s Discovery Museum is collaborating with the city to host this annual event.

Due to ongoing bridge construction, the parade will be kept in Waterville. 

Floats will assemble along College Avenue, travel down Main Street, stopping at Castonguay Square for the lighting of the giant spruce and Santa’s arrival at Kringleville. A map will be provided closer to the event.

For more information visit Parade of Lights on Facebook.

Gardiner

GET YOUR TICKETS: Capital City Improv

Johnson Hall Opera House plans to host Capital City Improv — Hallmark Holiday Unscripted at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, at 280 Water St., Gardiner.

The show features holiday inspired short-form improv in the first act, which includes audience participation and short form games. In the second act, the performers take audience suggestions and use them improvise an entire Hallmark holiday movie.

Tickets cost $20; johnsonhall.org.