The beach is empty and the rides are still in Old Orchard as day turns to darkness on Friday, the winter solstice.
Greely High School fans cheer on their team on the winter solstice. Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
TORG – The Other Running Group – sings carols at Uncle Andy's in South Portland. Serenading early-bird businesses on the solstice is their tradition. From left are Patty Whitcomb, Angela Best, Patti Faria and Ronda Downer. Staff photo by Michele McDonald
Five-month-old puppies Higgins, right, and Willard, aka the Beach Boys, are walked by Matthew Michaud and Kim Huard-Michaud of South Portland at 7:04 a.m. in Bug Light Park. Sunrise was officially at 7:11:58 Saturday morning.
Taylor Smith of Saco has his hair cut by barber Muhammed Alrammahi at Woodgrain Barbers in Biddeford on Friday. Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
The Cascade Falls ride at Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach is still. Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
Brian Cox walks to the Circle K on Commercial Street in Portland at 4:05 a.m., on the longest night of the year. He's a regular there, and picked up bananas and a newspaper.
Light from the sign on top of the Time and Temperature Building is seen in the fog during the longest night of the year on Friday. Staff photo by Brianna Soukup
Patrick Wappler is behind the bar at Maps during the longest night of the year on Friday. Staff photo by Brianna Soukup
Pedestrians walk in the rain near Monument Square in Portland. Staff photo by Brianna Soukup
It's 6 a.m., and Scratch bakery opens in an hour. Meghan Wilcox, left, pastry manager, finishes some ring dings (the boss's answer to whoopie pies and a customer favorite) and Kelsey Bryant, the morning baker on the pastry team, writes up the prices on the morning goods.
It's 4:50 a.m. on the longest night of the year and Paddy Cousins is working at Becky's on Commercial Street in Portland, as she has for at least 14 years. When her kids were young she always worked this shift, but now she only works it once a week. Becky's opens at 4 a.m. Paddy and the regulars know each other by name and keep track of each other and the local news. The customer at the counter on the left has a bag with one of "Mark's muffins" ready to go. Mark is cooking and only works weekends. He is kind of famous with the clients, for his muffins. Staff photo by Michele McDonald
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