FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce will host the 37th celebration of earmuff inventor Chester Greenwood’s birthday on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7.
Festivities will include a birthday cake, a parade and craft fairs, continuing the tradition of marking Greenwood’s birth on the first Saturday in December.
On Friday, the Arts Institute of Western Maine will hold a Winter Funderland Family Concert to kick off the celebration. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Emery Community Arts Center on Academy Street on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children. For more information, go to artsinstitute.org.
On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be pancakes with maple syrup, and cocoa at Mooseville on Main Street. The event is free. The American Legion in Farmington will hold a craft fair at American Legion Post 28 at High and Middle streets. The Franklin County Arts and Crafts Association will present a craft show at the Olsen Student Center at UMF on South Street.
The Emblem Club will hold a craft fair at the Farmington Elks Lodge on School Street. The event ends at 2 p.m.
The annual Chester Greenwood Parade theme is Maine’s Winter Activities. Earmuffs must be part of the floats. Lineup is at 10 a.m. at the Mallet School at the Quebec Street entrance. The event is free, and preregistration is not required. Forms and event rules are posted online at www.franklincountymaine.org.
Judging of floats will be conducted en route, with a panel of local celebrity judges stationed outside the Franklin Savings Bank Loan Center on Main St. A total of four cash prizes will be awarded in two categories.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. and will go through downtown Farmington. Prizes will be awarded directly after the parade at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Candy-throwing will only be permitted by individuals walking along the parade route. Candy may not be thrown from floats for safety reasons.
Mt. Blue Voices and UMF’s Clefnotes will carol throughout downtown Farmington from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
The Chester Greenwood Fun Run will be held at 10 a.m. at the old Chester Greenwood Factory on Front Street. It will will recreate Chester Greenwood’s daily route to his factory. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information and registration, contact the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.
There will also be open houses throughout the day at the Titcomb House at Academy and High streets. It is open and free of charge.
The Mt. Blue Garden Club will decorate the house for the holidays. Farmington Historical Society will sell fresh wreaths from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Octagon House at Perham Street and Broadway will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The house will be decorated by local florists and businesses, including Riverside Greenhouse & Florist, Robin’s Flower Pot, Richards’ Florist and Mixed Up. There will be gifts and goodies for sale by these merchants. Farmington Historical Society will sell the Bob Tyler mug for this year. Admission is $5 per person. Hot wassail and cookies will be served.
“This is an excellent opportunity to see the Octagon in its holiday best and help out the Farmington Historical Society,” the chamber press release said.
The Farmington Rotary Club will hold its Festival of Trees from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the historic North Church on High Street. Musical entertainment will be provided from 1 to 5 p.m, and a live auction begins 6:30 p.m. Raffles will be held throughout the day, and a silent auction will also be held.
Entries for the annual Gingerbread House Contest may be left at the Main Street entrance of Bangor Savings Bank between 8:30 to 9 a.m. Saturday. Gingerbread houses should be tied to the Maine’s Winter Activities theme. The gingerbread creations will be on public display from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges and prizes will be awarded in two categories, adults and children 12 and under. Preregistration is required, and forms are available online.
Chester Greenwood birthday cake will be served courtesy of Hannaford in Farmington.
At noon, the Chester Greenwood flag-raising ceremony will take place at the Franklin County Courthouse after the parade. Prizes will be awarded at approximately 12:15 p.m.
Horse-and-wagon rides will be held following the parade from noon to 1 p.m. Pickup will be near Franklin Savings Bank and Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street. The rides are free.
The Chili Challenge will follow the parade from noon to 1 p.m. in Meetinghouse Park on Main Street. Entries need to be submitted between 11:30 and11:45 a.m. Entry forms are available online and preregistration is required.
dperry@sunjournal.com
SIDEBAR
Who was Chester Greenwood?
Chester Greenwood was born Dec. 4, 1858, in Farmington. A grammar school dropout, he invented earmuffs at the age of 15, using beaver fur, wire and cloth, according to published reports.
He received a patent for Greenwood’s Champion Ear Protectors and established Greenwood’s Ear Protector Factory in Farmington. He made a fortune supplying them to U.S. soldiers during World War I, according to the website about.com.
In 1977, Maine’s Legislature declared Dec. 21 Chester Greenwood Day.
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