FARMINGTON — Every year, the downtown comes alive to celebrate its very own hometown inventor of earmuffs, Chester Greenwood.

The 39th Annual Chester Greenwood Day kicked off Saturday with a 5-kilometer race in the morning, followed by an 11 a.m. parade that made its way from Quebec Street through the center of downtown and ended on Main Street. 

The parade, hosted by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, included more than 30 businesses, groups and clubs participating with themed floats and cars, with most attendees wearing earmuffs.

The sidewalks were full of excited families and townspeople waiting to see what creative and fun ideas the participating groups had. 

The very first float to make its way was a Farmington police car, decorated with earmuffs, reindeer antlers and a red Rudolph nose.

Other floats included those with speakers playing music, kids dancing and throwing candy to the crowd and school clubs juggling, skiing and singing.

The theme of the parade this year was “Favorite Character,” and many of the groups took that to heart. Franklin Savings Bank employees dressed as characters from the 1974 Christmas special, “The Year Without a Santa Claus.”

Barclay’s Group dressed as Super Mario Bros. characters accompanied by a game-screen float. One group even had a float full of little Princess Elsas from the movie “Frozen.”

A Disney World-themed Mt. Blue High School bus followed by Public Works snowplows rounded out the parade along with Farmington firetrucks and ambulances.

Events in addition to the parade included a Gingerbread House contest, a chili challenge, free showings of the movie “Polar Express” and a polar plunge.