Holiday Arts & Crafts Fairs

NORWAY — This year’s spectacular Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at the First Universalist Church of Norway on Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, December 8, from noon to 4 p.m., will feature the creations of more than 20 local artisans. The First Universalist Church is located at 479 Main Street, Norway. Three of those local artisans are beekeeper Kevin Farr, multimedia artist Suzanne Norman, and multimedia crafter Tynee Cruz. “We are delighted with the great variety of arts and crafts local artisans will offer at this year’s fair. We will also have a fifty-fifty raffle. There will be a Bake Sale and a White Elephant table too. Come for your holiday shopping and join the fun!,” said Joanne McDonald, the Fair’s chair. McDonald added, “Our Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair will be one-stop shopping for holiday gifts. We will have something for everyone and plenty on hand. This year, especially, is a good year to buy holiday gifts locally.”

LOVELL — Lovell United Church of Christ will host a Snowflake Fair at 1174 Main Street in Lovell on Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be balsam wreaths, berry bowls, a Christmas loft, baked goods, and gifts for sale. Lunch will be available; sponsored by the LUCC Ladies Circle. To pre-order a wreath, call the church office (925-1321) on Monday or Wednesday between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and we’ll put you on the list.

OTISFIELD — There will be a Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the East Otisfield Free Baptist Church, 231 Rayville Road (off Route 121) in Otisfield. Hand-crafted arts and crafts, hand-knitted and crocheted items, Christmas Wreaths, and greens will be offered at reasonable prices. A white elephant table filled with attic treasures is back for bargain hunters. Check out the “World-Famous” Cookie Walk! Just fill a tin with assorted Christmas cookies and pay the price on the tin, but you must be able to put the lid back on once the tin is filled. They will have homemade breads, pies, bars, sweets, beans, chowder, and soups for sale. All proceeds from the Christmas Fair will go to the Scholarship Fund.

Holiday Concert

WEST PARIS — West Paris Public Library is proud to present the Oxford Hills Ukulele Group (OHUG) for a lively Holiday Open House concert and sing-along on Friday, December 6 at 7 p.m.

Admission is free. There will be light refreshments after the sing-along as well as gifts for attendees in the form of Elaine Emery’s collectible hand-crafted mitten ornaments filled with goodies.

We invite you to welcome the holiday season with us here at our “Little Castle with the Big Heart.”

West Paris Public Library is located at 226 Main Street in West Paris.

For more information on this and other programs: Call 207-674-2004, email [email protected], visit the website www.westparislibrary.org or visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064683487303

Take Me Downtown for the Holidays

NORWAY — Shop Local-Shop Norway is Saturday, December 14, all day. Norway Downtown would like to encourage you to come to Main Street and shop downtown for all your holiday needs. Look for special promotions in stores and restaurants throughout the day. Businesses will have reusable shopping bags, sponsored by Norway Downtown, to distribute. Buying locally supports our businesses and our neighborhoods.

Finnish American Society hosting “Pikkujoulu” celebration

WEST PARIS — The Finnish American Heritage Society of Maine will be devoting our December meeting to a “Pikkujoulu” celebration. All are welcome to join us at 8 Maple Street in West Paris from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 15 for a Finnish Christmas celebration filled with warmth, community, and cherished traditions. Indulge in festive treats, and stock up on freshly baked Finnish goods. Kids (age 8 and up) can create their very own Finnish Christmas ornaments. Afterward, join us at the Finnish cemetery on Pioneer Street to light candles in remembrance of our ancestors.

First Congo announces Advent schedule
PARIS — The First Congregational Church in south Paris announces its Advent schedule. In addition to the weekly Sunday morning worship services at 10 a.m., there are several other activities. The First Congregational Community Choir will be performing a Christmas cantata on Sunday, December 15, at 2 p.m. The cantata is entitled “Jesus: The Advent of the Messiah” and all are welcome to join us to celebrate Advent in song. Our Christmas Eve and candle-lighting service will be at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24. Please join us to welcome in Christmas Day. On Christmas Day, there will be a free Community Christmas Dinner at the church from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are welcome to join us for a meal.

Christmas Ornament Scavenger Hunt at the Paris Public Library

PARIS — The Paris Public Library is hosting a Christmas Ornament Scavenger hunt for children from December 9 to December 24. Any child in the community who wishes to participate may stop by during the library’s hours and search for the various hidden ornaments. Participants will receive a free Christmas ornament and a candy cane. The program is free.

The Paris Public Library is located at 37 Market Square in south Paris and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, please call the Paris Public Library at 743-6944 or email [email protected].

Oxford County Republican Committee Christmas event

WEST PARIS — The Oxford County Republican Committee will meet for a Christmas party/fundraiser at The Finnish-American Center, 8 Maple Street, West Paris on Tuesday, December 10. Social hour at 5 p.m., dinner at 6. Join us as we celebrate the season, exchange gifts, and discuss plans for a great 2025. For more information, contact Joe Martin at [email protected] or (207) 500-1220.

Christmas Concert with the Mollyockett Chorus
BETHEL — The Mollyockett Chorus, renowned a cappella singers, will be performing a Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 14, at 2 p.m., at the Bethel United Methodist Church, located on Main Street in Bethel. The Mollockett Chorus, based in Norway, was organized in 1996 and is a chapter of Harmony Inc., an international women’s barbershop organization. Under the direction of Simon Smith of Bethel, the chorus will sing a variety of Holiday Songs, in the barbershop style. Choral members from Bethel are Janet Coverdale, Janet Willie, Debbie Luxton, and Merry Childs, with other members from the various towns in the Lake Region area. Women who love to sing are always welcome at chorus rehearsals, which take place on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., downstairs in the concert hall of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Norway. Admission for this concert will be donations at the door, which will be gratefully accepted. For more information about this event or to join the chorus, email [email protected] or visit the chorus on Facebook. This concert is a wonderful way to get in the Christmas Spirit and everyone is welcome!