Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude is underway. We’ve enjoyed evening strolls down the street to the heart of Kennebunkport’s Dock Square, where a Christmas tree stands tall and holiday lights glitter. In the other direction, the town of Kennebunk is also dressed in its holiday best. The atmosphere is contagiously festive.
Find warmth after the Christmas Prelude at our Kennebunkport/Kennebunk Bed and Breakfast.
Christmas Prelude, 2011, continues both next weekend and the weekend of December 9th. Since we still have some availability at our Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast on December 9 and 10, this blog will focus on activities for that weekend.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony in Dock Square takes place at 5:30 on Friday the 9th. It’s followed by fireworks, which are best viewed from the bridge and surrounding areas. By the end of the evening, you’ll be ready to curl up back in your warm room at our Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast with a glass of wine.
Anyone interested in the history and architecture of Kennebunkport, Maine should take advantage of the Christmas Prelude Historic Trolley Ride and Historic Village Walking Tour. The walking tour is through downtown Kennebunkport. The trolley, in a delightful twist on the sleigh ride, leads through the woods.
One of the best parts of Christmas Prelude is the abundance of live music. Street performers create a cheerful atmosphere in Dock Square and the Lower Village, and performances take place in a variety of churches, shops, and pubs. At every turn you’ll hear music.
From 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 9, there will be live music at Fleurant, a great shop just down the street from our Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast. At 7 p.m., Rock My Soul Sextet will sing “Gospelized” Christmas Carols at the Village Baptist Church. Dave Peloquin, the Wandering Christmas Minstrel, will wander through Dock Square and Lower Village shopping areas with guitar in hand from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 10th. At noon on the same day, a Barbershop Quartet will sing favorite old tunes at Flaherty Imports and The Whimsey Shop. And when was the last time you saw a fife and drum duo? See one this year on the 10th from 1 to 3 p.m., in Dock Square and the Lower Village. Dance to a Very Cuban Christmas at the Franciscan Monastery Hall on Saturday, at 7 p.m. Or listen to the Kennebunk High School Chamber Choir perform seasonal carols and choral music at the Village Baptist Church at 7:30 p.m.
Stop by the Fire and Ice Bar if you’re in need of refreshment between 5 and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The ice bar is a fantastic creation, and the bonfire warms even the coldest hands and feet. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres from many local restaurants and, of course, live music. Tony Boffa plays Friday, and Matt Fogg takes the stage Saturday.
It should go without saying that one of the most popular activities of the Christmas Prelude is holiday shopping. Indeed, for many people, gift shopping begins and ends with Christmas Prelude. In addition to the many shops of Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, there is also the Annual Clothesline Art Show in the the Lower Village. Here shoppers will find fine paintings, pottery, jewelry, and sculptures made by local artists. It’s a wonderful place to pick up truly one-of-a-kind gifts.
Christmas Prelude is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. And since it takes place at the beginning of December, it doesn’t interfere with other holiday plans.
Treat yourself to an early gift this year. Spend a weekend indulging in the best of Christmas, and luxuriate at our Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast.
A complete list of holiday events is available at Christmas Prelude.
Seek Serenity
Huffington Post Feature
Maine Magazine Feature
Announcing Our Guest Rewards Program
