What could be better than gathering with friends to celebrate the holidays in a picturesque setting?  Nothing really, and this year when Kennebunkport celebrated its 32nd annual Christmas Prelude, we were there to eat, drink and be merry (and shop too).  The festivities included the lighting of the Christmas tree in the town center, special shopping and open house refreshments at local stores, live entertainment, arts and crafts shows, trolley rides, caroling, and historic tours.

http://www.christmasprelude.com/

A very foggy and empty downtown Kennebunkport, one day before the Christmas Prelude tree lighting.

We hoped for snow, and finally got it late Friday night.  Leading up to the snow we had cold temps, and fog.  The night before the Christmas tree lighting the streets of Kennebunkport were empty and a heavy fog shrouded the town.  Luckily, for the big tree lighting ceremony, accompanied by the talented high school choir, the fog had lifted.  The snow started just in time for the lighting of the second tree, the lobster trap tree in Cape Porpoise.

Our first day of Prelude fun started at the best consignment shop on the East Coast, Return to Cinda’s.  I geared up for the cold weather with the purchase of a warm coat among other wonderful buys.  We drove around the area looking for Christmas lights, and through the deserted streets of Kennebunkport.  Next stop was Fleurant, a lovely flower arrangements and gifts store in Kennebunk.  They had an open house with snacks and drinks.  The punch was killer.

http://www.fleurantdesign.com/

Flower arrangements at Fleurant in Kennebunk.

We ended the evening with a stellar meal by the fireplace at the Kennebunkport Inn.

The Kennebunkport Inn.

The Kennebunkport Inn Christmas tree

For Friday, our big Prelude day, walking the decorated streets, lunch at David’s, art shows, stopping in shops and sampling open house goodies occupied us for most of the day.   Dannah’s of Kennebunkport, a favorite of ours, was decorated for Christmas with many trees, including one with shell ornaments, and one with tiny shoes.  http://www.dannahkennebunkport.com/

The entrance to Dannah’s of Kennebunkport, our favorite shop in town.

An ornament on the Christmas tree decorated with tiny shoes at Dannah’s.

Open house cookies.

Lunch at David’s.

It gets dark early, between 4 and 4:30, in Maine in December, so people began to gather for the tree lighting around that time.  The main square was blocked off from traffic as the crowd grew. 

People began to gather in the town center of Kennebunkport prior to the tree lighting.

With the square packed with people, the tree remained dark.  The local high school choir sang Christmas carols, and were quite good.  Finally the moment arrived and the tree was lighted.  It was decorated with buoys and lobsters and thousands of lights.  The “star” topping the tree was, of course, a lobster.

Kennebunkport’s main square at the tree lighting.

The 2013 Christmas Prelude Christmas Tree, yes that is a lobster at the top of the tree. No star as a tree topper here in Kennebunkport.

A closeup of the ornaments

A light mix of rain and snow began to fall and we headed to Cape Porpoise, a short distance away, to watch the lighting of the lobster trap Christmas Tree.  That was a first for me, a tree made up of lobster traps, but it is pretty cool.

Cape Porpoise lobster trap Christmas tree

We finally got real snow, and headed to dinner in Cape Porpoise.

Me in front of the lobster trap Christmas tree.

My morning beach walk in December was a whole lot different from a summer beach stroll, but just as beautiful.  We had snow that remained on the ground from Friday night’s snowfall, and it made for a brisk walk.

Beach snow at Old Orchard Beach, Maine.