By Stowell P. Watters
Staff Writer
    Since its inception 25 years ago, Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude celebration has done nothing but grow and expand with every passing year. What started as a tree lighting ceremony, a River Tree Center for the Arts concert, a chowder luncheon, candlelight caroling and Santa’s arrival by lobster boat has exploded into three tree-lighting ceremonies, a dozen Art and Craft Fairs and a dozen more venues serving food and festive drinks to revelers, according to the event’s Web site. Santa still comes trawling in, assisted by his elves.
    According to the Kennebunkport Town Historian, Thomas Bradbury, Prelude was brought about in the spring of 1982 by Henry Pasco. He and his sister Pricilla owned a gift shop in Dock Square and were growing tired of having to financially hibernate once summer ended.
    “They were extremely generous to the community, a fabulous pair of civic minded brother and sister. They grew more concerned about the welfare of the town and this motivated them to create the Prelude,” Bradbury said.
    The community responded in great numbers and support, with members of the business community immediately jumping on the bandwagon. At the same time similar communities on Nantucket, Mass. and Marblehead, Mass. were staging their own Christmas celebrations. Trying not to steal their thunder, the Pascos formed committees in Kennebunkport and decided to call the new celebration “Prelude,” as a prelude to the Christmas. The celebrations take place on the first and second weekends of December and annually draw a crowd of thousands to the coastal town.    
    “I love the lights, the way the town gets draped in decoration, the camaraderie of every volunteer who puts up lights and decorates and the way we all start really looking forward to the celebration, its really exciting,” Bradbury said. “Its like Norman Rockwell meets Kennebunkport.”
    The oldest ceremony in the Prelude will be taking place Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Cape Porpoise Square. The lighting of the Lobster Trap Tree, which is followed by caroling in the square and refreshments at the Cape Porpoise Fire Station, is sponsored by the Kennebunkport Business Association.
    Adjacent Atlantic Hall will be opening it’s doors on Dec. 1 for a day-long Christmas craft fair containing 20 tables worth of antiques, collectibles, art and loads of other crafts. Balinda Woodsum is overseer for the event and she said there will be chowder, hotdogs and refreshments for all fair-goers. President of Atlantic Hall, Donald Fiske, is happy to see the historically charged building put to good use.
    “Woodsum is going to put on one heck of a fair, in addition to crafts and art by three local artists they are also going to be offering real Maine lobstah rolls,” Fiske said.
    On the morning of Dec. 1 the Washington Hose Fire Company in Lower Village will be hosting a full breakfast of Maine blueberry pancakes. That breakfast will run from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.
    That night, the Merry Makers group will give a performance and celebration of the winter season in a song, dance, drama and verse presentaiton. Proceeds will benefit the Kennebunk’s fuel assistance program and the show will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, in Kennebunk.
    Federal Jacks, a Shipyard brewpub and restaurant, will be gearing up by making sure they have plenty of Prelude Ale, an English Ale first offered by Shipyard in 1992.
    “It is a warm beer, our winter beer, and this year we changed the art on the label. For the first time the label is a painting of Dock Square done by South Portland artist Paul Black,” said Alan Pugsley, master brewer and owner of Shipyard. “We love this time of season because it gives us a chance to offer this unique ale and participate in this amazing celebration.”
    Bradbury said the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust is waiting until Jan. 5 for their celebration which is officially “The 12th Night” party. Much like a traditional medieval 12th night celebration, Bradbury said they will crown three kings, serve food and refreshments and have a “merry time.”
    “It will be a light hearted look at the year past. King’s garments are optional,” Bradbury said. The event will start at 7 p.m.
    Santa will be cruising in on his lobster boat and docking at the Landing Restaurant in Kennebunkport at 2 p.m. on Dec. 2. He will then parade through Dock Square with a host of elves, for photographs and time with children.
    This, however, is only the beginning, as Prelude will continue the following weekend. There is just too much to list in one article, and in hopes of not treating one event with too much attention The Post would like you to visit www.christmasprelude.combefore making your holiday plans.