By Suzanne Hodgson
Staff Writer

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport are decking the halls in preparation for their upcoming holiday celebrations.
Kennebunk kicks off its 26th annual Christmas in Kennebunk this weekend, while Kennebunkport will hold its 27th annual Prelude celebration Dec. 4 to Dec. 13.
Kennebunk starts the holiday season around 4:30 p.m. Sunday with caroling through town to Rotary Park. Throughout the town, corporate sponsors, local stores and restaurants will donate cookies, popcorn, cider and eggnog.
Santa arrives about 5:15 p.m. by horse and buggy at Rotary Park, where he will lead the crowd in the countdown to the tree-lighting ceremony. Kennebunk High School Choir will fill the gazebo with music.
 “The reason the tree lightening is so successful is the generosity of the Kennebunk community,” said Linda Johnson, an organizer for the event.
Many Kennebunk businesses donate time and equipment to help with the ceremony. Kennebunk Public Works hangs a large wreath in the center of town and Kennebunk Light and Power puts lights on all trees around the town.
Kennebunkport’s Prelude holiday activities have been rated as the second-best Christmas event in the country by HGTV, according to Prelude chairman Sheila Matthews-Bull.
“It’s sort of a feather in our cap,” said Matthews-Bull.
Prelude will kick off in Kennebunkport on Friday, Dec. 4, with trolley rides from the Seashore Trolley Museum, downtown shopping, and the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
The tree-lighting ceremony will take place in Dock Square. The Kennebunk High School Chamber Choir will carol through the streets before Santa arrives on a lobster boat, escorted by two “lobster elves.” They’ll travel from there to Dock Square by horse and buggy.
Performers from Biddeford’s The Academy of Developing Artists of Maine will dress up as “Grinch” characters and sing songs from the movie after the tree lighting.
Other first-time events include a barber shop quartet, tuba quartet and a classical music group sponsored by the conservation trust on Friday, Dec. 11.
The Kennebunk Business Association, which sponsors the event, funds Prelude through its annual dues and donations from local businesses. Matthews-Bull has been coordinating the event for four years and has watched it grow over the years.
“Each year it’s a little bit easier, but a little bit more complicated,” said Matthews-Bull.
Planning for Prelude begins in January when Matthews-Bull says the Prelude committee goes over everything that worked well and those events that did not work so well and adds new musical groups and events.
According to Matthews-Bull, much of what the association brings in to Prelude is free or at a discounted rate because many musicians and suppliers know the community event is for a non-profit group.
Besides the tree lightening, another favorite event is the hat parade, which takes place at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5. Organizers noticed that many of the visitors coming to Prelude were wearing hats, so four years ago Prelude began a parade for creative cranial coverings.
One of Matthews-Bull”s favorite hats was from a group dressed as Santa and his reindeer. The reindeer were wearing hates with antlers and reindeer noses, held together by ribbon-constructed reigns.
The business association began Prelude in 1982 after members decided to give back to the community for supporting the businesses over the years, and has been held every year since.
Hundreds of volunteers begin the Monday before Thanksgiving decorating the towns’ telephone poles, businesses and bridges with ribbons, greenery and wreaths.
Kennebunkport businesses will have extended hours during Prelude. To find a complete list of all events being offered, visit www.christmasprelude.com.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.