Saturday, November 30

Blood Drive. The American Red Cross and the Harrison Lions Club will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the United Parish Congregational Church of Harrison and North Bridgton, 77 Main Street in Harrison. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter HarrisonME or call 1-800-redcross to make an appointment.

All about beautiful Geodes!  Deb Johnson from the Gem and Mineral Museum in Bethel will bring geodes and explain how they form and make geodes to take home at the Denmark Public Library from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Everyone welcome! The library is located at 121 E Main St., Denmark. Tel. 452-2200.

4 Square Play from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Bridgton Town Hall, North High Street.

Tree Lighting. The Sweden Historical Society (SHS) invites community members from the area to gather and celebrate the onset of winter together. Sweden’s annual Lighting of the Evergreen will take place on the village green starting at 5 p.m.  Following the tree lighting, renowned organist George Weiss will lead a carol sing at the Sweden Community Church, where refreshments will be served. SHS will have a holiday exhibit on display in its historic brick schoolhouse. 

Wreath Sale and Thrift Shoppe from 8:30 to 11 a.m., at the Second Congregational Church, UCC, 205 Main Street, Norway.

Holiday Lighting and carols on the Naples Causeway, featuring members of the Lake Region Schools Singers and Yuletide Instrumental Octet, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free hot chocolate and festive vibes provided by Naples Event Committee. Hot and specialty beverages, fire pits and snack station at Beacon Bar & Bistro

Sunday, December 1

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Service at 10 a.m., 42 Sweden Road, Bridgton. All are welcome.

Wednesday, December 4

Tree Lighting with Santa in Harrison at 5:30 p.m. with Santa arriving to light the tree at 6:30 p.m. at the Gazebo at Crystal Lake Park. 

Friday, December 6 and Sunday, December 8

Holiday Concert presented by the Lake Region Community Chorus at Lake Region High School in Naples (this is a new venue for the chorus); Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Friday, December 6

Coffee Café, at the Denmark Public Library from 9 to 11 a.m. Hot drinks, holiday treats and good conversation. The library is located at 121 E Main St., Denmark. Tel. 452-2200.

Community Choir of Oxford Hills is again hosting this year’s Christmas for Teens Benefit Show! The concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 at the door. Kids 13 and under are free.

Little White Church Community Holiday Concert will feature Puckerbrush, a Celtic contradance band, with John and Tammy Flanagan and Ellen Schwindt; Birds on a Wire, a Fryeburg band who specializes in Celtic music; and Dana Cunningham. There will also be music and narration from “The Snowman.” A concert, sing-a-long and refreshments to start your holiday season with much joy! The concert starts at 7 p.m. All are welcome. No reservation necessary. A donation at the door helps the Little White Church, located in Eaton, N.H., continue to be a happy meeting place for Eaton and surrounding communities.

Saturday, December 7

Santa Shuffle 5K Walk/Run to benefit NFI North. Early registration 9:15 a.m. at Bridge Crossing Academy, 7 Nulty Street, Bridgton. Children’s Fun Run 9:45 a.m. 5K Walk/Run 10:30 a.m.  Register by Thanksgiving for a free t-shirt. Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Bridgton/SantaShuffleMaine

Snowflake Sale at the First Congregational Church, South High Street, Bridgton. Children shop (in secret!) for the perfect gift for mom, dad, grandparents, and siblings. Children should bring their nickels, quarters, and dimes to purchase new or gently used gifts for the people they love. The Snowflake Shop is open by appointment. Please visit https://www.fccbridgton.org/upcoming-events/ to sign up! 

Cookie Swap and Wreath Fundraiser at 11 a.m. at Lake Region Recovery Center, 2 Elm Street, Bridgton. Life is better with a box of cookies! The Grinch will be making a special guest appearance.

Snowflake Fair. The Lovell United Church of Christ (1174 Main Street) will hold its Snowflake Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be balsam wreaths, berry bowls, Christmas loft, baked goods and gifts! Lunch will be available. The fair is 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. to 2 p.m. and organizers will put you on the list.

Denmark Christmas Fair will feature a Cookie Walk with a long table of different kinds of cookies – fill a bag! The fair is at the Denmark Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., sponsored by the Denmark Congregational Church Women’s Fellowship. Food, crafts and lunch will be available.

Festival of Lights, presented by Bridgton Rec. Parade theme is ‘Holiday Magic.’ Line-up at Stevens Brook Elementary bus loop at 4 p.m., float judging at 4:30, candlelight procession at 5 p.m., Festival of Lights parade leaves SBES at 5:05 p.m.

Festival of Lights Craft & Vendor Fair, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Stevens Brook Elementary School, Bridgton.

Saturday, December 7 & Sunday, December 8

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at the First Universalist Church of Norway on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, 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.

Sunday, December 8

Candlelight Concerts. Fryeburg Academy’s music program will present its annual Candlelight Concerts at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center on Bradley Street in Fryeburg. Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.

December 7-27

Winter Wonderland of Trees North Pole Walk, presented by the Bridgton Rec Department, at the Bridgton Town Ice Rink, North High Street behind the Town Hall, open daily, closes at 8 p.m. Music, hot chocolate, photo back-drops, lights, trees and decorations. This is a walk only. There is no ice in the rink. Donations accepted. Proceeds benefit scholarships for After-School Enrichment Programs.

Friday, December 13

Sacopee Valley Community Band’s Annual Holiday Concert will be held at 7 p.m. at The Arts Center at 8 Hancock in Hiram. The second annual holiday dinner! Some of Hiram’s best cooks will prepare a feast of turkey, pork loin, ham, creamy macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cooked fresh carrots, homemade gravy, broccoli salad, homemade cranberry sauce, fresh baked bread, apple crisp with ice cream. Drinks are coffee and lemonade. Cost: $15. The first seating will be at 4:45 p.m. with dinner beginning at 5 p.m., and the second at 5:45 p.m. with dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner tickets: first seating: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-dinner-first-seating-tickets-1091400711909?aff=oddtdtcreator; second seating: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-dinner-second-seating-tickets-1091432858059?aff=oddtdtcreator

Friday, December 13 & Saturday, December 14

Neil McGarry’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL — a one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at Saco River Theatre, 29 Salmon Falls Road, Bar Mills, Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $15 general admission at www.sacorivertheate.org.

Saturday, December 14

Cookie Walk at 9 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Bridgton.

Naples Library Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hands-on Workshop: Composting, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the UCC United Parish of Harrison and North Bridgton (77 Main Street, Harrison). Sponsored by Resilient Harrison Maine.

Naples Fire Department Santa Escort, 3 to 6 p.m. Find information about Santa’s Route at www.townofnaples.org/christmas

Children’s Christmas Party, 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Singer Center Grange Hall, Naples.

Tree Lighting with Santa, 6 p.m., Naples Village Green.

Field of Faith in Otisfield will hold its 2nd annual Living Christmas Nativity at Lodge Hill, 437 Bean Road in Otisfield at 5 p.m. The reenactment with all the characters will be performed out in the field and barn with live animals, music and local residents. There will be homemade chowder and baked goods following the event with a warming fire.  The event is free and put on by Spurs Corner Church along with local residents and area churches. 

Sunday, December 22

Pick-Up Christmas Pageant, at the First Congregational Church, South High Street, Bridgton. All children (and their grown-ups!) are warmly invited to join in First Church’s no-rehearsal Christmas Pageant. Come to the church between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. Sunday Service starts at 10 a.m. and the pageant is part of the service. Costumes in adult sizes too. All are welcome! 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Mondays-Fridays

AA Bridgton New Day Group, 12 to 1 p.m., Lake Region Recovery Center, 2 Elm Street, 803-8707, www.lrrcbridgton.org

Walking 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Bridgton Town Hall Gym.

Tuesdays-Wednesdays

Free Clothing. The Table continues to offer free clothing from 1 to 5 p.m. as well as the last Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is a variety of clothing available for both genders and many sizes. The Table is located at 160 Main Street in Norway (across the road from the hospital).

Mondays

Jumpin’ Janes Senior Fitness, 9 to 10 a.m., at Bridgton Town Hall, North High Street, no charge.

Stamping Up Class at the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine, Norway, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Space limited, masks required, materials provided. Sign up at info@crcofwm.org 

Chair Yoga (presented by Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine) at Bridgton Community Center with Susan Kane from 10 to 11 a.m. Open to public ($10), free to cancer patients and their caregivers. No registration required.

Jigsaw Puzzle Library, North Waterford Church (Route 35), the lending library is open every Monday from 1 to 3 p.m. All are welcome.

Tuesdays

Grief & Loss Group, open to all who are grieving any kind of loss, at First Church, South High Street, Bridgton, 4 p.m. Co-facilitated by Jill Allen, MS, Regional director for NFI North, and the Rev. Laura Carey, Interfaith Chaplain and Death Doula. Tel. 647-3936 or office@bridgtonucc.org. Group will meet Dec. 12, Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Open Pickleball Play from 9 a.m. to noon Sebago Rec. Adult players of all skill levels welcome. For more information, go to www.townofsebago.org/recreation

Harrison Food Bank, 12 to 6 p.m., located at the Harrison Food Bank, Ronald G. St. John Community Center located at 176 Waterford Road in Harrison. Telephone: 207-647-3384.

Bridgton Food Pantry, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., former Methodist Church building, Main Street.

Naples Food Pantry, 10 to 11:30 a.m., located at the Naples United Methodist Chuck; open to Naples residents, distribution is drive-thru.

Tai Chi Maine Set Practice at the Bridgton Town Hall (North High Street) at 10 a.m. For more information, go to the Tai Chi Maine website or e-mail Taichiinmaine@gmail.com. A new beginner instruction takes place at 9:30 a.m.

Jeannette’s Closet, 9 to 11 a.m., free clothing, First Congregational Church, South High Street, Bridgton.

Caregiver Support Group, 1 to 2:30 p.m., MWV Adult Day Center, 987 East Main Street, Center Conway, N.H. This support group offers education, support and coping skills for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or Related Disorders. Pre-arranged car is available for the family member while the caregiver attends the meeting. For more information, call 603-356-4980 or online at mwvadultdaycenter.org.

Wednesdays

Storytime at the Denmark Public Library at 9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Librarian Robin Gosbee at 452-2200.

Jumpin’ Janes Senior Fitness, 9 to 10 a.m., at Bridgton Town Hall, North High Street, no charge.

Morning Coffee, 9 to 11 a.m., American Legion Post 67, 25 Depot Street, Bridgton. Stop by and have a coffee on us, and see what has been happening with the American Legion. All are welcome!

Thrift Shop at the Lovell United Church of Christ (1174 Main Street), open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; $2 bag sale on the last Wednesday and Saturday of each month.

Family Caregiver Support Group, second Wednesday of each month, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Bridgton Community Center (15 Depot Street), confidentiality respected, sponsored by Southern Maine Agency on Aging; tel. 647-3116.

Sweden Food Pantry, open the first and third Wednesday of the month, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shoppers must wear a mask. For a To-Go box, call 647-5735 the Monday before pantry. The pantry is in the basement of the Sweden Community Church, 137 Bridgton Road, near Sweden’s Four Corners (intersection of Route 93 and Waterford Road).

Alateen Meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., PVHI Outreach/Legion Hall, 47 Bradley Street, Fryeburg. For more information, chris.whitaker@pvhi.org or call 207-332-7735.

Wednesdays and Saturdays

Thrift Shop, Lovell United Church of Christ, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesdays and Thursdays

Fryeburg Historical Society Osgood House Museum, located at 83 Portland Street in Fryeburg, is open for tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information e-mail the Historical Society at info@fryeburghistorical.org or visit the webpage at fryeburghistorical.org

Thursdays

Open Pickleball Play from 9 a.m. to noon Sebago Rec. Adult players of all skill levels welcome. For more information, go to www.townofsebago.org/recreation

Tai Chi Maine Set Practice at the Bridgton Town Hall on North High Street at 10 a.m.  A new beginner instruction takes place at 9:30 a.m. For more information, go to the Tai Chi Maine website or e-mail Taichiinmaine@gmail.com

NA (Narcotics Anonymous), 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in-person and Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83060135164 meeting number ID 830 6013 5164), Lake Region Recovery Center, 2 Elm Street, Bridgton tel. (207) 803-8714, www.lrrcbridgton.org

Women for Sobriety, 3 p.m., Lake Region Recovery Center, 2 Elm Street, Bridgton.

Free Narcan Training third Thursday of each month, 10 to 11 a.m. by Lake Region Recovery Center. Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/86337728738. Meeting ID: 86337728738 (You can use our computers to do this, or at home).

Trail Runs. Every Thursday, May to September, 5:30 p.m., Greater Lovell Land Trust, Lovell Rec, and Upper Saco Valley Land Trust will co-host Roots & Rocks Ramblers Fun Trail Runs. Check gllt.org to register for e-mail announcements of weekly locations.

Harrison Maine Climate Action Group meetings held the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7 p.m. This is a non-partisan group. Please e-mail Andrea at: harrisonmaineclimateaction@gmail.com for in-person address or a Zoom link.

Lovell Area Food Pantry, open the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lovell Lions Club, 2081 Main Street, (North) Lovell. E-mail: Lovellareafoodpantry@gmail.com or call (207) 542-7239.

Fridays

Jumpin’ Janes Senior Fitness, 9 to 10 a.m., at Bridgton Town Hall, North High Street, no charge.

Coffee Café at the Waterford Library, 10 a.m. to noon, a weekly gathering with your friends and neighbors.

Denmark Library Coffee Café every Friday, 9 to 11 a.m., Denmark Public Library 121 E. Main St, Denmark, (207) 452-2200.

Chair Yoga (presented by Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine) at Bridgton Community Center with Susan Kane from 9 to 10 a.m. Open to public ($10), free to cancer patients and their caregivers. No registration required.

Saturdays

Free Breakfast. The Table is excited for the return of in-person breakfasts with the option of pick-up to go meals at 9 a.m. at the Norway Grange on Whitman Street in Norway. The Table is always interested in other teams who would like to take a Saturday and serve breakfast. The in-person breakfast has been a great way to combat food insecurity as well as fulfilling a social need for many in the area.

Sebago Yoga classes on Saturday mornings at the Sebago Town Hall gym. Sign up at www.sebagoyoga.com.

Thrift Shop at the Lovell United Church of Christ (1174 Main Street), open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; $2 bag sale on the last Wednesday and Saturday of each month.

All About Books, third Saturdays at the Waterford Library at 11a.m. All About Books offers Maine authors a platform to talk about their writing process, evolving journey, and their books. Recent challenges have made these conversations especially poignant. Program to be held at the library. All welcome. Free. Zoom attendance available upon request.

Cornerstone Gospel Church men’s breakfast, the third Saturday of each month, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Tel. 693-6102 or e-mail pastorjimmarstaller@yahoo.com

Sundays

Church Service at the North Waterford Church will now be held in person, at 10 a.m. on Sundays. All are welcome!

Ping Pong at the Bridgton Town Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. All welcome. Equipment provided free! 4 tables! FMI 647-2847.

CLOSED FOR WINTER South Bridgton Congregational Church service at 6 p.m. The church is located at 16 Fosterville Road, Bridgton. All are welcome.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Sunday Service, 42 Sweden Road, Bridgton, 10 a.m. All are welcome!

Grief Support meeting, 11:30 a.m., through September. Be with others who understand. For more information, call (207) 310-0576.

Open Pickleball Play from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sebago Rec. Adult players of all skill levels welcome. For more information, go to www.townofsebago.org/recreation