Forget the malls; forget the big box stores. Instead, shop for all your holiday gifts at the sumptuously beautiful stores and galleries in Wiscasset Village on Route 1, just before the Donald E. Davies Bridge. The four-day Wiscasset Holiday Marketplace, from Wednesday, Dec. 7 through Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some stores open later, will feature festive holiday events, music, munchies and free gift wrapping.

Children are a big part of the Christmas season and there are plenty of kid-friendly activities to attend. At The Old Salt Coastal Gifts, 49 Water Street, each child who enters the shop receives a free gift. The Wiscasset Community Center (242 Gardiner Road) is hosting a Teddy Bear Sleepover for children in grades K - 6 on Friday, Dec. 9.  Sarah’s Café (45 Water Street) is serving a family-friendly breakfast buffet on Saturday, Dec. 10, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. with Santa’s elves doing the serving.

Also on Saturday, a Santa’s Workshop at the Wiscasset Public Library (21 High Street) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a shopping opportunity just for kids. Friends of the Library will be on site to help children purchase affordable gifts for their loved ones. Fritz the reindeer-dog will also be there, in seasonal regalia, for souvenir snapshots for kids to take home. On Saturday afternoon, Woodfield Farm’s wagon, pulled by big, beautiful Belgian draft horses, welcomes kids and their adults to sit a bit and watch the Village go by.

On hand for adults are the many lovely owner-managed shops and galleries in Wiscasset Village. Most will be offering special discounts during the Marketplace, and some will be serving warm cider and nibbles. Treats (80 Main Street) is hosting a holiday wine-tasting on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 4-6:30 p.m., and Le Garage (15 Water Street) is discounting a special lunch and its popular Birdsnest meringue dessert. The very new Perch Pilates Studio (102 Main Street) will be presenting demonstrations throughout the four-day event and offering discounts on gift certificates.

For hand-made gift aficionados, Midcoast Conservancy (36 Water Street) is hosting a two-day pop-up shop full of gorgeous one-of-a-kind creations on Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10,  10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shop for hand-made aprons, splint baskets, locally sourced teas, honey and candles; one-of-a-kind necklaces, fiber adornments and rugs, fleece favorites and kimono-styled jackets of eye-popping fabrics. 

What’s a Holiday Marketplace without seasonal music!? The Downeast Brass performs traditional favorites and a few surprises on Saturday, Dec. 10, from noon to 3 p.m., throughout the Village. They will be hard to miss in their Santa bonnets and carrying very large instruments.

Wiscasset Holiday Marketplace 2016 is a Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce event designed to welcome shoppers with a huge variety of gift options and lots of holiday cheer. 

For more information, visit www.wiscassetholidaymarketplace.com, call the Chamber at 882-9600, or email Lucia Droby at ludroby@verizon.net.