With a distinctly nautical flavor, the Harbor Lights Festival is fun for the entire family and will help get everyone in the holiday spirit.

The Festival will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Festival highlights include Santa and Mrs. Claus and a whole cast of characters arriving in grand style ... by boat, of course! There will be horse drawn carriage rides, lap time with Santa, a tree lighting ceremony with caroling and a walk across the footbridge with the Three Wise Men. The evening concludes with the lighted boat parade, where local captains deck their hulls with twinkling lights for a festive spin around the harbor and compete for cash prizes for the most imaginative decorations.

New to the Festival this year is the “Light the Shore” contest, inviting everyone along the harbor shorefront to decorate their decks, docks and floats! A warm sight on a chilly December night!

A Parade Viewing Party will be held at the Tugboat Inn from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 each and include two drinks, light hors d’oeuvres and a warm spot to take in the Lighted Boat Parade. A wrap-up and awards party open to the public will be held at Mine Oyster from 6 to 9 p.m. This year, Mine Oyster will have a special designated area where captains and their crew can enjoy the festivities after the parade.

To reserve tickets for the Tugboat Inn Parade Viewing Party or for more information on the Festival, please call Kathrine Norcott at the Chamber, 633-2353.

2017 Harbor Lights Festival

Schedule of events

9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Craft Show at the Boothbay Harbor Fire Station

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Festival of Trees at the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor

10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Boothbay Region Historical Society Open House, Oak Street.

1 p.m.: Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by boat (Novelty) at the Boothbay Harbor Town Landing

1:30-3:30 p.m.: Visits and photos with Santa at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library

1:30-4 p.m.: Horse Drawn Wagon Rides. Rides begin at the Boothbay Harbor Opera House

2-3:30 p.m.: Story Time at Sherman’s Bookstore

3:30-3:45 p.m.: Y-Arts group performance at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library Lawn

4 p.m.: Caroling and Lighting of the Christmas Tree on the Boothbay Memorial Library Lawn

4-8 p.m.: Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

4:30 p.m.: Live Nativity at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church

4-6 p.m.: Parade Viewing Party at Tugboat Inn ($35/person light hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets)

5 p.m.: Lighted Boat Parade and Light the Shore in the inner harbor

6-9 p.m.: Wrap-up and Awards Party at Mine Oyster