CAMDEN — The annual Christmas by the Sea weekend gets underway late Friday afternoon, Dec. 1, when Camden Hills Regional High School vocal groups and instrumental ensembles perform holiday selections at the Camden Public Library, 4:30-6 p.m. During the concert, floats and decorated vehicles will be lining up on Colcord Avenue, in preparation for the start of the parade through downtown Camden at 6 p.m.

During the parade, Camden police will hold Route 1 traffic for approximately 25 minutes, beginning at 6 p.m.

Camden police will also close Union Street to traffic beginning at 5:50 p.m., until the parade has made it onto Elm Street going north.

Drivers are advised to expect delays, or to make other arrangements.

The parade ends when Santa Claus has arrived at Atlantic Avenue and has made his way off the Cub Scout float to Harbor Park to help light the Community Tree.
Atlantic Avenue will be closed from 5 to 8 p.m., and teens will be promoting their bake sales, raffles and other holiday goodies throughout the downtown. Proceeds support local student organizations and activities.

Valued sponsors of this year's Christmas by the Sea include LCI, Camden National Bank, Key Bank, Bangor Savings Bank, Journey's End Marina, Camden Coast Real Estate, First National Bank, Lord Camden Inn, Waterfront Restaurant, Whale's Tooth Pub & Restaurant, The Red Barn Baking Company, Uncle Willy's Candy Shoppe, French & Brawn Marketplace, Hannaford Supermarket and Camden Area Business Group. The Town of Camden's event partner is Camden Public Library. This year's tree for Harbor Park has been donated by the John Evrard

family and decorated by Farley & Son, with assistance from Shane Hendrick of Treeworks.

FMI and a full schedule of events can be found online on the Events tab at camdenmaineexperience.com and on Facebook-Christmas by the Sea.