It was cold, but not enough to drive off a merry crowd that lined the sidewalks of Elm and Main Street in downtown Camden Friday evening, Dec. 6, for the annual Christmas by the Sea Parade. A traditional holiday season kick-off, the parade is an eclectic and happy gathering of friends and neighbors with those in the parade and those watching from the sides of the street all vigorously waving and shouting greetings to each other.

Fire trucks sounded their sirens, ambulances did the "whoop-whoop", plow trucks and tractors rumbled by, and some floats came down the road accompanied by their own music, prompting spontaneous singing along the sidewalks. 

Camden was twinkling with holiday decorations, wreaths on lampposts glittering with lights, and storefronts regaled with greenery and bows and promises of presents under the Christmas tree.

Santa rode in the parade, as did the Grinch, but it was Santa who earned the heartiest of hellos. As soon as the last fire truck and float weaved up the hill toward the Camden Public Library the crowd followed them, footsteps crunching on the early snow, for the annual tree-lighting at Harbor Park. Saturday was busy in downtown Camden will sorts of Christmas by the Sea Weekend activities, and more are to spill over into Sunday.