Chamber Events
Photo courtesy of Penny Meservier
Chester Greenwood Day SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018
M
ark your calendar for Saturday December 1, 2018 as the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and residents celebrate the 42nd annual Chester Greenwood Day. The daylong celebration includes an hour long parade through Farmington’s downtown, gingerbread house contest, horse drawn carriage rides, craft fairs, historical open houses, a 5k run/walk, the Farmington Rotary’s Festival of Trees, and the annual Polar Dip at Clearwater Lake in Industry. The Taste of Farmington is an exciting addition to Chester Greenwood Day. Participants purchase a passport for an opportunity to taste samples ranging from miso soup to creme brulee. After a walk around town to visit their restaurants, tasters vote on their favorite.
urtesy Photo co
Landry of Scott
The first Saturday in December marks a day-long celebration of Chester Greenwood, a Farmington native who is best known for inventing earmuffs. Chester was fifteen years old when he designed his first pair of ear protectors out of wire, beaver fur, and cloth. At the age of nineteen, he acquired a U.S. patent and by the time he was 28, the Chester Greenwood and Company factory was producing and shipping his champion ear protectors worldwide. In its busiest year the company produced 400,000 pairs of earmuffs. As you stroll through the downtown area, you will see people of all ages having great fun while shopping, enjoying food from the wonderful eateries, or enjoying a scenic horse and buggy ride through the downtown area. You may even run into one of Chester’s family members, as many make the trip to Farmington each year to participate in the parade and visit with relatives who still live locally. The Farmington Rotary’s Festival of trees includes an all-day viewing of trees decorated by local business and organizations in a theme of their choosing. In the evening the trees are auctioned off at a gala event with trees going to the highest bidder. The trees are then delivered, decorations and tree stand included, to each recipients home.
Photo courte sy of Scott La ndry
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Chester Greenwood Day brings thousands of people to the area to watch and/or participate in all the events scheduled for the day. Don’t worry about the cold temperatures that can be had this time of year – pack your earmuffs and warm up at one of the many indoor activities planned. Contact the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce for more information on day-long activities or to register for the parade, Taste of Farmington, or the gingerbread house contest.
www.franklincountymaine.org
207.778.4215