SKOWHEGAN — Downtown Skowhegan, a nationally-designated Main Street community, will continue a 21-year tradition this December with Holiday Stroll, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7.

The event kicks off with the Friday night parade and continues Saturday morning and afternoon with treats and activities throughout downtown.

“Downtown is all lit up, Santa is riding a fire truck – it’s one of the best moments of the year to be downtown,” said Matt DuBois, owner of The Bankery and Skowhegan Fleuriste, who will offer free hot cocoa during the event.

Expect old favorites like Breakfast with Santa, the talking Christmas tree, and wagon rides again this year, but there are a few new surprises like the Display Window Jazz Band on Water Street and hip hop dance classes at Hight Chevrolet.

This is the first Holiday Stroll for new owners of the Strand Cinema, Matt and Misty Dexter, who are helping to sponsor the event and who will show Saturday matinees of Arthur Christmas.

“We’re pleased to be doing our part to support this annual downtown tradition,” said Matt. “This is the kind of thing that attracted me to Skowhegan.”

Also new this year is the increased role of Main Street Skowhegan, the nonprofit organization responsible for organizing this event. To reduce the burden on taxpayers, Main Street offered to organize the parade largely with volunteer help.

“This is an important tradition in our community,” said Main Street Skowhegan Director Dugan Murphy, “so our volunteers decided to step up to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

For more information about Holiday Stroll, visit www.MainStreetSkowhegan.org or find the event on the Main Street Skowhegan Facebook page. Organizations interested in being in the parade should call 207-612-2571.