FARMINGTON — The earmuffs are coming out of storage as Farmington remembers the hometown inventor Saturday at the 39th annual Chester Greenwood Day.

In addition to the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s annual parade, Farmington Rotary Club’s Festival of Trees, and the annual Polar Bear Dip in Clearwater Lake, a Christmas tree lighting is planned on Front Street.

Franklin Savings Bank and Western Mountain Financial Services have set up a tree on their property at 198 Front St. for the 5 p.m. tree lighting. There will be Christmas carols and hot chocolate.

“Chester Greenwood Day is an important day for Farmington and we like to participate,” Anna Lyon, marketing director at Franklin Savings Bank,  said. “It is the town’s shining moment and a lot of people come to town.”

The parade theme is Favorite Character, said Penny Meservier, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. This can be any character, whether from a book, movie, TV or video game. 

The parade lines up at 10 a.m. at the Mallett School’s Quebec Street entrance, and begins at 11 a.m. on Middle Street. It continues down High Street, across South Street and up Main Street. At the end, a flag raising ceremony will be held at the courthouse.

The Rotary’s Festival of Trees has moved to the Greenwood Dining Room on Front Street from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., when the auction of trees begins.

The chamber’s 8th annual Gingerbread House Contest can be viewed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bangor Savings Bank. 

Tasting of entries in the Chili Challenge are offered to the public starting at noon at Enchanted Herbs and Botanicals on Main Street, Meservier said.

The Franklin County Animal Shelter will display cats and kittens at Bangor Savings Bank. For any feline adopted there, the bank will give the new owners a certificate for a $25 savings account at the bank, she said.

Children can meet Elsa, the princess from the Disney movie “Frozen,” and participate in a sand art activity at the bank, Meservier said.

The annual Polar Bear Dip takes place at 3 p.m.

The day begins with registration at 8 a.m. for a 5K walk/run. The race starts at 9 a.m. in the field adjacent to Prescott Field off Front Street. Proceeds from the race benefit Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness. For more information or to preregister, email maureenmccool1@gmail.com.

Free showings of the movie “Polar Express” will be at 12:30 and 2:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Narrow Gauge Cinemas.

The Farmington Historical Society will hold free open houses at the Titcomb House and the North Church. A $5 donation is requested at the Octagon House open house.

For more information, call the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce at 207-778-4215 or visit www.franklincountymaine.org

abryant@sunmediagroup.net