“The Gawler Sisters,” Phippsburg Congregational Church, Phippsburg

Dec. 6, Thursday, 7:30pm, “Hark! How the Bells! Christmas Music from Ukraine & Russia,” Down East Singers combines with St. Petersburg (Russia) Men’s Ensemble to present choral music by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Chesnokov, Bortniansky, Shebalin and Golovanov plus holiday folk songs, $20, free/18 and younger, St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, 32 Emery Lane, Boothbay Harbor. FMI: 207-619-0143, stcolumbasmaine.org.
Dec. 7-9, Friday-Sunday, all day events, “Freeport’s Sparkle Celebration,” Visitors seeking a town-wide holiday celebration in a Maine seaside village will find it at Freeport’s Sparkle Celebration. Each year, Visit Freeport presents one of Maine’s most popular holiday celebrations, Sparkle Celebration. The event kicks off in Freeport with a Parade of Lights down Main Street to wake up the famous Talking Christmas Tree. The fun continues all weekend with loads of free events and activities including visits with Santa, horse drawn carriage rides, holiday movies, a Tuba Christmas Concert and more! Best of all – it’s all free! Visitors will enjoy great events, activities, and shopping throughout the weekend. Coinciding with Sparkle Weekend is L.L.Bean’s Northern Lights Celebration, bigger and better than ever. Once the Talking Tree on Main Street is brought to life, children delight in asking the Tree questions and hearing the unique responses. Jump on to a horse drawn carriage for a tour of the village starting in front of the L.L.Bean Flagship Store on Main Street. The whole family will enjoy taking photos in front of whimsical backdrops at L.L.Bean. In addition to ongoing events, the weekend is studded with highlights. Visit sparklecelebration.com for an updated schedule of events. Bring your list and find something for everyone – all while strolling through our charming Maine village, and tucking in to playfully decorated shops teeming with great deals, free, Downtown, Freeport. FMI: 207-865-1212, www.sparklecelebration.com.
Dec. 7-9, Friday-Sunday, 7:30pm/Fri. and Sat, 2pm/Sun, “Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” laughs abound in this bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. Directed by Karin Baard, $10-$25, The Theater Project, 14 School Street, Brunswick. FMI: 207-729-8584, www.theaterproject.com.
Dec. 7-8, Friday-Saturday, 7:30pm/Fri, 3pm/Sat, “St. Cecilia Chamber Choir/Lessons and Carols Christmas Concerts,” Linda Blanchard is St. Cecilia’s artistic director and conductor, assisted by organist and pianist Sean Fleming. Advance tickets or reservations are strongly encouraged for this popular event, $20, free/students, Second Congregational Church, 51 Main Street, Newcastle. FMI: 207-380-2768, ceciliachoir.org.
Dec. 8-9, Saturday-Sunday, 7pm/Sat, 2:30pm/Sun, “Greater Freeport Community Chorus ‘The Rose I Have in Mind’,” a concert of traditional and seasonal music, the group is directed by Virgil Bozeman IV and accompanied by pianist Kellie Moody. The concert will include a performance of the traditional German Advent carol “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” whose lyrics refer to Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of Jesus. The arrangement, with music by Michael Praetorius and Jan Sandstrom, is for a double chorus, with a select group from the GFCC performing as the smaller choir. While “Lo, How a Rose” is centuries old, the singers will also perform a piece called “The Rose” that was first recorded in 2017. It is a setting of a poem written by Christina Rossetti in the 19th century, with music by Ola Gjeilo.The chorus will sing several carols by English composer and conductor John Rutter, including “Shepherd’s Pipe Carol” and “Angels’ Carol.” Also among the dozen offerings are “Ain’t That-a Rockin’,” an arrangement by Stacy V. Gibbs of a traditional spiritual also called “Mary Had a Baby,” plus “The Last Words of David,” composed of text n, and Felix Mendelssohn’s “How Lovely Are the Messengers,” $10, free/under 18, Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Middle Street, Brunswick. FMI: 27-666-8817, gfccsings.org.
Dec. 8, Saturday, 7:30pm, “The Gawler Sisters,” featuring songs celebrating the season, the program will also include old and new tunes from many folk traditions, and offer interweaving harmonies backed by fiddle, banjo, cello and ukulele. Raised in the rich folk tradition of their acclaimed Maine-based musical family, Molly, Edith and Elsie Gawler have carried on the musical legacy. Although the Gawlers may be best known for their extensive collection of tunes in the Scots-Irish and French Canadian traditions, their extensive travels have added to the depth and wideness of their repertoire. Most recently, the sisters toured the Pacific Northwest with the Boston-based fiddle orchestra Childsplay, $8-$15, Phippsburg Congregational Church, 10 Church Lane, Phippsburg. FMI: 207-389-1770, www.phippsburgucc.org.
Dec. 11, Tuesday, 7pm, “Christmas Celebration and Carol Sing,” the West Bath Historical Society hosts its annual Christmas Celebration and Carol Sing at the Old West Bath Meeting House. Free and open to all. Refreshments served, free, Old West Bath Meeting House, 680 Berry’s Mill Road, Bath. FMI: 207-443-4449, www.mainetoday.com.