SACO — With a public address system sending old-time Christmas music through the air, streetside attractions and a host of holiday events, the Saco Spirit Holiday Festival aimed to give families something to be jolly about, heading into the final weeks before Christmas.
Activities ranged from the spiritual to the secular. Main Street businesses Buck Nuts and Sam’s Place provided venues for gingerbread-making and crafts, a church group offered re-enactments of the famous Christian manger scene, and a Toys For Tots Drive resulted in a festively decorated streetcar replete with donated gifts.
Humans weren’t the only ones who got to have a little fun. A few doors down from the Sooper Dogs pet supply store, a makeshift photo studio was established, in which local photographer Joe McKenney took photos of peoples’ pets posing with Santa Claus.
The proceeds from the photos went to benefit the newly-opened dog park in Biddeford’s Rotary Park, a pet project of McKenney’s that provides owners with a chance to let their canines romp through the open air in a safe, fenced-in environment.
As wave upon wave of four-legged creatures walked into the studio, McKenney mused on some of the challenges of taking a holiday pet portrait.
“Some of the dogs are more scared of Santa than the kids,” said McKenney. “Some are a little more forceful about not going up there.”
One such dog was Ruby, a diminutive lemon beagle who was jittery around the accommodating Mr. Claus, despite the treats offered in his outstretched gloves. Ruby’s owner, who declined to be identified by name, said that the portrait was intended as a humorous holiday gift for her mother.
“She’s probably going to laugh,” said Ruby’s owner. “She’s probably going to ask where the antlers are.”
Others brought in pets of a slightly more exotic variety. Pet owner Jamie Gallagher arrived with her dog, Rooney, a mini-schnauzer mix, and one of her four ferrets, Renaldo.
“I just like to be involved with my animals,” said Gallagher, adding that she’s happy to make a contribution to the Biddeford Dog Park, to which she is a frequent visitor.
“Rooney loves the dog park,” she said.
Elsewhere in Saco, groups paid homage to the Christmas holiday’s religious traditions. A group from Saco Bible Baptist Church staged three 20-minute long nativity performances, featuring a cluster of children dressed as wise men and other iconic personalities from the tale of the birth of Jesus.
“We did it at our church last year,” said Jamie St. Ours, who helped to organize the performances. “The town saw it and wanted us to perform here,” in a lot adjacent to the Post Office.
“There’s a good number of kids and adults (in the show),” he said. “We try to mix it up.”
Nearby, a petting zoo was established, drawing children to a pen of goats who stuck their heads out of mesh fences to munch on feed that was spread around the perimeter. In a pen adjacent to the goats, an iconic image of the holiday season rested comfortably: A reindeer, perhaps storing his energy for the busy holiday ahead.
Onlooker Aaron Crowe, attending the festival with his son, Joshua, found the scene charming.
“This is great,” he said. “It’s very Christmas-y.”
— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319, or at jlagasse@journaltribune.com.
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