For full listings of what’s going on all week in the Old Port, be sure to visit our Events page.
Friday, December 4: The December edition of First Friday is always one of our favorites since it provides the perfect opportunity to stock up on gifts and stocking stuffers for your friends and family from some of our amazing local artists and artisans. This year’s edition is being billed as First Friday for Families & Flocks, Holiday Edition. In addition to the normal First Friday activities (you can check out the full schedule here), there will also be free horse-drawn wagon rides in the Old Port, and the lighting of the Copper Beech tree at the Portland Museum of Art. Various locations throughout Portland, free, but you will want to buy some art during your walk!
Speaking of buying art, Friday and Saturday MECA will be holding their Annual Holiday Sale, which is free to attend and produced by the Artists at Work team to benefit MECA’s education, outreach, and student programs. MECA students, alumni, faculty and staff will all be on hand selling unique, handmade arts, crafts and gifts for the holiday season. Friday, 5-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 522 Congress Street.
Saturday, December 5: It’s time for the 8th annual Portland, ME Santacon. Put on your most festive Christmas attire and join your fellow Santas, Mrs. Clauses, Buddy the Elfs, Christmas Trees and more at a bar crawl for a good cause. Santacon begins at Pat’s Pizza in the Old Port at 4 p.m. From there the Santas will be visiting other Portland bars (many of which will offer drink specials for Santas), while also collecting cash or check donations for Family Crisis Services, Cumberland Country’s domestic violence resource center and emergency shelter. Last year more than 400 Santas raised over $900 and they are hoping to top $1000 this year. Follow Santacon on Facebook or Twitter and watch for the hashtag #santaconPWM to keep track of where the Santas will be heading next. Starting at 4 p.m. at Pat’s Pizza, 30 Market Street. Pay as you go.
If you are a fan of sour beers, you will want to plan on hitting Fore Play for the Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru Release Party. A one-of-a-kind barrel-aged sour beer from Sam Adams, Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru is being released to just the top 20 craft beer cities in the country in very limited quantities, so it’s kind of a big deal. There will be samples and giveaways, so be sure to get on down and get your sour on. 10 p.m. to midnight, Fore Play, 436 Fore Street.
Sunday, December 6: Prohibition officially ended in America on December 5, 1933, for which we at PortlandOldPort.com are forever grateful. Maine’s chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) is celebrating by throwing a Repeal Day Ball with cocktails, live music and more. Celebrate by dressing up in your best 1930s-era outfit and dancing and drinking the night away. Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 to USBG members. All drinks cost just two bucks and will benefit the Maine USBG Chapter. Special cocktails will be provided by: Patrick McDonald of Central Provisions, Christina Klein of Sonny’s and Andrew Volk of The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club. 7-10 p.m., Mechanics Hall, 519 Congress Street.
