SKOWHEGAN — With the annual Holiday Stroll approaching, the town is looking for people, businesses and organizations to sign up their floats for the lighted parade.

The 19th annual Holiday Stroll is set for next weekend, Dec. 2-4., and the parade will start at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.

There are about 30 different festivities planned for the weekend, including a breakfast with Santa, library Christmas bazaar, late night shopping, karaoke for children, a downtown art walk and a choir concert.

“Thinking local. That’s what we’re really trying to promote with this event,” said Jennifer Olsen, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan, which is helping to organize the activities.

If people have to shop for the holidays, they might as well support local enterprises, she said. Fourteen new businesses have joined the downtown this year, including Country Crow Primitives, The Children’s Cottage, Crafty Creations and Happy Knits.

After the display of trees from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1, at Redington Memorial Home, the events will start Friday. The library Christmas bazaar will run from 10-2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Hospice Lights to Remember procession from Main Street will start at 6 p.m., Friday.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, Breakfast with Santa will run from 8-10 a.m. at Tewksbury Hall, located behind the Federated Church on Island Avenue.

Hight Chevrolet Buick GMC will hold a free Santa’s village in the showroom from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be wagon rides, a petting zoo, farmers’ market and Christmas tree sale outside.

Live music by Jeff Quinn and a cookie sale, will happen at the Skowhegan Free Public Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids’ Karaoke at the Old Mill Pub will run from noon to 4. The Old Liberty String Band will perform at the pub from 6-9 p.m. Country Crow Primitives will provide free baked goods.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, there will be a Happy Knits “Commuknity” Benefit from 10 a.m. to noon. The Federated Church will hold a chorus concert at 3 p.m.

The Skowhegan Parks & Recreation Department Parade is accepting parade entries until Thursday. The department recommends that floats be decorated in holiday style, with lights, signs and banners. Lineup is at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, at the Skowhegan Savings Bank parking lot on Elm Street.

The parade will turn down Madison Avenue and then left onto Water Street, ending at the municipal building.

The Holiday Stroll kicks off late night shopping for the month of December. Downtown businesses will stay open until 7 or 8 p.m. on each Thursday after the stroll.

The stroll also kicks off a gift wrapping station, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays throughout December at the Renaissance Center on Water Street.

About a dozen artists who show their work at the Central Maine Artists Gallery are also being featured at the Renaissance Center.

Olsen said the stroll will showcase many works of art this year. The Wesserunsett Arts Council is organizing an art walk from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, where more than 60 different works will be featured inside various downtown businesses.

For a complete Holiday Stroll schedule, visit http://bit.ly/vO3C4C. To download a parade entry form, visit http://bit.ly/uhjspt.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com