SANFORD — It cost Stephanie Quartararo a mere $20 to make some childrens’ holidays a little more colorful.

That’s how much the Fabulous Formals employee spent on a trove of festive Christmas ornaments that were being given away for free Saturday at the formal wear outlet on Main Street in Sanford. This was Quartararo’s first year being a part of Sanford’s Holly Daze event, a collaboration by local businesses to provide fun and interactive holiday-themed activities to anyone out and about in the city’s downtown area.

Anyone who came by the shop got the chance to add a personal touch to their ornament. With a silver marker, those who dropped by the store ”“ mostly children, accompanied by their parents ”“ were given free reign to add their name, illustrations or any other markings to their ornament to give it that unique, personal touch.

Quartararo spent much of the morning preparing the ornaments, threading ribbons through a plastic loop at the top and branding them with the shop’s name.

Equipped with about 100 of the decorative balls, she expected the supply to be gone by the time Holly Daze was over.

“As soon as I get the basket full, it seems to empty right away,” said Quartararo. “We might actually give them all away.”

As a steady stream of children walked through Fabulous Formal’s doors, store employees were witness to some interesting creativity.

“I had a boy this morning do a whole Star Trek thing,” said Quartararo, “so that was interesting.”

Indeed, creativity was a common thread among the many events scheduled Saturday. Sponsored by the Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce, Sanford Downtown Legacy, the Parks and Recreation Department and Metrocast, Holly Daze featured a bevy of locales where participants saw fit to give creative freedom to anyone who happened to be feeling festive.

At Goodall Library, several crafts tables were set up with art supplies such as markers, crayons and paints. Children huddled over their Christmas creations, coloring gingerbread men and other items that seemed tailor-made for a spot on the tree.

Shirley Martineau and her son, Joshua, stumbled onto the crafts event almost by accident. Frequent visitors to the library, the pair had embarked on their regular library visit when they discovered the event.

“We usually come every Saturday morning,” said Shirley. “The kids like to play with the puzzles, and get library books for the week.”

Saturday, they added a little holiday fun to the routine.

Others had planned their crafts adventures in advance. Tange Nave thought it would be a good opportunity for her daughter, Carma Brooks, 5, to explore her artistic side.

“I heard they were having crafts down here, and my daughter just loves art,” said Nave.

“That’s why I do art!” exclaimed Brooks, adding a finishing touch to her gingerbread man.

Other events Saturday included cookie decorating at the Trafton Senior Center, face painting and karaoke at L.J.’s Pizzeria, ornament making at Get Fired Up, and pictures with Santa at Kennebunk Savings Bank.

At the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society, Christmas fun was given a bit of an old-fashioned touch. Volunteers helped to set up a variety of children’s games from the 1800s, including Tiddly Winks, and an old game called Traps, in which the goal is to shoot marbles down a ramp into one of several holes, each marked with a point value.

“This was a big hit with the children (back then),” said volunteer Carol Eddy.

Ring toss and pitching pennies were also featured. While traffic was slow, the museum did get the chance to welcome guests from an unexpected locale.

“We had a nice family who moved here from the Philippines,” said Eddy.

If Holly Daze was a success, the family’s first American Christmas will be one to remember.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319, or at jlagasse@journaltribune.com.