KENNEBUNKPORT — The 30th annual Christmas Prelude brought holiday spirit, shoppers and a wide variety of hats to downtown Kennebunkport and Lower Village in Kennebunk this weekend.

The festival kicked off Thursday night and continued with events scheduled throughout the weekend. Activities are also planned for this coming weekend.

Downtown Kennebunkport and Lower Village were decorated for the holidays, including a tree in Kennebunkport outfitted in a seaside flare ”“ with large buoy and lobster ornaments. The weekend was packed with activities, including craft fairs, art shows, musical performances and book signings.

On Saturday, holiday shoppers flooded the sidewalks and packed shops of the combined downtown, where many stores advertised holiday sales and specials. Many retailers treated their shoppers to light refreshments. Kennebunkport Selectman Mat Lanigan, owner of the Emporium gift shop, chatted with customers and offered them slices of pizza.

Lanigan said the festival brought a lot of shoppers through the downtown, and everyone was happy and positive.

“Everyone’s in the Christmas spirit,” he said, summing up the mood of the day.

Lanigan said he saw more people than in past years at Friday night’s tree lighting ceremony. He said there were numerous activities scheduled, and many people are excited for the fireworks scheduled for Friday, Dec. 9.

Sisters Elaine Deshaies and Terry Cloutier, along with sister-in-law Roseanne Martin and friend Elaine Tito, strolled through the area with matching holiday hats decorated with a snowman during the hat parade. The hats, the ladies explained, were actually Christmas tree toppers.

“Every year, we come up with a different hat,” said Cloutier. She said they’ve been participating for at least six years, and people recognize them.

“We love it,” she said of the festival, noting the nice weather. “We’re having a great time.”

“It gets us in the Christmas spirit,” said Martin, adding that they can support local merchants.

The four ladies weren’t the only ones wearing hats. Many shoppers strolling the downtown were donning fancy headpieces. In the afternoon, some joined in the sixth annual Hat Parade and marched downtown, with onlookers lined up on sidewalks on both sides of the streets, cheering them on. Some marched in groups with holiday themes, while others displayed pride for their occupation, political party of favorite athletic team.

Those who missed the hats at the parade had the chance to make one at River Tree Arts Center in Lower Village from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Around 1:30 p.m., people were rifling through bins of sparkly and shiny decorations and strips of colorful fabric. More than 100 people stopped by to make a hat, said Artist Nantz Comyns, who was helping people assemble the head gear.

“I’m the hat lady,” she said.

She said within the first 15 minutes, there were two dozen people partaking in the craft, and staff at the center had to go downstairs and dig out fabric and other items to make sure there were enough supplies.

“It’s been an over-the-top success ”“ no pun intended,” she said.

River Tree Arts Center Program Director Juliette Coldreck said the center also had a holiday card-making workshop earlier that day. This was the first year the center had a hat-making workshop, and she said it was so successful it will likely going to be an annual tradition. Coldreck said this was the busiest Prelude she had seen.

For more information on upcoming Christmas Prelude events, go to www.christmasprelude.com.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.