Yesterday was our home town of Bridgton, Maine's festival of lights.  This is a local kick off tot the holiday season, and it was beautiful.  Although events were happening all day, I didn't arrive until sunset, which is around 4 PM these days.  I would be juggling at the Christmas tree lighting in front of the community center, then going to the elementary school to be in the parade.  

The bridgton Community Center is across the street from several restaurants and shops, and they were all decorated up for Christmas.  One shop had a campfire in a firepit.  Families and couples were milling around as the Community Center parking lot doubled as a craft sale.  Rudolph and Frosty and the lttle drummer boy were blaring through the streets.

I was introduced as part of the tree lighting ceremony, and I did two routines: cigar boxes to "O Come All Ye Faithful" and diabolo and fire devil sticks to "the Marvelous Toy".  Both of these songs are from Melanie's "Antlers" Christmas album (By far the best Christmas album ever).  It wasn't exactly open air evangelism, but through the music and the symbolism of the first routine, I hope I was salt to my community.

A quick drive to the parade light up followed my routines.  There I met up with six of my students who came to juggle in the parade with me.  The nervous energy was practically tangible. We met a Santa who could also juggle (a little) as well as some old friends.  Izzy, Dillon and Caleb all came dressed as clowns. When the parade started,  Izzy, Caleb and I did diabolos in the parade while Dillon, Elana, Gracey and Ezra juggled three balls.  The crowds of revelers were delighted.

After the parade ended, I hung out with the kids while we waited for their parents to meet back up with us, then I drove across my little town to go home, pleased to have been part of our town's holiday kick off.