Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than the town of Hanover in which a dazzling, family-oriented holiday night, coordinated by the Upper Valley Business Alliance and presented by the Hanover Improvement Society in concert with Hanover and Norwich businesses kicks off 'Celebrate the Seasons' on Friday, December 6th.

Throughout the month of December, free parking is available every weekend all day in Hanover.

Prior to the beginning of the festivities, start your holiday adventure with the Snowflake Scavenger Hunt between November 22 to December 6 at 7 p.m. Visit participating Hanover and Norwich businesses to find snowflakes and unscramble the secret message. Then enter your completed form into the collection boxes located at Hanover True Value Hardware or the Nugget Arcade building or online to win a giant stocking’s worth of prizes from local businesses valued at $500. Visit www.uppervalleybusinessalliance.com/hunt for rules, list of businesses and more information 

On December 6 from 3:30 to 5 p.m., children can have a meet and greet with Santa and let him know their holiday wishes at the Norwich Inn. Santa will be handing out candy canes.

At 3:30 sharp at The Nugget Theaters, there will be two free movies, “Frosty the Snowman” followed by “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. The Nugget will be accepting monetary donations or canned goods as a donation to benefit the Upper Valley Haven.

From 4 to 8 p.m., downtown Hanover comes alive to Celebrate the Season with family activities taking placing throughout downtown businesses with horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday crafts, complimentary tastings, and holiday shopping and discounts. Horse-drawn wagon rides are free with Bruce Streeter of NH Maple Experience. Sponsored by Dr. Sam's Eye Care and Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.

From 4 to 7 p.m., Designer Gold will be open with light snacks, sparkling water, wine, and beer sampling. There will be a $250 gift certificate drawing for the holiday season. Open entries will be held on Tuesday, November 26 and the winner will be drawn on December 17 @5:30 p.m.

At J.Crew, there will be crafts, cookies, hot chocolate, and a pajama party as well as a $100 gift card raffle. At J List, join folks for snacks, drinks, and fun. Ten percent off storewide all day, December 6&7. Enter for a $50 gift certificate, the winner to be drawn on December 7.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on December 6, at the Hanover League of N.H. Craftsmen Gallery and Craft Classes, children can make a holiday ornament in its mixed media and metal studios. The retail gallery and Craft Studios will offer gift certificates. There will be plenty of handmade ornaments for sale and attendants can enjoy hot chocolate and light treats.

Stop by the Top of the Hop from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. (before the FLIP Fabrique show) for winter fun with the Montshire Museum of Science. Use mirrors to make your own pocket snowflake and learn more about the properties of ice. The Top of the Hop Bar will be open to purchase drinks beginning at 6 p.m.

Refreshments and baked goods can be enjoyed at Left Bank Books and the Lemon Tree Gifts of Hanover. Lou's Restaurant & Bakery will be offering the chance to decorate gingerbread houses starting at 4 p.m. on December 6 until supplies run out.

There is always something happening on South Main Street during the festivities. Children and families can visit Santa and friends at Mascoma Savings Bank at 80 S. Main Street, for example, or roast marshmallows at Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza, decorate a gingerbread cookie at Lou’s Restaurant, or preserve family memories at a photo booth at Four Season’s Sotheby’s Real Estate on S. Main Street.

Main Street Kitchens will offer 15% off products on December 6&7. It will serve hot cider and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, sprinkles and whipped cream. The winner of guessing how many marshmallows will receive a $25 gift card.

The Ledyard National Bank turns into the world of Harry Potter from 5:30 to 8 pm on December 6. Participants can make their own Snitch ornament (walnut-sized gold-colored sphere with silver wings in Harry Potter) at Gringott’s Wizarding Bank (aka Ledyard Bank) and hear harmonious sounds of the season by the North Country Chordsmen and Revel North. Enjoy some classic Butterbeer, make a Hedwig ornament, and meet favorite characters for fun and pictures. To win a Harry Potter prize, follow the Ledyard Bank’s Facebook page to enter a photo contest after the event.

At Mascoma Savings Bank, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on December 6, Santa will be in his workshop with his friends. There will be mechanical animal rides for children who might enjoy frost cookies, finding the hidden elf on the shelf, hidden Grinch’s, and getting a holiday hair braid and temporary tattoo while waiting to see Santa.

Morano Gelato will offer .50 cents off any hot drinks; My Brigadeiro will be serving hot chocolate; Pompanoosuc Mills, a free box of Stokes Fire starters while supplies last in addition to cupcakes, cider, and seltzer. Salt Hill Pub in Hanover will serve virgin eggnog for children and spiked for adults for $3; Simon Pearce will donate 10% of all sales to the Upper Valley Haven and offer treats for visitors and Silo Distillery hosting cocktail samples. From 4:30-5:30 p.m., there will be music by Banish Misfortune Cello Ensemble at Six South Street where individuals can also enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, a raffle and Bistro discounts.

At The Skinny Pancake, from 6-7:30 p.m. there will be a musical performance by the Hartland Middle School Band. Attendants can make holiday ornaments and savor cookies and hot chocolate at Tanzi's Salon.  From 5-8 p.m. at the Top Choice Salon, there will be $15 haircuts in addition to complimentary hot chocolate, beer, and wine samples. There will also be kids face painting, ornament making and an offering of buy-one-get-one 50% off products. Von Bargen's Jewelry & Studio will have children’s ornament making and snacks.

The well-known Christmas Tree Lighting with the Christmas Revels North Chorus will take place from 5-5:30 on the Hanover Green on December 6.

Returning on December 7, attendants can meet Santa for breakfast at David's House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with carols sung by the Lebanon High School choir. From 9 a.m. to noon, the annual Hanover Garden Club holiday sale takes place at the RWB Community Center. Stop by Main Street Kitchens for cookies.

The Annual Hanover Garden Club Holiday Sale will be Saturday, December 7 from 9-noon at the RWB Community Center.  In addition to the Club’s famous tabletop Boxwood trees and decorations, jewelry and scarves, garden gloves and raffle, there will be quality crafts/art, attic treasures, Christmas crackers/poppers, holiday cookies and treats.   Also, enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee and treat with your neighbors at the Corner Café.   All the proceeds go toward planting summer gardens around the town of Hanover. More parking available this year! 

Finish off the day by trying a new dining destination at discounted prices. The Upper Valley Restaurant Week begins December 7 to 14.  Prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner all week at restaurants, the list of which can be found at www.uppervalleybusinessalliance.com/restaurantweek19.

Full schedules can be viewed at www.hanoverchamber.org/celebrate. Thanks to sponsors including the Hanover Improvement Society, Hanover True Value, Dr. Sam’s Eye Care, Four Season’s Sotheby’s International Realty, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, and Frank Webb Home.