Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
LATE NIGHT SNACK — Chris Anderson, right, makes crepes along with his wife Elizabeth, middle, and Susan Bushey outside of the Courtyard Café Friday evening as part of Midnight Madness.
By Jane Torres
Houlton Chamber of Commerce executive director
As you all have probably heard by now, Midnight Madness was an overwhelming success with all stores and vendors reporting great sales. There was so much going on in town on July 3 that the crowd was estimated at 8,000, which was up from last year’s estimate of 6,000. The weather was perfect and it was obvious that people wanted to visit with friends and family and there isn’t a better place to see everyone than Market Square on Midnight Madness evening.
The fireworks leading up to the Houlton Fair’s huge display on the Fourth were wonderful thanks to Central Maine Pyrotechnics’ crew. They just seem to get better every year.
Pioneer photo/Gloria Austin
HAVING A BLAST — Youth of all ages were having a blast dancing to Tim “the Tuneman” Humphrey’s music blaring from his volkswagon van. Humphrey had the children dancing and playing games, while Midnight Madness was kicking off in Houlton.
The parade was a true crowd pleaser and drew thousands from Houlton and surrounding towns. We had more parade participants this year than last and I would like to thank the Anah Indy’s for adding excitement to the parade route. What did the kids like best besides the little cars? Trucks! They love the trucks and the bigger they are the more fascinated the kids are.
After the parade the crowd flocked to the Craft Fair and Community Market in Monument Park where sales were brisk. The vendors are even thinking they might like to make the Fourth their permanent date for the craft fair.
Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
SINGING IN THE STREET — Members of the Gunther Brown Band of Portland perform on top of a flat bed trailer Friday evening during Midnight Madness. The band’s drummer, Derek Mills, is a native of Houlton.
Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
HISTORY — Three individuals check out a storefront window showing old photographs from The Houlton Pioneer Times during Friday’s Midnight Madness event in downtown Houlton.
Contributed photo
STYLING — Kaylana Mai Jones-Murchie and her grandmother, Shelley Murchie, were dressed up in 1980 fashion for Midnight Madness.
