PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Combining Christmas excitement with lights and a parade always means fun, and this year’s Holiday Light Parade was no exception as thousands turned out to watch Saturday’s event.
“It was a fabulous Light Parade,” Theresa Fowler, executive director of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday. “And the weather was absolutely perfect.”
There were about 100 floats participating, and thought it’s difficult to say how many crowded Main Street, Fowler guessed it was probably 4,000 or 5,000 altogether.
“I think it’s probably one of the largest crowds we’ve ever had,” she said. “And we had at least as many participants as we’ve ever had before, and from farther away than normal.”
Huber Engineered Woods, LLC of Easton received the judges’ nod for overall parade winner. Other awards went to: Best faith-based entry, Freedom Church of Presque Isle; best nonprofit, University of Maine at Presque Isle; best business, Mike Cowett’s Auto Inc., also of Presque Isle; and general winner, the Fort Fairfield boys’ soccer team.
New to the parade this year was a different traffic arrangement. On Main Street from State Street up to Academy Street, barricades were placed and there was no parking allowed during the day or throughout the parade. Fowler said the plan was well received.
“That section of downtown was packed with people — easily a thousand,” she noted. “It was really pleasant to be in that block. Children were building snowmen with snow along the sidewalk, merchants were serving hot drinks — we couldn’t ask for a better night.”
