HOULTON, Maine — For 30 years, the streets of downtown Houlton have come alive and stayed that way into the wee hours of the evening as part of the annual Midnight Madness celebration.
Saturday will be a busy day in the Shiretown with a bundle of activities planned. Local merchants are busily preparing for the shopping event and are hoping for record sales. Each participating business is encouraged to decorate or dress up based on the theme of the event. Whichever business captures the theme best will win an award.
“We are celebrating our 30th anniversary of Midnight Madness,” said Jane Torres, executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. “There will be a bunch of neat food vendors coming, including Steve Pangburn with lobster rolls and Frank Hallett will have kettle corn. It’s really turning into a big street festival.”
The atmosphere of the evening is always one of homecoming, capturing the excitement of the Fourth of July holiday and reunions. Not limited to just downtown merchants, many stores will be open late, offering discounts and sales that increase in value as the night wears on.
This year, Midnight Madness falls directly in the middle of the annual Houlton Agricultural Fair running July 1-4, 2016. The event typically draws upwards of 6,000 people to Market Square during the course of the evening.
“We honestly believe there are those that want to go to the fair that don’t care for Midnight Madness and vice versa,” Torres said. “A lot of times, people go to the fair for a bit and then come downtown.”
At one time, Midnight Madness was held on the day prior to the Fair so as not to draw people away from the park. However, over time, storeowners downtown pushed for the event to take place on an evening followed by a day off so they would not have to stay open until midnight, only to re-open the next day for regular business.
Market Square in downtown Houlton is partially closed to vehicle traffic for the evening, allowing bargain hunters to roam freely through the streets. Because it falls on a Saturday this year, Midnight Madness festivities will actually begin as early as 8 a.m. with the Craft Fair in Monument Park. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Community Market takes place.
Tim “the Tuneman” Humphrey will be playing music in Market Square, and encouraging kids — and some willing adults — to limbo and hula hoop for prizes from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The LP Miracle Mile Road Race begins at 6 p.m., with the finish line near the intersection of Main and Court streets.
McGill’s Community Band will then perform at the Houlton Amphitheatre in Monument Park from 7-8 p.m. and after that Ted and the Boys will perform in Market Square until 10:30 p.m.
Fireworks will once again light up the sky over the Gateway Crossing bridge around 9:30 p.m.
Some of the vendors from the popular Community Market will remain in Market Square throughout the afternoon and evening, showcasing locally crafted goods.
For more information, call the chamber at 532-4216.
