PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Hundreds lined the streets of Presque Isle for the 30th annual Holiday Light Parade on Saturday, enduring cold weather to continue a long-held city tradition.
Those from Presque Isle and beyond lined Main Street to get a glimpse of the bright and colorful floats, representing businesses, public services, churches and nonprofits from the Star City and surrounding communities.
Most who attended were covered head-to-toe in winter gear. Spectators wore scarves, hats and gloves as they took on 12-degree temperatures to celebrate the holiday season. One church group even passed around hot chocolate to offset the cold.
Others watched the parade from their heated cars parked along the parade route. Some even clustered at the inside windows of local businesses to get a glimpse.
Over 40 floats participated in the parade. Some notables included the Presque Isle Police Department, the Presque Isle Fire Department, Uber, Donate Life, Framework Church and financial planning company Thompson Hamel, who won the trophy for best float.
Though spectators young and old turned out, parade attendance was dominated by families, especially those bringing their young children.
It was the coldest holiday parade Presque Isle had seen in a few years. According to The Weather Company, last year’s parade was 26 degrees, while the 2017 parade was held with temperatures of about 28.
Parade co-chair Casey Bouchard, who organized the event with fellow co-chair Craig Anderson and the Centra Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, said she was thrilled with how the parade turned out. She especially appreciated the seriousness with which many participants crafted their floats.
“You could really tell that organizations and businesses put a lot of time, effort and energy into the floats this year,” Bouchard said.
Bouchard said the only potential negative regarding the parade was the “bitter cold” that marked the night. However, she does not think that the weather stifled turnout, and said it did not shorten the parade, which lasted for just under an hour.
She said she was glad to see people at the parade from across Presque Isle, as well as those she knew from nearby towns, including Fort Kent.
“It brings people from all over Aroostook County,” Bouchard said. “It means a lot to Presque Isle and surrounding communities.”
Various attendees said they had been coming to the parade for several years. Some said they had initially been brought there as young children by their parents, only to do the same with children of their own.
Sloan Dionne said she has been coming to the parade for nearly 20 years. She said it is an unmissable occasion that both she and her children can enjoy.
“We just always come out and watch it,” Dionne said. “It’s just what we do every holiday.”
Thompson Hamel CEO Brian Thompson, whose company won best float for their attraction based on the film “Frozen,” said he enjoyed enjoyed being able to represent his company to the city, as well as the ability for employees at the financial firm to bond outside of work.
Thompson said many of those playing characters on the float were employees or their family members.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better cast of characters,” he said.
Bouchard did not have exact attendance numbers, but estimated it was in the “hundreds, if not thousands.”
Presque Isle Police Chief Laurie Kelly said police did not respond to any incidents related to the parade.
