HOULTON, Maine — A cooler, rainy weekend did little to dampen the spirits of the Anah Shriners who gathered in Houlton for the 2022 Summer Ceremonial.
Hundreds of members of the Anah Shriners converged on Houlton for the three-day celebration, highlighted with a massive parade through downtown Houlton on Saturday afternoon.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend,” said Galen White, potentate for the Anah Shriners for 2022. “There was not one complaint from any of the Shriners. They loved the town of Houlton and the support they received.”
The June 16-18 event marked the first time in a decade that the Summer Ceremonial was held in the Houlton region and just the sixth time since 1967 that it convened in Aroostook County. The Summer Ceremonial is held annually in the hometown of the current potentate — the group’s leader.
It includes cribbage and golf tournaments as well as an induction ceremony for any new nobles or inductees into the Shrine organization and, of course, a parade. Anah Temple Shrine is based in Bangor and has members from Waterville to the Crown of Maine.
White said the Shriners loved Houlton’s downtown and visited many of the eateries over the course of the three-day event.
For Saturday’s parade, Main Street, Market Square and Military Street were lined with hundreds of spectators, much to the delight of the Shriners.
“The whole parade route was just fantastic,” White said. “The people came out to support the Shriners and it was amazing to see. It totally exceeded our expectations.”
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — Potentate Galen White of Houlton gives a thumbs up to the crowd as he rides in Saturday’s Summer Celebration parade through downtown Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — Superheroes like Superman and Deadpool were plentiful during Saturday’s Anah Shrine Summer Celebration parade in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — A member of the Anah Highlanders marching band plays the bass drum during Saturday’s parade. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — Tumble and Giggles made sure to keep parade watchers entertained during Saturday’s event through downtown Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — A member of the Anah Temple Oriental Band plays a tune during Saturday’s parade. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — Miniature vehicles of all shapes and sizes, including these lobster boats, made appearances in Saturday’s Summer Celebration parade for the Anah Shriners. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — An Anah clown gets ready to snap a photo of a photographer taking his picture during Saturday’s parade. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — Anah Shriner David Reardon drives the pace car for the Indy Race Cars during Saturday’s parade through Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — June 18, 2022 — The Academicans of the Anah Shriners were in attendance for Saturday’s parade. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
