HOULTON, Maine — The holiday season is fast approaching and will once again officially be kicked off with a large light parade though Houlton Saturday.
New to the event this year will be the addition of afternoon activities in Market Square. According to Jane Torres, executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, a “Small Town Saturday” shopping event will take place starting at noon.
“We thought we would try to make it a whole day, and hopefully keep people downtown until the light parade,” Torres said.
A section of Market Square will be closed in the morning and a bonfire will be set up to warm shoppers in the afternoon. Holiday music will also be playing throughout the downtown to keep shoppers in the spirit. Saturday also marks the beginning of the free matinee series at the Temple Theatre, which is another popular draw for families.
Torres said she hopes to reserve some space inside the County Co-Op for children to make decorations and also is trying to get the empty storefronts to display items in the windows. Free hot cocoa and cider is also going to be passed out at several area downtown businesses.
“We were really trying to get the old Dunn Furniture decorations, but apparently everything that was in the warehouse on Weeks Street was ruined,” Torres said. “We’re also hoping to have a hayride through town.”
The Christmas parade is a tradition that has gone on for longer than most can remember, but has evolved over time. What was once a mid-afternoon parade has changed to a nighttime holiday light parade, in which entrants are encouraged to come up with interesting, eye-catching floats using generators to power the thousands of lights adorning their entry.
The popular yuletide event typically draws a large crowd to Houlton’s downtown business district. Each year, an estimated 3,000 individuals line the streets to watch the parade.
Santa Claus will once again be making his way to Houlton to ride in the Holiday Light Parade and to help illuminate the town tree in downtown Houlton. Again this year, Santa’s elves will be busy transforming the downtown area into a special visiting place for Santa to greet the children. Local merchants will also be open for shopping, and have traditionally reported an increase in business during the light parade.
This year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays,” with entries encouraged to showcase what it means to be at home during the season of giving.
Starting at 6 p.m., the parade begins in the Houlton Shopping Plaza on the North Road and continues down North Street to Market Square. A tree-lighting ceremony will take place at the town Christmas tree in Market Square. After the tree is lit, the parade will continue to the Chamber of Commerce, where an area will be set up for local children to sit on Santa’s lap and have a photo taken. The remaining floats will continue to the Gentle Memorial Building parking lot. Light refreshments of hot cocoa, cookies and coffee will be available at the Chamber.
Exactly how many floats will be in the parade is a mystery each year. As of Friday morning, seven floats have been entered in the parade. Torres said many wait until a day or two beforehand to sign up and others simply show up that night.
There is no cost to register a float, which will be judged and prizes awarded to the top entries.
Those who have not pre-registered may still show up on the night of the parade, but are asked to come by 5:30 p.m. to check in.
For more information, call the chamber at 532-4961
