Townspeople will be gathering. Greetings will be ringing, as the towns of Merrill, Smyrna, Oakfield, Dyer Brook and Island Falls will be heralding the Christmas season. And, visitors from the surrounding area and beyond are invited to participate in the community-wide festivities.
On Friday, the town of Oakfield will be holding its inaugural light parade, starting at 5:30 p.m. The parade route will begin at the Bethel Pentecostal Church parking lot and finish at Danny’s Thriftway.
When the light parade was being planned, organizers had no idea that other events were scheduled for the same day. The little town of Merrill will be filled with activity and fun.
“We are trying to work it all together,” said Adam Anderson, light parade organizer.
The idea of a light parade was generated by two families, who between them both, have 13 children.
“We live in Smyrna and we load up every year and go out to Houlton for their light parade. I am sure you can imagine with eight little kids [what it is like] trying to get everyone suited up to get to that,” Anderson explained. “So, last year after Houlton’s light parade, I looked over at [our friends] in their vehicle. I said to them, ‘Next year, we are going to do our own light parade so we don’t have to travel out here.’”
Well, Anderson was talking to one of his wife’s friends, Michelle Lee, who laughed and agreed. The couples do many activities together, so now, they have a new tradition.
The friends never mentioned the idea again to each other for almost a year.
“I was sitting out at McDonalds a couple of weeks ago getting ice cream with the kids and I sent her a text message out of the blue,” said Anderson.
The text message said: “When is our parade anyway?”
“She sent me a message back saying that was funny because ‘I was thinking about that this morning.’ So, we took off from there,” Anderson added.
Lee, according to Anderson, is “very creative. She has always done the decorative and creative [work] with our Vacation Bible School (VBS) program at Dyer Brook Community Church,” Anderson said.
As of last count, the Oakfield light parade had four floats between the Andersons and Lees, along with six or seven more. The only business float entered right now is Katahdin Forest Products, while the Oakfield Fire Department, the town of Oakfield, the youth group from the Pentecostal Church in Oakfield and the Merrill Millstream Park volunteers have also committed to the parade. Members of the Dyer Brook Community Church will also be handing out invitations to their Christmas Eve Service, as well.
“I am pretty excited,” said Anderson.
Families, churches, individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and anyone else interested are invited to join the parade and light up the night. Anyone wishing to register a float should call or text Anderson at 694-4508. Line up for the parade begins at 4:30 p.m.
“The real theme for the whole event is to make an old-fashioned Christmas,” said Anderson. “One thing with Michelle’s family and ours is we are trying to give a glimpse and put back what Christmas is supposed to be. Christmas is not all Santa Claus and trying to out buy everyone else. It is all about the birth of Jesus and that is what we are trying to portray.”
Anderson said it was nice to see some people “getting excited” about [having] different events in the town.
After the light parade, the Smyrna/Merrill Historical Society will host a Victorian Christmas program at 7 p.m.
Men will be dressed in top hats and woolen suit coats while women will be snuggled in their long dresses, hats and wraps. The best way to describe the atmosphere is festive and nostalgic.
“The members of the Hysterical Players, which is associated with the historical society will be dressing Victorian,” said Alberta McDonald, organizer of the Victorian Christmas program. “We are in hopes the public will follow the example. It is not required, it will just add to the atmosphere and fun.”
After the program, which will include singing, both individual and groups, and short skits, gingerbread cookies and eggnog will be served.
“It is meant to be an old-fashioned Christmas,” McDonald added. “The night will have the Spirit of Christmas Present, along with Ebenezer Scrooge.”
Anyone wanting more information can call McDonald at 757-8052.
Then, Saturday morning at 10 a.m. the annual “Christmas in the Park” will be at Merrill Millstream Park. Santa will be on hand to hear all the children’s Christmas wishes. His elves will be handing out presents to those children who attend. A bonfire and lots of hot chocolate and Christmas cookies will also be available. There is no fee and everyone is invited to join in on the holiday celebration. The funding for treat bags handed out to all the kids is funded by the Mike and Heidi Memorial Fund.
“This year, families are being encouraged to decorate a tree at Merrill Millstream Park,” said Ken Bustard, Merrill Millstream Pond committee chairman. “The goal is to get all the trees decorated. Families adopting a tree will need to bring their own lights and decorations.”
For more information call Bustard at 659-2018.
It looks like a Merry Christmas in southern Aroostook.
