Deadline nears for Holiday Light parade entries

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON —The holiday season is fast approaching and will once again officially be kicked off with a large light parade though downtown Houlton.
    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. Last year, it was estimated that more than 3,000 individuals lined the streets to watch the parade.
File Photo
ALL LIT UP — Vehicles like this are common in Houlton’s Holiday Light Parade.
    Santa Claus will once again be making his way to Houlton to ride in the Holiday Light Parade and to help light 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 “A Family Christmas,” according to Lynn Parker, interim executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. Parker said she is filling this role until the chamber board hires a new executive director. That hiring is not expected to take place until January, 2012, Parker said.
    “We’re hoping to bring families from not just Houlton, but the surrounding communities to our area for this parade,” Parker said.
    New this year will be a slight change to the parade route. The parade will still begin in the Houlton Shopping Plaza on the North Road and continue down North Road to Market Square. A tree lighting ceremony will take place at the town Christmas Tree in Market Square, but unlike last year, the parade will not end there. After the tree is lit by Santa Claus, the parade will continue to Monument Park, where an area will be set up at the amphitheatre for local children to meet with Santa and have a photo taken. The remaining floats will continue to the Gentle Memorial Building parking lot.
    The following rules apply to those who wish to enter floats:
    • Commercial entries will be limited to one car or truck, which must be significantly decorated with lights. Vehicles towing floats are excluded from this limitation.
    • Oversized (not street legal) vehicles must have an adult walking by each wheel.
    • Walking participants may hand out items to spectators, but throwing items such as candy into the street or crowd is expressly prohibited.
    Registration forms to participate in the parade must be received by the Chamber no later than Wednesday, Nov. 23. Forms may be dropped off at the chamber office at 109 Main St. or by emailing chamber@greaterhoulton.com. For more information, call the chamber at 532-4961.