PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The annual Holiday Light Parade in Presque Isle always draws thousands of spectators to the Star City for what has become a traditional kickoff to the season in The County. Several organizations are collaborating with event host — the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce — to expand the evening of activity to include events during the day Saturday, Dec. 7 that will lead in to the parade, which will start an hour earlier than in years past.
Most notably will be the lighting of a 25-foot tall tree in front of Clukey’s Auto Supply on Main Street. However, it’s not just any tree, but one with hundreds of lights representing survivors, family and friends of survivors, caregivers and others who have been touched by cancer in some way.
This is the second year the Lights of Life Tree will be located on Main Street. Last year, the tree was placed near MPG’s Tractor Store. In the past, the tree, which is a symbol of the program that supports TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care, has been located on the A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital campus and outside the MPG Farm Store on Parsons Street, which closed in July. This year, Clukey’s Auto Supply, the new Lights of Life project partner, plans to continue the holiday tradition of lighting a tree on Main Street during the parade.
The tree will be lit by Gail Clukey, widow of Clukey’s Auto Supply founder Tom Clukey, and his 6-year-old nephew, Jake Perry. This year’s Lights of Life program is dedicated in memory of Tom Clukey, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year.
The two special guests of honor, riding on a horse-drawn wagon, will be among the lead entries in the parade. Once the parade arrives in front of Clukey’s Auto Supply, the two will officially light the tree.
“The lighting of the Lights of Life Tree was such a wonderful addition to our festivities last year. We are very much looking forward to its return this year,” said Theresa Fowler, executive director of the chamber. “The Holiday Light Parade is an activity that folks from all over look forward to each year. The community tree lighting ceremony not only enhances the parade, but provides a festive feel for the community after the event is over and through the remainder of the holiday season. To have a beautifully lit tree in such a prominent place on our Main Street that has such a great cause behind it makes it all the more special.”
Saturday’s parade begins at 6 p.m., one hour earlier than the traditional start, on Main Street. The parade begins at the intersection of North and Main streets and travels south through downtown to the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
In conjunction with the activity surrounding the parade and tree lighting, several community organizations will host events and demonstrate the spirit of giving that comes with the season. The expanded list of activities is as follows:
9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Public Information and Community Holiday Event at the Presque Isle William Haskell Recreation Center on Main Street. The community is invited to come out and visit with Santa, decorate cookies, and learn more about the new Community Center Project. Santa will arrive at 3 p.m. In the spirit of giving, attendees at the holiday event are encouraged to bring food and toy donations to benefit Catholic Charities and area families in need.
11 a.m.
19th annual Senior Citizen’s Holiday Luncheon and Bingo. Area seniors are invited to join in this luncheon and special Bingo game at the Elk’s Lodge on Main Street. The event is hosted by the Presque Isle Elks and Presque Isle High School Key Club. For more information, contact the Elks Club at 764-0985.
5-6 p.m. Open House at TAMC North Street Healthcare Walk-in Clinic. The community is invited to enjoy free hot cocoa and apple cider before the parade begins. Volunteers will also be on site to accept donations in memory or in honor of a loved one for the “Lights of Life” program. For more information, contact TAMC at 768-4044.
5 p.m.
Annual Open House/Parade Watching Party at Oasis Salon on Main Street. The public is welcome and encouraged to stop in.
6-8 p.m.
Lights of Life Tree Lighting and Parade Viewing outside of Clukey’s Auto Supply. The official tree lighting event will take place as the TAMC/Clukey’s entry near the beginning of the parade arrives at Clukey’s Auto Supply. For more information, call 768-4044.
6 p.m.-after parade
Annual Holiday Open House at UMPI. Before, during and after the parade, the community is invited to Gentile Hall and enjoy warmth, fellowship and refreshments. The university will provide complimentary hot cocoa, coffee and cookies. For more information, contact UMPI’s Community and Media Relations Office at 768-9452.
6 p.m.
Parade departs from intersection of Main and North streets.
Special Charitable Collections/Parade Activity
• TAMC/Presque Isle Kiwanis Club Christmas Basket Toy Collection — A kickoff to the annual Kiwanis Christmas Basket Project that provides food and gifts to families in need in the Presque Isle area over the holiday season. TAMC team members and Kiwanians will accept unwrapped toys for children of all ages along the parade. The collection effort will continue in the weeks that follow the parade at all TAMC facilities.
• Catholic Charities of Maine Food and Donation Drive — Volunteers with Catholic Charities Maine will collect non-perishable food and monetary donations to help Feed The County. Watch for the Feed The County truck.
• Central Aroostook Humane Society/SAD 1 Key Club Collection for the Animals — Students in the SAD 1 Key Club will collect donations to help support the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Miss Aroostook County Collegiate Erica Hemphill and her sister queens will be collecting items for the humane society, as well. Needed items include bleach, hand soap, paper towels, Purina cat and dog food, newspaper and non-scoopable litter.
• Northern Maine Community College Children’s Book Giveaway — This marks the 10th year the college will be distributing books to children during the parade. NMCC is once again collecting new and gently-used books to help put a smile on the face of children attending the holiday tradition. Local organizations and individuals who would like to contribute to the cause are invited to drop off books at the college. Books should be brought to the information window in the Christie Building lobby. To arrange to have larger quantity of books picked up, contact the college relations office at 768-2809.
• UMPI’s Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society is working with DVDs4Vets to collect used and new DVDs for the DVDs for Vets Program. The group hopes to collect at least 100 DVDs to send to veterans who are in hospitals and rehabilitation centers so that they have something to watch while they recuperate. The group will also be accepting portable DVD players to give to the program. The DVDs for Vets program will not accept home-burned/bootlegged copies of DVDs, nor will they accept DVDs featuring adult-related material as they are prohibited by many V.A. hospitals. For more information, call Jim Stepp at 768-9601.
For more information on the 2013 Presque Isle Holiday Light Parade or to register an entry, contact the chamber at 764-6561.
