PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Presque Isle was a busy and fun place to be Saturday. There were Christmas activities all day, but everything came to a halt at 6 p.m. when the Presque Isle Police Department, state police, sheriff and U.S. Border Patrol cruisers pulled onto Main Street to lead the 24th annual Holiday Light Parade from North Street to the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Regardless of the cold weather, the streets were lined with spectators anxiously awaiting the more than 60 entries in the parade. Entrants from Fort Kent to Mars Hill joined to make this year’s parade one to remember.
Led by the Lights of Life horse-drawn wagon, in memory of Tom Clukey, the parade stopped at Clukey’s Auto Supply to light the Christmas tree that will remain lit throughout the season. Through Lights of Life, individuals, businesses and organizations can purchase lights to remember or honor cancer survivors, family and friends of survivors, caregivers and others.
Lights may be purchased any time through Dec. 31 in person at Clukey’s Auto Supply locations in Presque Isle, Caribou or Houlton or online at www.tamc.org. Names of those being honored will be displayed at Clukey’s Auto Supply and on the TAMC website. This year gifts are designated to help create a fund to provide support to cancer patients in need, offering assistance for expenses such as travel for those undergoing treatment for the devastating disease.
The judges charged with selecting the best use of lights, people and originality had a tough challenge. The parade entries included such a selection of creativity and displayed so many hours of work.
The results, tallied after an hour of deliberation, resulted in the following list of winners:
• Parade Champion — Ground Perfection Specialists, Inc.
• Best Business Float — Walmart
• Best Non-Profit Entry — University of Maine at Presque Isle
• Best Faith-Based Entry — Presque Isle Wesleyan Church
• Best General Entry — Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race
“The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the many groups and businesses who participated in the parade,” said Theresa Fowler, executive director of the chamber. “You are the ones who make the event such a success, and for the past 24 years have attracted thousands to Presque Isle on the first Saturday of December.”
