HOULTON, Maine — Houlton’s Market Square was aglow Saturday night as thousands flocked to the downtown for this year’s Holiday Light Parade.
The parade heralds the official start to the holiday season, complete with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree by none other than Santa and Mrs. Claus. After illuminating the tree, the couple met with a long line of children eager to whisper their Christmas wish list at the County Co-Op and Farm Store on Main Street.
Jane Torres, executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, said this year’s entries blew her away with their creativity and content.
Kelli Lawlor puts the finishing touches of tinsel on of Houlton Regional Hospital’s entry in this year’s Holiday Light Parade in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr)
“It was a fabulous light parade,” Torres said. “Town participation was wonderful. There were so many children in downtown Market Square that we ran out of lights for them.”
Torres and volunteers passed out 200 styrofoam light up tubes to area children to help them light up the night.
“People really outdid themselves this year with their floats,” she added. “I think we had more floats than ever in this year’s parade and the weather certainly cooperated, even if there was snow on the ground.”
Torres said she never knows for certain how many floats will actually be in the parade each year. Most participants pre-register, but sometimes those who have signed up do not show up if the weather is bad. Conversely, like this year, when the weather was mild, more showed up on the night of the event.
(Photos by Joseph Cyr)
