LIMESTONE, Maine – Limestone kicked off the holiday season Sunday with the town’s annual light parade.
Over 20 cars parked along Main Street, with dozens standing outside as the small but festive lineup of 16 floats made its way down the road.
In this year’s contest, the Limestone Girl Scouts won for best use of the parade theme, “A Family Christmas,” featuring a blow-up snowman family waving to the crowd.
Claire Durepo, 13, won “Most Unique” for her “Classic Durepo” snowmobile atop the Limestone SnowHawks’ snow drag that club members painted for her float. The SnowHawks won “Most Creative” for their line-up of snowmobiles decorated with Christmas lights.
Santa and Mrs. Claus waved to folks atop the Limestone Rotary Club’s float and visited with local children at Rotary Park before the parade, posing for many photos.
Eight-year-old Rowan Tilmont of Limestone told Santa what she wants for Christmas.
“A Barbie camper and for my family to have a happy Christmas,” she said.
Rowan’s grandmother Beth Tilmont said that the family looks forward to the town’s parade every year.
“It might be short but it’s always fun,” Tilmont said, about the parade. “There’s always something to enjoy.
The parade route brightened more this year thanks to 31 new Christmas lights on Main Street and the end of Access Highway, shaped to look like Santa Claus, Christmas trees, bells and other seasonal images. The Let’s Light Up Limestone campaign used $20,000 in donations to purchase new lights.
“[The lights] get you more into the Christmas spirit,” said Michelle Albert, president of the Limestone Chamber of Commerce, who organizes the annual parade.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the owner of the snowmobile drag that was part of Claire Durepo’s float.
