Presque Isle will ring in the new year with a festive evening and the raising of a star, lit with 1,000 lights, over Main Street.
The Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Star Lighting Celebration will feature concerts and events for all ages thanks to a partnership between the city, the Downtown Revitalization Committee and several other partners.
It will be the city’s first New Year celebration and use of a star made by Northern Maine Community College students in 13 years. Inspired by a Main Street growing with businesses and a fresh spirit, the downtown committee wanted to build a new tradition.
“There is a vibe that’s happening in the city,” said Shawn Cunningham, the city’s digital media specialist and a committee member. “This is the first year we’re all coming together to host something for all ages.”
The event will not just be a celebration of 2025, but a toast to the thriving downtown district, she said.
The idea came about during a fall Downtown Revitalization meeting, when members realized there were numerous events around Christmas to bring businesses and the community together, but nothing to mark the new year.
Other organizations and residents expressed the same thing, Cunningham said. The committee joined with city officials, Ignite PI and the Northeastland Hotel, the Aroostook Agency on Aging and more to develop a new celebration they hope will become a yearly tradition.
First, they wanted to resurrect the star, which symbolizes Presque Isle as the Star City.
About 12 welding and metal fabrication students, working with instructor Dennis Albert, constructed the three-dimensional, six-foot star in 2008 and fitted it with 1,000 lights. The sculpture was used the following year and helped ring in 2012, but has been in storage since.
It appeared Friday at a press conference at the Northeastland Hotel, when committee members, city officials and Ignite PI staff talked about the coming celebration.
“We’re sending a message that we’re invested in our community,” Ignite PI CEO LeRae Kinney said. “We’re going to shut down Main Street, and when that happens, there’s such an energy there.”
The celebration will kick off at 5 p.m., Kinney said. The area between Main and Academy streets will be closed off.
Planned events include concerts, an event at Riverside Park hosted by the Aroostook Agency on Aging, activities at the Aroostook Centre Mall and an indoor party at the Northeastland Hotel with music from the band Marionette.
The Downtown Revitalization Committee has purchased heaters, which were used at Main Street Mania and will be brought out again for New Year’s Eve, Kinney said. People are welcome to bring their own chairs or even small heated shelters for the evening.
Events will start at 5 p.m. at Riverside Park and will include a fireworks show. The Northeastland celebration will be from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Elevate Audio and Visual of Presque Isle will host an outdoor concert from 7:30 to 9 p.m. featuring deejay Ryan Lemire and local hip-hop artists. The music will be “conscientious” music with positive messages, Lemire said.
Star City Syndicate will perform from 9:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
At midnight, everything will stop so people can migrate to Main Street as the star is lit and raised to welcome 2025.
After the star raising, the hotel will host breakfast, Kinney said.
At the Aroostook Centre Mall, festivities will include music from Dakota and an Ozzy Osbourne tribute band. Tickets are required for that event.
“Our [downtown] theme for next year is ‘Thrive in 2025,’” Cunningham said. “It’s going to be a really great time. We’re just really appreciative of the community coming together to make this happen.”
