LEWISTON — For the fourth year, the Twin Cities will kick off their holiday celebration together — with lights, music, hot chocolate and two big trees on Monday.
“It definitely has grown over the years,” said Tracey Steuber, community business specialist for the city of Auburn. “People weren’t exactly sure what it was going to be all about that first year, but it’s really grown and people really enjoy it.”
This year’s celebration features a parade winding from Great Falls Plaza in Auburn, past Festival Plaza, across Longley Memorial Bridge and ending at Dufresne Plaza on Park Street in Lewiston.
Festivities are set to begin at 4 p.m. in the Children’s Room of the Lewiston Public Library with a holiday song and story time, followed by a holiday dance in the library’s Callahan Hall at 4:30 p.m.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., stopping briefly to light Auburn’s Christmas tree at Festival Plaza.
It will end with Lewiston’s lighting ceremony, featuring the city’s Christmas tree and the community menorah in Dufresne Plaza.
The parade has registered 15 participants, including marching bands, firetrucks and other equipment and floats, Steuber said.
The Lewiston Maineiacs will offer a float and a number of costumed characters will walk the route and visit Dufresne Plaza.
Lewiston Community Relations Coordinator Dot Perham Whittier said she’s expecting Lewiston Maineiacs’ mascot Lewie, Sparky the Firedog, Community Credit Union’s mascot, Monty the Moose, a Christmas reindeer and a walking Christmas tree.
The Salvation Army will distribute free hot chocolate and doughnut holes in Dufresne Plaza and Photo Finish will take free pictures of children with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Stillbrook Acres of Gray will run free horse-drawn wagon rides between the lights celebration and Kennedy Park along Park and Bates streets until 8:30 p.m.
Police are directing drivers to park in two downtown garages — Mechanics Row in Auburn and Oak Street in Lewiston. Lewiston Sgt. David Chick said the city will close most of Lisbon Street and part of Park Street between Main and Ash streets for the duration of the celebration. Drivers are directed to the Ash Street exit of the city’s lot and garage. The city will use Lisbon Street to park floats and equipment after the parade.
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