LEWISTON — The Twin Cities holiday kickoff Saturday will feature tree lightings and the annual Parade of Lights.
“There is a lot going on, and we’re very excited,” said Lewiston Community Relations Coordinator Dot Perham-Whittier. “It seems like there is just more going on downtown this time of year, and this is a good way to feature it.”
Downtown merchants in Lewiston and Auburn are hosting events and special deals beginning at noon. Those along Lewiston’s Lisbon Street and Main and Court streets in Auburn are participating in a holiday window-decorating contest, sponsored by the Union of Maine Visual Artists-LA.
Carolers will perform throughout the day.
“It’s also Small Business Saturday, which is one of the reasons we decided to have it this day,” Perham-Whittier said.
Small Business Saturday is an annual campaign started by American Express in 2010 that encourages people to spend at least part of their holiday budget at small, locally-owned businesses.
Traditional Twin Cities events begin a little later in the day.
The Auburn Public Library will show 2015’s “Cinderella” free of charge in the downstairs Community Room at 1 p.m., with free snacks.
The Lewiston Public Library will host a festive hip-hop concert with Ryan Morrill from 3 to 4 p.m.
This year’s parade starts in Lewiston at the municipal parking lot on Park Street at 6 p.m. It proceeds to Kennedy Park and stops briefly for the community lighting of the Christmas tree.
From there, the parade continues down Lisbon Street to Main Street and across the Longley Bridge to Auburn. On Court Street, it turns down Mechanics Row to Main Street, stopping at Festival Plaza for the lighting of Auburn’s Christmas tree and the community menorah.
Other Auburn special holiday treats at Festival Plaza include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, free wagon rides and free gift bags from Center Street Dental.
Twin Cities Holiday Parade Route 2015, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine
Comments are no longer available on this story