Stories

Holiday Lighting Contest

While we might not be hosting the community lighting contest this year have no fear our friends at Z107.3 are AND we've put together a list of some of our award winners over the years so you know where to start your holiday lights journey! Thank you for all that you do and Happy Holidays!
  • General Electric (GE)
  • Bangor International Airport
  • Hathaway Holiday Lights, Veazie School
  • East Summer Street, Bangor
  • 227 Clyde Road, Bangor
  • 284 Newburgh Road, Hermon
  • 2009-2019 Skyway Valley, Hermon
  • 6 Tyler Lane, Off County Road, Milford
A few more of our favorites:
 Holiday Lighting Contest 2023-12-03 05:00:00Z 0

Festival of Lights and the Winners are... 

It is a wrap!

Rotary would like to thank everyone who took part in this year's Parade. Thank you to all of our volunteers who made the parade possible. Thank you to the downtown businesses that contributed to the celebrations and made their facilities accessible for this occasion. Thank you to the Bangor Police Department and Public Works for your assistance.

This year, there were 65 floats in the parade. There were approximately 16,000 people in attendance.

Thankfully, the weather cooperated. It was a lovely evening for the Parade! Everyone put forth a lot of effort on their floats, and it showed. Thank you for all of your hard work!

Congratulations! The judging results are in, and the plaque winners are as follows:

Outstanding Non-Profit - Penobscot Valley 4 Wheel Drive
Outstanding Commercial - Dennis Paper
Outstanding Performing - Morita’s School of Dance
Outstanding Youth - Maine Inferno
Outstanding Municipal - Bangor International Airport
Outstanding Adult Group - Joe Rizzo
Outstanding Band - Bangor High School Band
Rotary President's Choice - Central Maine Twilling Corps

When the Plaques are ready for pickup, we will contact you.

And thank you as always to our amazing sponsors without whom the parade would not be possible.
 Festival of Lights and the Winners are... 2023-12-02 05:00:00Z 0

Festival of Lights Parade is a GO & Parking Info

Though it is raining lightly at the moment, the weather is forecasted to clear well before parade time (4:30 PM). As a reminder, the parade is typically only postponed due to extreme weather, such as high winds or ice that may pose a threat to participants or viewers.
 
For folks looking for parking, the Bangor Parking Garage and Abbot Parking Lot are both excellent options. More information here: parking.bangormaine.gov/ The parade starts at 4:30 PM tonight (Saturday, Dec 2). 
 
And finally here is the official parade route.
 
The parade will start at the intersection of Exchange Street and State Street. From there, the route will follow Harlow Street to Central Street. It will turn left onto Central Street and proceed down Central to the intersection at Main/State/Hammond. It then goes straight onto Main Street and proceeds up Main Street through the intersection of Main/Union and continue up Main Street towards Cedar Street. The official end of the parade is in front of Davenport Park.
 
Excited to see you all there!
 
 Festival of Lights Parade is a GO & Parking Info 2023-12-02 05:00:00Z 0

2023 Festival of Lights Press Release

The Rotary Club of Bangor is VERY EXCITED to announce that we will once again host our annual Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday, December 2 beginning at 4:30 PM.
 
The theme this year is: Create Hope in the World. Participants are encouraged to design an entry around hope and the joy it brings to people everywhere.
 
As in the past, the Club will present a glittering, spectacular nighttime parade, featuring entries that convey the many ways of celebrating winter and the holidays in Maine.
 
“For many years, Bangor Rotary Club has been honored to share this holiday tradition with the people of Eastern and Central Maine,” says Earl Black, president, Rotary Club of Bangor. “For many it signals the official start of the holiday season, and we are so pleased that it has become a family favorite to many.”
 
The parade can accommodate approximately 80 glittering units: marching bands, small and large floats, dancers, and other performing groups. Groups may represent traditional scenes celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, New Year’s, Solstice, Kwanzaa, or any winter happening.
 
“It’s heartwarming to see the community come together each December and share in this wonderful event,” says Parade Chair Roland Narofsky. “Our hope is that families will come from across the region to enjoy everything downtown Bangor has to offer, including the official lighting of the holiday tree in West Market Square immediately following the parade.”
 
This dazzling event brightens the season for thousands of spectators who line the streets of downtown Bangor and is capped off by the arrival of Santa Clause at the conclusion of the parade. 
 
The parade is weather dependent.  We have decided this year that if we have inclement weather that is not conducive to a safe Parade environment, we will establish an alternative delay date. This year the delay date will be December 9th. Same times and lineup will be used.
 
Anyone wishing to take part in this year’s Festival of Lights parade is welcome to contact Roland Narofsky at 207.862.7259 or rnarofsky@mainesavings.com no later than Friday, November 24, 2023.
 
Learn more about Rotary Club of Bangor atwww.bangorrotary.org
 
Thank you to our incredible sponsors
 
 2023 Festival of Lights Press Release 2023-09-30 04:00:00Z 0

2023 Festival of Lights Parade Planning Underway

Rotary Member Roland Narofsky is once again leading the planning for the 2023 Festival of Lights Parade that is taking place on Saturday, December 2, 2023.  This is always a spectacular event during the holiday season.  We need many volunteers to help make the parade a spectacular community event.  Please reach out if you would like to help.  Secondly, if you would like to participate in the parade you can register to do that. using the form linked below.  Finally, we are also in the process of finding sponsors for the event and below you can find the different sponsorship levels.
 
Click here to find the 2023 Participant Registration Form
Click here to find the 2023 Sponsorship Levels event
 2023 Festival of Lights Parade Planning Underway James Westhoff 2023-09-17 04:00:00Z 0