Christmas comes but once a year but for many that year is spent in secrecy and planning of their Christmas light display. Sound epic? Well that is because it is. Hi, my name is Chris Bernier and I am a winner of the “Light up the town” competition. One of the lucky ones, from 2020. Now, as the coordinator for the event, we are going to announce the 2022 winners.
As you know, 2020 brought in a year that nobody expected. Covid-19 swept the world and turned everything we know and love upside down. The Waterville Parade of lights, one of the area’s most loved celebrations was canceled due to the pandemic. The wonderful folks at the Children’s Discovery Museum rapidly switched gears and invented the “Light up the town” competition to get people to show their Christmas Spirit by decorating their homes with as many lights as possible. Also providing an opportunity for kids to go out and see these lights by publishing a map. It that wasn’t enough the Children’s Discovery Museum coordinated a Parade with Santa from Kringleville leading the way to visit the top 3 winners.
Fast forward now to 2022. As a previous winner, I agreed to jump in head first and coordinate the 2022 competition. We had 20 entries and this year from the three communities of Waterville, Winslow, and Vassalboro. These were broken up into two categories. Residences and businesses. Each with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. All of the entries were decked to the nine with lights. If you didn’t get to drive by and see them yourselves be sure to do so next year. This year unlike years previous I decided to make the judging as arbitrary as possible. I asked several Cub Scouts to vote for the winners. Each Scout was equipped with a map and a judging sheet. They were given two weeks to check out the decorations to see which they liked the best. Who best to judge a Christmas light competition other than kids?
For the residential division competition, Mark and Fran Hudson of Winslow won 1st place with their display “Rudolph and Friends. Their display featured almost all of the characters from the famed claymation movie “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer”. Mark and Fran won a 40″ Flat Screen TV. Jim Hollingdale of Waterville won 2nd place with his epic music synchronized Display “Christmas Dance Party”. He won a new soundbar and subwoofer for his TV. 3rd place went to Jennifer Eberly with her amazing display named “Happy Nature” . This display even featured a canoe going down a Christmas light waterfall and river. She won a portable battery-operated sound speaker.
In the business division State Farm on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville took 1st place with their display “Holiday on the Hill” Set up by Alek Fortier featuring red and white lights all over the place. Airplanes landing at LaFleur Airport must of used it as a signal beacon for landing. An amazing display for sure. State farm won a mini Christmas blow form Trophy. Scraps N Sew in Winslow took 2nd place with their huge display called Harrington Holiday House. They also won a mini-blow form trophy. 3rd place went to Heart Designs in Waterville put together by the Harris family. They also won a min blow form trophy. All of the prizes were donated by CTB Electronics in Winslow.
All of the displays were well done and in the end everyone was a winner for just participating. We are all hoping that next year we double our participation and the itch to Grizwold your home catches on. I would like to personally thank the Children’s Discovery Museum for continuing this newer tradition they have brought to the area and for allowing me to help keep it moving forward. I want to thank everyone who participated this year and hope you will spread the word and participate again next year. If you have questions or want more information on the event you may contact me at wxmswinslow@gmail.com or contact the Children’s Discovery Museum of Waterville.
Below you will find the 2022 Parade of lights map and a note from the Waterville Police Department regarding road closures. It looks like we will have a clear sky on the day of Santa’s arrival.
As a reminder, the Parade of Lights will commence on Saturday, November 26, from Winslow High School. We are excited about this year’s holiday season and welcome Santa back to Downtown Waterville.
At 3 PM on the 26th, parking on Lower Main Street will be suspended. This is to ensure safety for the spectators and floats alike.
At 5 PM on the 26th, Lower Main Street will be closed to traffic in preparation for the arrival of the parade and, of course, the Jolly old Elf himself!
At 6 PM on the 26th, the Parade of Lights will depart Winslow High School down Danielson Street onto Benton Avenue – where it will stop briefly for Santa to light the Gazebo – and proceed to Bridge Street. The parade will cross the Ticonic Bridge and turn right (North) onto Lower Main Street. The parade will travel the length of Lower Main Street – making a brief stop at Castonguay Square to light the Waterville Christmas Tree – and disperse at Post Office Square in Waterville. Santa only will then be escorted to his house at Head of Falls.
We hope you enjoy the parade, and please be patient, as there will be a large number of people and traffic downtown for this event.
The Children’s Discovery Museum, with support from CTB Electronics, is hosting a city-wide holiday light celebration, Light Up the Town.
We ask that businesses and individuals decorate their properties with as many lights as possible. The registered parties will be part of a city-wide map for community members to drive or walk by each location to admire the decorations.
Once you register, you are responsible for decorating your property with holiday decorations and lights. Remember, the more lights, the better it will be for your audience. Once all registrations are submitted, we will compile a Light Up the Town map and distribute it throughout the Greater Waterville community.
Please have your light display ready for November 26, 2022, and keep your lights up and on until the end of the season or longer!
Anyone with the holiday spirit may participate. We hope you have fun.
Thanks to CTB Electronics for making the 2022 Light Up the Town a successful holiday tradition.
If you have any questions, please email Chris Bernier, owner and operator of CTB Electronics.
We are pleased to announce that the following organizations and companies are participating in this year’s Parade of Lights on Saturday, November 26th.
This annual Christmas Parade will start in Winslow and cross the bridge into Downtown Waterville for the first time in history!
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Rain, snow, or shine … Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town!
So you better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why …
The Children’s Discovery Museum is hosting a city-wide light celebration. This year’s holiday season fills the entire town as businesses and individuals decorate their properties with as many lights as possible. The registered parties will be part of a city-wide map for community members to drive or walk by each location to admire the decorations.
We are so excited to release the 2021 Light Up The Town Map. Created by the wildly talented Serena Sanborn, this year’s map includes 30+ decorated sites to help fill you with holiday cheer.
Our judges will review houses and reveal the top 5 in the coming week, so stay tuned to hear about the best spots to visit.
A big thank you to everyone who participated this year- none of this could happen without your enthusiasm and holiday spirit!
Update: Announcing The Top Light Up The Town Houses
Happy Nature: 45 Roosevelt Ave, Waterville
Candy Cane Lane: 1188 Augusta Road, Winslow
The Spirit of Griswold: 15 Joe Avenue, Winslow
Home Alone on Franklin Street: 39 Franklin St, Waterville
And the runners-up are …
All We Need Is Love: 13 Pleasant St, Waterville (House B)
Vacationland @ GHM Insurance: 51 Main St, Waterville (House F)
Nut House!: 2 Primrose St, Winslow
Winter Wonderland: 56 Drummond Ave, Waterville
Merry Harrington Christmas: 1418 August Rd, Winslow
Waterville’s Winter Wonderland: 461 Maine Street, Waterville
We also highly recommend you visit last-years winner, who is at it again this year with a spectacular house:
