Winter arrives for York Festival of Lights Parade

YORK, Maine — Mittens muffled applause and restricted waves as floats rolled through York Village center on Saturday.

Crowds watching from the sidewalks were bundled in winter hats, while many in the parade choose red and white Santa caps to keep in the heat.

Winter apparently arrived in time for the parade too, bringing temperatures that hovered near freezing after weeks of unseasonably warm weather, but paradegoers were undeterred.

"What a great parade," said Russ Peterson, who was voted Citizen of the Year. "Look at all the people here!"

Scott Stevens, the Old York Historical Society's director, agreed that there were more participants this year and that the procession was longer than in prior years.

York's Festival of Lights parade began just after sunset. Trees lining York Street were looped with white Christmas lights, and the white steeple of the First Parish Church shone brightly against the clear night sky.

Across the street, Dawn Fernald stood with a microphone on the porch of the Society building where she introduced the floats. She is the marketing director of the Society and vice chair of the Greater York Chamber of Commerce.

She said there were about 30 floats this year, more than in years past.

"It brings together a lot of community services," she said. "They all come together to provide a free event for the community."

She added that the holidays tend to be a time for family gatherings, and the parade is an event families can attend together in the winter, which is otherwise a slow season for the town.

"It brings people to the village," she said.

Three generations of blonde females stood watching the parade. Anne Homme, of Kennebunk Port, was with her daughter Kate Hall and granddaughter Phoebe Hall of Concord, Mass.

"This was just a fabulous parade," said Homme, who is the director of development for the Historical Society.

She was pleased to see so many people from the community involved.

"The weather couldn't have worked out better," she said about the festival's day time activities.

Phoebe, 7, said her favorite part of the parade was the candy thrown into the crowd by people walking down the street.

The procession included firetrucks, antique tractors and trucks, a York school bus, and a trolley — all lit up for the holidays. Participants were youth organizations, school marching bands, local businesses and community service organizations.

The final float was the Historical Society's and it carried Santa, who would later be at Jefferds' Tavern to hear what children wanted for Christmas.