About 200 people gathered Friday evening to see this year’s 40-foot tree lit up in West Market Square, kicking off the holiday season in downtown Bangor.
The tree, a blue spruce sourced across the river in Brewer by Dan Sprague of Sprague’s Nursery and Garden Center, arrived downtown last week.
Light flurries fell just before the tree was lit and “Jingle Bells” burst out from speakers hidden in the tree around 4:30 p.m.
This year’s tree display again features a daily light and music show, which was first added last year. The show is programmed by Scott Stitham, technical director for the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine in Orono, and sponsored by Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway.
The lighting coincided with “Plaid Friday,” Bangor’s annual shopping event that is designed to be a more laid-back, local alternative to Black Friday.
Residents and visitors were out and about all day shopping, and those wearing plaid could score a discount at some stores.
“It was really busy off the bat,” said Miriam Davidson, co-owner of Log Jam Vintage on Harlow Street.
Davidson reported hearing from customers who said they were excited to be shopping local for Black Friday, adding that she hopes today’s foot traffic marks the start of a good holiday season for Bangor’s small businesses.
The festivities will continue over the weekend with Small Business Saturday.