Santa celebrates as the holiday tree is lit at the end of the Festival of Lights parade on Saturday in downtown Bangor. Credit: Marie Weidmayer / BDN 
The Abominable Snowmonster of the North rides in a pickup at the Festival of Lights parade on Saturday in downtown Bangor. Credit: Marie Weidmayer / BDN 
A person rides in the trail groomer for the Penobscot Snowmobile Club at the Festival of Lights parade on Saturday in downtown Bangor. Credit: Marie Weidmayer / BDN 
A child dressed as an elf waves to the crowd from a float during the Festival of Lights parade on Saturday in downtown Bangor. Credit: Marie Weidmayer / BDN 
Crowds of people watch the Festival of Lights parade on Saturday in downtown Bangor. Credit: Marie Weidmayer / BDN
BANGOR, Maine — Brooke Hallett, 6, was decked out in a pink jacket sitting in her pink camp chair, eagerly waiting to see Santa at the annual Festival of Lights parade.
She was hoping for “hot pink glitter” lights but all pretty lights were good, she said while waiting for the parade to start Saturday evening.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of downtown Bangor, watching as about 80 different parade participants sparkled along the route from State Street down Main Street and then Water Street.
Gingerbread people, Grinches, a few inflatable cows and even a giant Abominable Snowman accompanied floats covered in strings of lights. Dancers, gymnasts and marching bands stopped to perform in front of the reviewing stand at West Market Square.
The number one thing Marley Gerald, 3, wanted to see was a firetruck. She got her wish as the Hudson fire department drove a truck decked out in lights.
Temperatures stayed around 20 degrees and snow briefly fell during the parade to the delight of those crowded on sidewalks.
Santa made his appearance at the end of the parade, riding a wagon pulled by two draft horses. He stopped and lit the holiday tree in West Market Square, as is tradition since the parade started a couple decades ago.
The crowd joined in for a countdown to light the tree, which was off for the duration of the parade. However the tree was lit and playing music for the week before the parade.