Like many across the globe, Bangor celebrated the Holidays a little differently this year. One of the most noticeable changes was the absence of the Festival of Lights Parade that the Bangor Rotary puts on, in Downtown Bangor, every year. Organizers cancelled the parade because of safety concerns surrounding the Covid-19 Pandemic.

But they still wanted to celebrate and add light to what was a pretty dark year.

So instead, the Rotary asked businesses and residents in town to decorate their homes and companies, creating a Festival of Lights that folks in the area could tour, from the safety of their own vehicles.

Above and beyond spreading cheer, the Bangor Rotary devised several different display categories that people could enter, and offered up prizes for the best entries in each.

They had over 70 different participants--so many that they actually put different maps and routes together for those who wanted to visit the displays. So people could go for a little holiday lights tour, and vote on which displays they thought were the best.

(My family and I made the rounds. It was fantastic! Well done to all those who had displays! You definitely added to cheer to the city! Thank you!)

Well, the winners are in, and the Bangor Rotary Club announced that the following entries came in as tops!

"Best Commercial entry: General Electric (GE)
Best Residential entry: "As many lights and decorations as possible... National Lampoon Style", 227 Clyde Road, Bangor
Best Non Profit entry: Kid’s Peace
Best Municipal entry: Bangor International Airport
Best in Show (top overall vote recipient from all categories): Hathaway Holiday Lights
Club Pick (top vote recipient as voted on by Rotarians): Christmas at Kandy’s, East Summer Street, Bangor."

The release stated that winners will receive plaques. The Hathaway Holiday Light display, which was voted Best In Show, will also receive $500 cash.

The Bangor Rotary was also responsible for sprucing up the some of the decorations Downtown, and for the big Holiday Tree that's featured each year in West Market Square.

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