It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like…Bangor’s Holiday Tree Is Going Up!

Nothing gets folks in the holiday spirit like looking at a big ole' tree full of lights.

According to the Downtown Bangor Facebook page, the holiday tree has arrived in Bangor!

"The tree is going up in West Market Square! @cityofbangor Public Works has all hands on deck to make the magic happen this season."

Executive Director of the Downtown Bangor Partnership, Betsy Lundy, says there's a rich history associated with Bangor's Holiday Tree.

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"Every year, Dan Sprague sources the tree for the City. This one came from North Main Street in Brewer. He has been donating it for several decades."

"The City of Bangor coordinates multiple departments, including Public Works, Parks and Rec, Electrical, Forestry, with the biggest lift being from Public Works. Public Works attaches the lights that are on the tree, and volunteers do the rest. Hartt Electric assists Public Works in putting the tree up and getting the lights on the tree... it takes 3 bucket trucks to get the lights on."

"The date is more or less around this time, so we have time to get the lightshow in order before the ceremonial lighting on Plaid Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and our kickoff to the holiday retail season."

For the last three years, Lunday says Hollywood Casino has sponsored a light show that goes along with the tree.

"Scott Stitham, the lighting director at the Collins Center, programs the light show."

This year, there will be another new element to the display.

"We do have a couple of new elements this year, including a white picket fence donated by Mid Coast Fence, instead of the ugly bike rack we used to use."

Read More: What Can Mainers Do With Their Christmas Trees After The Holidays

"We organize individuals and organizations in volunteering over 100 man-hours to hang lights for the show and in the rest of downtown (We have a photo spot we are setting up on Park Street Hill, which is our North Pole, In Town Plaza, which is Candy Cane Lane, and on Columbia Street, which will have over 100 lighted spritzers.)"

"We have a Celebrate the Holidays in Bangor, Maine website landing page to help people learn about the fun stuff happening in Bangor during the holidays."

Standing in the same spot for decades, the raising of Downtown's holiday tree is a bit of an unofficial start to the Christmas Season in Bangor.