Popular Orono Christmas Lights Trail Already Planning & Prepping For This Year’s Holiday Display

It started out at a simple 500 foot trail along the Penobscot River off of Bennoch Road in Orono. It was decorated and lit up during the winter of 2020, to bring folks some holiday cheer, back during the Covid Pandemic.

People could visit, while safely socially distancing, as they traveled down the path to look at the lights.

Since then, it has grown into a much bigger to do, becoming something that many in the area look forward to each year.

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The Stillwater River Trail of Lights (on the GPS, its listed as 92 Bennoch Road but locals know it as the area of Brownie's Beach) in Orono is a great holiday lights display that's invites you to get out of your car and get interactive with it.

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It's expanded to encompass not only a longer stretch of the trail, but also to go deeper, on either side, with the lights and decorations.

There are spots along the trail where folks can stop for a festive photo-op. And Santa's even made an appearance in recent years, to join in the fun.

To put something of this size together, organizers start months in advance, to clear the trail, and start the process of decorating. They have to turn this sweet little green footpath...

…into an illuminated work of holiday art!

Starting in September, before the first snowflakes even fly, equipment is brought in to get folks up high to hang those lights that make everything look and feel so magical.

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Volunteers from area businesses and trail sponsors, like the University Credit Union and D & O Concrete LLC, spend time up on ladders and down on the ground making sure power is ready and the lights are all hung.

That way, when it's time for them to flip that switch and turn it all on, everything's ready to go.

They drag the decorations out of storage, and find new items for this year's features.

According to their Facebook Page, they're gearing up for another wonderous year.

"The lift has arrived on the trail and we will be busy putting up everyone’s favorite magical overhead lights over the next couple of week...The Stillwater River Trail of Lights, presented by University Credit Union, are actively going up and are shining brighter each day! We're excited to see them glow (and grow) this season.
Stay tuned for the grand illumination!"

While they're hard at work getting everything ready for the upcoming holidays, stay tuned for details about when they'll officially be opening up.