Valley towns decorate for Christmas

FORT KENT, Maine — When the leftover turkey has turned into stew and the pumpkin pie has all been gobbled, St. John Valley towns decorate for Christmas. 

The weekend after Thanksgiving Fort Kent, Madawaska and Van Buren held community celebrations of the Christmas season from light parades to early visits from Santa.

Van Buren Revitalization Association held its fourth annual Christmas Town Celebration.

Volunteers decorated storefronts and hid scavenger hunt clues within the displays.

“It gives something for families to do together. They can play while they wait for the parade or after the parade,” association member Leslie Beaulieu said.

Someone made creative use of an information booth built for the World Acadian Congress in 2014 by decorating it like a gingerbread house resembling an illustration from a children’s fairy tale.

Maine-ly Meat ‘N Potatoes food truck sold food during the event, which also included the singing of Christmas carols. 

The townsfolk also gathered in Fort Kent Saturday when the Lions Club lit up the town Christmas tree. The civic-minded group has been overseeing the tree lighting ceremony since 1986. Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with some elves, visited from the North Pole and handed out gifts to children. 

Snow fell hard on Madawaska’s annual light parade but that didn’t stop brave merrymakers from lining the streets in celebration. So cheerful were the festivities that even the Grinch stopped by to celebrate the lighting of the town Chrismtas tree following the parade.

VAN BUREN, Maine — November 26, 2022 — The streets of Van Buren are decorated for Christmas. (Courtesy of Leslie Beaulieu)

FORT KENT, Maine – November 26, 2022 – The Fort Kent town Christmas tree shines bright outside the public library. (Courtesy of Fort Kent Lions Club)

FORT KENT, Maine – November 26, 2022 – The youngster receives a gift from Santa at the Fort Kent tree lighting ceremony. (Courtesy of Fort Kent Lions Club)