VAN BUREN, Maine – Hundreds of spectators lined the streets of Van Buren last Saturday as parade floats featuring Santa Claus, the Grinch, and a reindeer DJ traveled downtown to kick off the community’s sixth annual “Christmas Town” celebration.
The Van Buren Revitalization Association (VBRA) has been planning the Christmas Town festivities since their harvest bonfire event in mid-October.
VBRA spokesperson Leslie Beaulieu said that numerous people and businesses in town have volunteered to decorate windows and participate in the town’s annual Holiday Window Scavenger Hunt, in which people look for items in decorated windows.
The parade began at 5:30 p.m. at the Borderview Rehabilitation and Living Center on State Street. Floats traveled through Main Street to the downtown area and ended at Valley Acres, formerly known as Laplante Heights.
The “Christmas Town” name comes from an old nickname that Van Buren had in the 1950s at its economic height when its downtown streets were lined with unique shops. The town, through its recent revitalization efforts, has brought back the Christmas Town moniker and featured it in other events such as Christmas in July, a summer festival.
Lindsay Workman, who moved to Van Buren from Belfast about a month ago with her husband and children, said they were not aware of the parade until just before it began.
She said her husband asked if they wanted to go outside and, after looking out the window, they saw the streets crowded with cars and people. And with their new home located on Main Street, they only had to step outside to watch the festivities.
“It literally says ‘Christmas Town’ on the Van Buren welcome sign,” Workman said. “So they’re really living up to the name.”
Beaulieu said new additions to this year’s event included festivities held at the town’s American Legion featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as musical performances from Danielle and Thomas Segan. The VBRA served chili and York’s Kitchen provided refreshments at the Legion.
The Hungry Moose Pub and Northern Maine Kolache, Co. were also open for festivities after the parade.
“We really enjoy putting together a festive evening for families and friends in Van Buren,” Beaulieu said. “This started in 2019 and continues to grow.”
Workman said she and her family were surprised that a small town would hold a larger event like this.
“I’m just speechless,” she said. “You don’t see stuff like this where we’re from, so it’s awesome. It’s a very well-knit community for sure.”
