LEWISTON — Local police are suggesting motorists use alternative routes to avoid street closings and traffic congestion during Wednesday evening’s holiday parade and tree-lighting ceremony.

The annual Parade of Lights begins in Lewiston at 6 p.m. and will travel across the Longley Bridge to Auburn.

There will be traffic congestion in each downtown for about an hour while the parade moves from Lewiston to Auburn.

The parade will stage in Lewiston at the municipal parking lot at Park, Oak and Ash streets while the city holds its tree-lighting ceremony at Kennedy Park, starting at 6 p.m. The parade will move down Lisbon Street to Main Street, crossing over the Longley Bridge into Auburn.

Upon arrival at Festival Plaza, the city will conduct its tree-lighting ceremony and the lighting of a menorah.

At the same time, horse-drawn wagon rides will be available.

Large crowds are expected to congregate in the downtown areas during this event.

Police are advising motorists to travel on Russell Street or Sabattus Street to reach the downtown in Lewiston, and motorists traveling on routes 196 and 202 will be rerouted into neighborhoods and may encounter delays.

Vehicles traveling into Auburn should use the Bernard Lown Bridge on Cedar Street and people traveling from Lewiston to Auburn should use the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge to connect with Center Street.