PARIS — The Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce is still accepting registrations for floats to participate in the annual Christmas Parade on November 29.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Advertiser Square on Main Street in Norway and ends at Market Square in Paris. The 2014 Christmas Parade theme is “The Night Before Christmas.”
“This is considered to be the largest Christmas parade in the state of Maine,” Chamber Executive Director John Williams said. “We’re excited about it.”
The event, which has been going for almost 40 years, brings in floats, bands and much more, including the Silver Dolphins, a color guard and precision rifle drill team from Naval Submarine School in Connecticut. The parade, which lasts several hours, stretches out for three miles and concludes with a Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus float.
Williams said the chamber is still accepting registrations for floats, musical bands and anyone else who wants to get involved. Registrations are being accepted online this year at www.oxfordhillsmaine.com.
More than 30 floats have already registered from local profit and nonprofit businesses. The Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School cheerleaders, marching band and the Oxford Hills Middle School marching band are participating along with fire departments from the 13 communities the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce represents. Wreaths Across America will also be represented this year along with many more participants.
“There’s just a lot of activity. It’s a great parade. It’s never too late to get involved,” he said.
The fourth annual festival of trees also takes place the same weekend.
The Chamber is accepting registrations from local businesses, organizations, groups and individuals to submit their decorated tree to create a winter wonderland at the Four Seasons Function Center in Paris.
The festival starts Friday, Nov. 28, during an Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce open house and is open to the general public from 5:30 to 8 p.m., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Admission is free.
Raffle tickets will be sold, and each tree will find a new home at the end of the Festival. Twenty percent of the proceeds raised during the event are donated to Rightstart for their Christmas for Kids and Christmas for Teens programs.
“It’s a great community weekend for the Oxford Hills,” Williams said.
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