LEWISTON — Bank president Jennifer Hogan is ready to don an Olaf snowman “Frozen” costume and sing “In Summer” from Community Credit Union’s parade float.

“It’ll be a group of us singing, not just me,” Hogan added with a laugh.

The Twin Cities Holiday Celebration on Saturday will include a parade that will bring Santa and Mrs. Claus to Kennedy Park, horse-drawn wagon rides, and Portland Ballet dancers performing “Nutcracker” steps at the Lewiston Public Library.

It’s all free.

The annual Christmas season celebration involves a lot of Lewiston-Auburn city workers and businesspeople, including Hogan’s credit union.

“We do a float in the parade every year,” she said, and try to make each one better. “It’s ‘go big or go home,’” Hogan said. Fun is part of her credit union’s corporate culture, she said. Another year the float theme was misfit toys for which she dressed as a cowgirl riding an ostrich.

“Our staff have put in a lot of hours working on the float,” Hogan said. This year’s “Frozen” theme will feature credit union workers as the movie’s characters, including Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf. Float participants will sing songs from the movie, including “Let It Go.”

Taking part “is an opportunity to be out in the community and spread holiday cheer,” she said.

This year, Lewiston is the host city for the celebration, which means the parade will begin at Auburn’s Festival Plaza and end at Lewiston’s Kennedy Park where children can have their photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, thanks to Photo Finish.

New will be a visit from Portland Ballet dancers who will perform a few skits from “The Victorian Nutcracker” at the Lewiston Public Library at 5:15 p.m. The dancers will also teach a few ballet steps to children.

Another parade participant will be the Auburn Fire Department. A firetruck will be in the parade, but it can’t be decorated.

“They are on duty and have to be able to respond,” said Sarah Hulvert of the Auburn Fire Department. Providing there’s no need to put out any fires, the firetruck will carry a captain and two privates waving. 

The festivities are set to begin at 2 p.m. with the movie, “Polar Express” shown at the Auburn Public Library.

At 7 p.m. the parade arrives in Kennedy Park where Santa and Mrs. Clause will pose for photos with children, light the Christmas tree and the menorah. Rinck Advertising will give out free mittens to children. Maple Way Dental Care will give away free dental bags.

 

 

 

 

This year’s Twin Cities Holiday Celebration will be Saturday with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at Kennedy Park around 7 p.m. In this 2017 file photo, Ember Dube and her sister Sage of Monmouth have their photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Kennedy Park gazebo. (Sun Journal file photo)

This year’s Twin Cities Holiday Celebration will be Saturday with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at Kennedy Park around 7 p.m. In this 2017 file photo, Santa and Mrs. Claus joined residents and businesses during the parade. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

Twin Cities Holiday Celebration highlights:

Saturday, Nov. 24

AUBURN

2 p.m. Showing of “Polar Express” at the Auburn Public Library.

5 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus light the Christmas tree.

6 p.m. Parade of Lights begins at Great Falls Plaza.

LEWISTON

5:15 p.m. Portland Ballet performs scenes from “The Victorian Nutcracker” and teaches steps to children at Lewiston Public Library.

5:30 p.m. Christmas music begins in Kennedy Park by Dionne Entertainment, free horse and wagon rides by Stillbrook Acres.

7 p.m. Parade arrives at Kennedy Park where Santa and Mrs. Claus will light the Christmas tree and the menorah. Children can have their photos taken with Santa. 

This year’s Twin Cities Holiday Celebration will be Saturday with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at Kennedy Park around 7 p.m. In this 2017 photo, the Auburn Water and Sewer District float full of lights takes part in the Parade of Lights. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

This year’s Twin Cities Holiday Celebration will be Saturday with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at Kennedy Park around 7 p.m. In this 2017 photo, The “Polar Express” themed float makes its way to Festival Plaza in Auburn. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

Jennifer Hogan, president of Community Credit Union, will wear an Olaf costume during Saturday’s Parade of Lights during the Twin Cities Holiday Celebration. Other credit union staff will also wear “Frozen” costumes and sing songs from the movie. It’s all about celebrating the season and having fun, Hogan said.

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