AUBURN — New Year’s Auburn began delivering on its promise for an exceptional celebration right from the go at Festival Plaza on Main Street.
Mayor Jeff Harmon opened festivities at 3 p.m. and gave up the stage to a lineup of Maine bands, starting with local crew ISH. Nine local breweries, four food trucks and a mobile café opened for food and drinks.
“I swear there were only 50 people when the event started,” said Liz Allen, Auburn’s director of communications and community engagement. “I turned to watch the mayor, turned back and there had to be about 500.”
Auburn would be hosting Maine’s first aerial drone light show at 8:30 p.m., capping an evening of fun and celebration with hours to spare before the ball would drop in Times Square. The show would feature 150 drones maneuvering in formation, creating exciting displays.
Early partygoers awaiting the light show were caught off guard when asked about their New Year’s resolutions. Auburn’s Nicole Rioux and Mike Wise said they just decided while at the event they were going to find a way to walk 20 miles by the end of January.
“It’s probably one of the most boring resolutions ever,” Wise said.
“But, I mean, we’ve really got six hours to decide, to pick one,” said Rioux.
Heidi Brooks and her mother Carol Mashaw, of Lewiston and Auburn respectively, are focused on health and positivity for the new year.
“To take care of myself and others and to be conscientious of health and creating joy,” Brooks said.
“Say ‘yes’ more than I say ‘no,’” said Mashaw.
By 4:45 p.m., around the time local band ISH gave the stage to Hello Newman, a crowd of around 1,500 had gathered. The crowd was nearly doubled again by 6 p.m.
True attendance numbers will not be available for another couple days, Allen said, but the city expected to have more than 5,000 in attendance based on last year’s roughly 4,500.
“We expect a lot of people will turn up around the time the light show starts.”
By 6 p.m., the riverfront temperature was around 28 degrees and the wind a calm 7 miles per hour.
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