AUBURN — Even as some New Year’s Eve celebrations in Maine have been canceled or downsized, organizers say New Year’s Auburn will run as planned.
“We want everyone to have an incredible time and ring in an epic new year,” Mayor Jason Levesque shared in a news release. “We also want to make it possible for attendees to celebrate safely.”
New Year’s Auburn, which organizers say is Maine’s biggest and best celebration to ring in 2022, is considered to be the city’s signature event. Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday in the downtown, it will feature live performances, food trucks, a beer garden and a fireworks display at 10 p.m.
Organizers are encouraging attendees to wear masks, which will be available at the event, and say the three city blocks set aside for the celebration will be plenty of room for thousands of people to celebrate and socially distance.
“There will be lots of room to spread out on Main Street and in Festival Plaza, so we hope everyone will plan to join us,” Levesque wrote. “Stay a couple of arm lengths from others, use our sanitizing stations, enjoy the food, beer, music, and fireworks, and have an incredible time as we celebrate the start of a fresh new year!”
The event promises to attract thousands of people to Auburn. Levesque additionally shared that the Hilton Garden Inn downtown is full this weekend, something he doesn’t remember happening in the past.
On Monday, the Portland Press Herald reported that several New Year’s Eve events were canceled or moved online, following advice from Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, that people avoid large gatherings due to increasing transmission of the omicron COVID-19 variant.
New Year Gorham has been moved online, and New Year’s Eve shows at the The State Theatre in Portland and the Portland House of Music have been canceled. Events at L.L.Bean and Old Orchard Beach were set to continue as planned, as of Monday.
Main Street in Auburn will be closed from Elm to Court streets beginning at 8 a.m. Friday while the city begins setting up for the event.
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