BANGOR – Thousands of spectators are expected to be on hand to watch Saturday’s annual Festival of Lights Parade through downtown, marking the official arrival of the holiday season.

The nighttime parade will be the beacon in the dark that heralds the joyous nature of this time of year. The theme for the parade is “Making Dreams Real.”

The parade will step off at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.

“There will be 46 units in the parade, including the 85-member Madawaska High School Band,” said Barbara McDade, who coordinated the event.

The parade will feature horses and minihorses, Frosty the Snowman arriving by limousine, a small train chugging in and out of the parade, a Charlie Brown Christmas float entered by Cub Scout Troop 313, A Dreams Can Come True float from the Bangor Baptist Church’s Upstart Program, a float with area clog dancers aboard, a Dream Big float dreamed up by the Next Generation Theatre of Brewer, the BangPop float with participants dressed in fantasy costumes channeling “The Lord of the Rings,” and the Bangor Rotary float, The Polar Express.

“Santa will arrive in a sleigh at the end of the parade, with several elves to help light the tree downtown,” McDade said.

Parade lineup begins at 2 p.m. along Front Street from May to Railroad streets.

The parade begins on Railroad Street, turns right onto Main Street, crosses Union Street, proceeds along Main Street through downtown, crosses Hammond and State streets onto Central Street, turns right on Harlow, and crosses State Street to Exchange Street, ending by Bank of America.

Exchange Street will be closed to regular traffic.

Music begins at 3 p.m. at the reviewing stand on Main Street. The Bangor Band will be among those offering songs and carols of the season.

Hot chocolate and other hot drinks will be available for sale to help ward off the chill. Parade participants and spectators are advised to dress warmly.

Sponsors of the parade are the Bangor Rotary, Oxford Networks and WABI.

ahamlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8153