BANGOR – The Bangor Rotary’s annual Festival of Lights Parade starts at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in downtown Bangor. Bangor Center Corporation’s annual Community Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place right before the parade, at 4:15 p.m..

The theme for the parade is “Open Your Hearts.” The nighttime spectacle will feature dozens of floats, bands, marching and performing units – a display reflecting the many celebrations that take place throughout the season in Maine and around the world.

The parade, which lasts approximately one hour, steps off from the corner of Buck and Main streets by the Bangor Daily News, proceeds down Main Street, and continues through downtown Bangor past the reviewing stand in West Market Square by Grasshopper Shop. The parade turns right onto State Street, right onto Exchange Street, and ends at the corner of Exchange and Hancock streets.

Those wishing to see the tree lighting should plan to be in the West Market Square area by 4:15 p.m. After the tree lighting, folks will be ushered to the sidewalks to view the parade.

Those not attending the parade should plan alternate routes to avoid the Veteran’s Remembrance Bridge, the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge and the streets surrounding the parade route.