Animated light show to debut on Downtown Bangor holiday tree Friday

BANGOR, ME – Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway is bringing a little extra holly and jolly to Bangor’s Holiday Tree this year. The 36-foot Norway Spruce will feature an animated light and music show in West Market Square, brought together by the Downtown Bangor Partnership and sponsored by Hollywood Casino.

“The Holiday Tree in Downtown Bangor is a Christmastime fixture for this area,” said Hollywood Casino vice president and general manager, Marc Guastella. “Downtown Bangor is already so picturesque and quintessential, the holiday tree just adds to that. This year, by decking the halls with a little more technology, we are creating something that is new, different, and unique. There are a lot of talented people who are making this happen, and Hollywood Casino is very happy to be a part of it.”

The tree was selected and cut by Bangor’s Dan Sprague, with assistance from David McElvain, owner of Hartt’s Electric in Levant. Sprague has been supplying the City of Bangor with the perfect Holiday Tree for nearly 30 years. Last week, Public Works Forestry and Carpentry Divisions secured the tree, with Frasier Signal Technologies of Veazie helping the Public Works Electrical Division string the lights and place the star on top of the tree. The more than 8,000 multi-colored lights and the tree-topping star were donated by Rotary as a way to enhance the experience of attendees of the Festival of Lights Parade, and have been used since 2020. 

“This is an incredible undertaking and great example of people working together to create something great,” said Betsy Lundy, executive director of the Downtown Bangor Partnership. “Stringing the lights on the Holiday Tree requires three bucket trucks. Add to that the more than 30 volunteers including those from Fusion Bangor, Job Corps and Girl Scouts of Maine who contributed 85 volunteer hours to decorate West Market Square and other parts of downtown to be incorporated into the light and music show, along with the several businesses and individuals, and we have ourselves a great group of people who all care deeply about providing something special for this community.” 

Scott Stitham of the Collins Center for the Arts is assisting Downtown Bangor Partnership with the programming and installation of the light show. It will all be unveiled on Plaid Friday, this Friday, starting at 4 p.m. Music will be able to be heard in West Market Square, synced up with the lights, daily throughout the season from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

For more holiday fun with lights and music, the annual Festival of Lights Parade is scheduled to make its way through Bangor on Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at 4:30 p.m. For more details about the light and music show with the Holiday Tree, visit www.DowntownBangor.com or click here. For more details about the Festival of Lights Parade, visit www.BangorRotary.org. 

About Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway

Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway is a PENN Entertainment property located on Main Street in Bangor, Maine. Hollywood features a state-of-the-art gaming floor including nearly 800 slot machines and table games; 152 hotel rooms and suites; and dining at Hops House 99 and the Take 2 Snack Bar. Live harness racing takes place May-November. For more information, visit www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com.

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