A footpath along the Stillwater River in Orono is again illuminated with hundreds of thousands of colorful lights for the fifth year in a row.
The Stillwater River Trail of Lights opened Friday and runs between 92 Bennoch Road and Brownie’s Park, a public park along the river. Organizers have turned a quiet community trail into a winter wonderland, utilizing approximately 600,000 individual lights this year to create a holiday display that they estimate attracts tens of thousands of people each year.
“I think the goal is to be able to see them from space,” said Jess Francis, who with her husband, Anthony, started the trail four years ago.
The Trail of Lights began in 2020 as a safe way for people to get into the holiday spirit during the pandemic, when indoor gatherings were strongly discouraged. Jess and Anthony Francis, Orono residents who live along the trail, hung the lights by themselves that first year. The response, Jess Francis said, was overwhelming, and they decided to turn what was a pandemic one-off into a yearly tradition.
Since then, a small army of volunteers and sponsors have joined them. While Anthony Francis and Mike Rideout do the bulk of the light hanging, the town of Orono also began decorating part of the trail, and local sponsors including University Credit Union, Harvest Moon Deli, D&O Concrete, Northeast Paving, Mainely Equipment and Willey’s Firework and Earthwork assisted in buying and hanging lights, improving the trail, clearing trees and brush and installing new features.
“The lights have evolved so much since we started in 2020. While we strive to double the lights year over year, we don’t really know what people will think until they are turned on on night one,” Jess Francis said. “So far, we’ve heard that there are way more lights this year and visitors love to see the expansion each year.”
People have also donated various lights and other installations, from vintage Christmas decorations to a gigantic Bumble the Abominable Snowman. The Orono-Old Town Kiwanis donated wrapped children’s books to the Little Free Library that is also on site, and organizers have even had Santa Claus visit a few times last year.
The Stillwater River Trail of Lights is open from 4 to 9 p.m. every day through Dec. 31. The event is free, though donations are accepted. Leashed dogs are welcome. Organizers recommend wearing waterproof footwear. Parking is available at the public lot next to Brownie’s Park, or along side streets near the trail. For more information, like the Stillwater River Trail Little Free Library on Facebook.
